Charity watchdog refuses to act on ‘gay exorcism’ church

The regulator has declined to take action against a newly registered Pentecostal Christian charity which is promoting gay 'conversion therapy', spiritual abuse and the subjugation of women.

The website of Forward In Faith Church International Incorporated (FIFCII) describes the exorcism of a man possessed by a "homosexual spirit" as a "miracle".

Another page sets out the responsibilities of a wife: she is to respect her husband, say yes when he asks for sex, and not nag.

FIFCII registered under the charitable purpose 'the advancement of religion' in May in Scotland. It is also registered in England and Wales. Charities are legally required to act in the public benefit.

The charity's main regulator, the Charity Commission for England and Wales, declined to take action in response to concerns raised by the National Secular Society.

It said there was "no evidence" the charity "was advocating a particular position on homosexuality".

FIFCII's headquarters are in Zimbabwe. According to their website, FIFCII was founded by Archbishop Dr. Ezekiel Guti (pictured) who was told by God to "learn to preach in English because you shall go to many countries with my word".

According to its website, the ministry has "spread to most of the major cities of the United Kingdom including, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Conversion therapy and spiritual abuse

One 'Apostle's Update' blog post on the charity's website in 2017 describes how a man was delivered from a "homosexual spirit" which "bound him for many years" during a "miracle night" in St Kitts and Nevis.

Another 2017 blog describes the 'deliverance' of a 14 year old girl in Zimbabwe who was taken nightly to "eat human flesh and drink human blood" as part of a 'witchcraft' ritual.

Allegations of witchcraft or demonic possession are a central feature of spiritual abuse. Eight year old Victoria Climbié was subjected to years of abuse linked to 'witchcraft' beliefs before her death in 2000. Figures suggest thousands of children in the UK are victims of abuse linked to witchcraft beliefs.

A third blog from 2015 praises the deliverance of 17 people in Zimbabwe from "spiritual husbands, bitterness, homosexuality, witchcraft, satanism … to mention a few".

'Spiritual husbands' are spirits believed to have sex with an individual while they sleep.

Another blog from June this year describes the "miracle" of people "who don't eat meat" or were "accused of witchcraft" being "delivered" in Zimbabwe.

Subjugation of women

Pastor Fiona Arthurs sets out a wife's responsibilities in a sermon titled 'A Wise Woman's Responsibility'.

It says sex is "the very reason" for marriage adding: "When we said 'I do' we were saying 'I do' to his desire for sex.

It says a woman who makes "excuses" such as "headache" or "backache" is "foolish".

The sermon adds that women "must not nag our husbands" and nagging "will push him away."

Respect for one's husband is "a necessity", it claims. Arthurs is a US based pastor, and author of Stop the Foolishness for Wives and Foolish Things Wives Do To Mess Up Their Marriages

Misogyny from religious charities

Earlier this year, a pastor at Rosyth Baptist Church claimed "a husband is the head of his wife" and a wife "that submits to her husband's leadership and respects him is easier to love".

In 2022, a preacher at Moray Coast Baptist Church said housework is the "primary function" of women. The Scottish charity regulator refused to take action against either church.

Today, the NSS wrote to the Scottish Government's Minister for Equalities urging a review of charity law.

It said 'the advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose was undermining efforts by the Government to combat misogyny and violence against women and girls.

NSS: 'Vicious homophobia and misogyny cannot be in the public interest'

NSS human rights leads Alejandro Sanchez said: "This charity promotes vicious homophobia and misogyny, and may well be endangering lives with reckless allegations of witchcraft. Any suggestion it is acting in the public benefit is absurd.

"We're disappointed the Charity Commission thinks celebrating the exorcism of a gay man is not 'advocating a particular position on homosexuality'".

"It is now time legislators urgently review 'the advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose. It must not be used as a 'backdoor' for charities to promote conversion therapy and the subjugation of women."

Media coverage:

• Notorious cult that carry out "gay exorcisms" expanding in Scotland (Daily Record)
• Controversial church that carries out 'gay exorcisms' set up Edinburgh HQ ahead of expansion (Edinburgh Live)
• Infamous religious cult that carries out 'gay exorcisms' plans to expand into Glasgow (Glasgow Live)
• Investigations into 'gay exorcism' church in Scotland punted to English regulator (The National)
• Investigation into controversial church passed to English charity regulator (TFN)