To the Honourable Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Prue Car,

We, the undersigned, are Christian ministers, workers, and concerned Christians from across New South Wales and Australia. We write to you out of a grave concern at the implementation of the 2024 NSW Conversion Practices Ban Act.

We hold to orthodox and historic Christian teaching on gender and sexual ethics.

In our churches, we seek to honour God by welcoming and serving people from all backgrounds and stages in life, including those who experience same-sex attraction or suffering from gender dysphoria. We always aim to do so with love, gentleness, and respect, and we utterly reject the use of any form of coercion or control.

We do so in a variety of ways, primarily through telling them the good news about the love of Jesus Christ as revealed in his life, death, and resurrection. We teach all people that there is life, hope, forgiveness, and transformation to be found in Jesus alone.

Our faith also teaches us to pray for our leaders and honour them. We seek to live at peace with our civil magistrates, praying for wisdom, justice, and truth in the way that they govern our land.

We are therefore deeply distressed to find that the Conversion Practices Ban Act of 2024, which came into effect on the 4th of April, 2025, impinges on fundamental practices of our faith. The legislation, along with the accompanying media and Frequently Asked Questions document, makes it clear that our duty as ministers of proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ and obedience to his commands is now regarded as criminal behaviour. Christian parents will be criminalised for giving advice to their children concerning their sexual desires or gender identity. Christians will be criminalised for praying with individuals seeking to live in a way that is according to their conscience and the Bible.

Christianity has always held that God created humanity as male and female, and that the proper expression of sexual desires is within the lifelong bond of marriage between one man and one woman. The Bible teaches that any sexual expression outside of marriage, or any activity that denies our biological sex, is sin. Such actions are therefore both morally wrong and an overturning of the good things that God says cause families, culture, and society to flourish. It is an inherent part of our calling as Christians to bring the love of Jesus to all people, to those who have been broken by sin, to encourage them to live according to God’s good design and offer them the pastoral help to do so. This is not ‘therapy’ – it is the inherent pattern of Christian life.

It is our duty to call people to be converted to Christ; that is, to turn from believing that we are identified and best guided by self, to knowing that we are identified and best guided by God. Christian conversion inevitably means turning away from lifestyles and practices that are incompatible with being a Christian, of which sexual sins are but one category. It should not be a criminal offence for Christians to persuade, to teach, and help individuals of every age to become, and to live as, orthodox Christians. It should not be a criminal offence for us to instruct our children that God made them male and female, in his image, and has reserved sex for marriage between one man and one woman. But this legislation does precisely that.

In turn, the legislation impinges upon the rights of those who would seek out prayer and counsel for unwanted sexual desires or gender confusion. It is neither compassionate nor caring to put vulnerable people in the position of endangering those who seek to care for them in this way. People of faith who are same-sex attracted or confused about their gender must be free to learn in accordance with their faith and to seek assistance and support in making their own choices to amend their behaviour.

We urge you to rescind the NSW Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024, and develop new legislation that will protect people from coercive and abusive behaviour without infringing on the religious liberty and practices of your constituents.

In Daniel 6, the prophet Daniel found himself subject to legislation which restricted the peoples’ ability to pray freely in accordance with their conscience. In response, he opened his windows and prayed publicly to God.

For our part, we have no desire to become criminals, and as Christians we place a high value on submitting to and honouring our government. However, should these laws remain in place, we will have no option but to “open our windows” – we will continue to exercise orthodox Christian ministry and discipleship, including counselling and praying with individuals concerning the Christian view of sex, marriage, and gender. We must obey God rather than men.

Be assured of our continued prayers for you.

May you know the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.