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Affinity vs. transgender people

Affinity is a conservative anti-transgender evangelical Christian organization based in the United Kingdom. It is “a partnership of gospel churches, evangelical agencies and individual Christians committed to working together to advance the work of the gospel in the UK and Ireland and around the world.”

Affinity is actively opposed to bans on conversion therapy and frequently publishes anti-trans material.

Background

The organization was founded in 1952 as the British Evangelical Council (BEC) by the Free Church of Scotland, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ireland and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. It was created in response to the founding of the World Council of Churches in 1948. In 1966, at the Second National Assembly of Evangelicals, an appeal for unity by Martyn Lloyd-Jones was met with opposition from meeting chair John Stott, and some churches seceded and joined the BEC. In 1967, Roland Lamb was appointed as its first General Secretary. In 1978, Alan Gibson became the General Secretary of BEC. By 1981 BEC included over 2,000 churches. The organization stagnated in the 1980s following the death of Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

In 2004, BEC was renamed Affinity, and Jonathan Stephen was appointed Director. In 2010, Peter Milsom became Director. In 2016, Graham Nicholls was appointed Director. The organization expanded to 15 church networks and independent member churches totaling over 1,200 affiliated churches. Affinity notes “there are also 40+ member evangelical agencies (Bible Colleges, mission agencies, publishers and specialist ministries) and affiliate members.”

Anti-trans activism

Affnity frequently posts overviews and commentaries on transgender topics, such as how parents and faith leaders should respond. Affinity opposes bans on conversion therapy and opposes access to trans healthcare for young people.

People

Trustees

  • Thomas “Tom” Brand
  • Philip “Phil” Swann
  • Alan William John Stevens
  • Mark Thomas
  • David Cameron Meredith
  • Paul Frederick Yeulett

Leadership

  • Graham Nicholls: Director (2016–)
  • Rachel Land: Assistant to the Director
  • Fran Kirby: Assistant to the Director
  • Thomas Brand: Chair of the Affinity Advisory Council and Board of Trustees

Former leadership

  • Jonathan Stephen, Principal of the Wales Evangelical School of Theology and Director of Affinity, a group of 1300 conservative evangelical churches (2008)

Selected publications by Affinity

Nicholls, Graham (June 30, 2026). Government publishes sinister conversion practices ban. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/social-issues/ct-draft-bill/

Mildred, James (August 5, 2024). Is the tide turning on transgenderism? Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/social-issues/is-the-tide-turning-on-transgenderism/

Harewood, Elizabeth (August 7, 2024 ). An in-depth analysis of the Cass Review and gender identity. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/social-issues/an-in-depth-analysis-of-the-cass-review-and-gender-identity/

Nicholls, Graham (July 29, 2024). That scene in the opening ceremony. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/news/that-scene-in-the-opening-ceremony/

Harewood, Elizabeth (December 21, 2023). A Christian’s response to the updated transgender guidance for UK schools. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/news/a-christians-response-to-the-updated-transgender-guidance-for-uk-schools/

Maxwell, Julie (Nov 14, 2023). Christian parenting in a confusing world of gender identity. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/social-issues/christian-parenting-in-a-confusing-world-of-gender-identity/ PDF https://www.affinity.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/12/InTouch_Dec23_WEB.pdf

Nicholls, Graham (January 5, 2023). Four reasons why the new Scottish gender recognition bill is not good. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/social-issues/four-reasons-why-the-new-scottish-gender-recognition-bill-is-not-good/

Sanlon, Peter (July 14, 2023). Glories that Form and Deform Identity – The Roads Ahead. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/foundations/issue-84-summer-2023/glories-that-form-and-deform-identity/

Upton, Joel (Nov 9, 2022). Book review: The Case against the Sexual Revolution. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/social-issues/book-review-the-case-against-the-sexual-revolution/

Greatorex, Dave (July 15, 2022). Concerns about the Online Safety Bill. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/news/1090-concerns-about-the-online-safety-bill/

Nicholls, Graham (February 2, 2022 ). Is YouTube censoring orthodox Christian teaching? Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/news/1051-is-youtube-censoring-orthodox-christian-teaching/

[uncredited online] (December 9, 2021). The Struggle for Free Speech in Universities. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/social-issues/1040-the-struggle-for-free-speech-in-universities/

Mildred, James (March 12, 2021). The Challenge to Free Speech in the UK. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/uncategorized/933-the-challenge-to-free-speech-in-the-uk/

Denning, John (November 20, 2020). Relationships and Sex Education in School: Some Good News! Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/news/884-relationships-and-sex-education-in-school-some-good-news/

Wells, Norman (March 10, 2020). Gender Ideology: What do Christians need to know? Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/uncategorized/776-gender-ideology-what-do-christians-need-to-know/

Taylor, Michael (February 29, 2020). Teenagers and the Trans Contagion. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/uncategorized/770-teenagers-and-the-trans-contagio/

Moseley, Carys (March 1, 2020). Pastoral Resources on Transgender Issues. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/uncategorized/772-pastoral-resources-on-transgender-issues/

Moseley, Carys (July 9, 2019). Why it is Time for British Evangelical Churches to Stand Up to Defend Pastoral Care for Unwanted Same-sex Attraction. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/news/663-why-it-is-time-for-british-evangelical-churches-to-stand-up-to-defend-pastoral-care-for-unwanted-same-sex-attraction/

Moseley, Carys (April 11, 2019). The Rise and Normalisation of Transgenderism. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/uncategorized/618-the-rise-and-normalisation-of-transgenderism/

Moseley, Carys (October 11, 2018). Resist trangender demands for legal gender recognition for children. Affinity https://www.affinity.org.uk/news/537-resist-trangender-demands-for-legal-gender-recognition-for-children/

Olim, Camilla (October 23, 2016). Review of ‘Transgender’ by Vaughan Roberts. Affinity via Christian Concern https://www.affinity.org.uk/uncategorized/220-review-of-transgender-by-vaughan-roberts/

References

Staff report (November 13, 2008). Christian Unity? BBC / Radio Wales https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/sites/allthingsconsidered/updates/20081113.shtml

Benton, John (May 1, 2004). To Affinity and Beyond – A new name for the British Evangelical Council. Evangelicals Now http://www.e-n.org.uk/2895-To-Affinity-and-beyond.htm

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Affinity (affinity.org.uk)

Facebook (facebook.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Charity Commission for England and Wales (charitycommission.gov.uk)