The Frontline Church in Liverpool claims homosexuality is caused by ‘pain in childhood’ and boasts it’s L.I.F.E sessions have ‘succeeded’ with some congregation members.

It even published a ‘Homosexuality Fact Sheet’ which includes tips on how to spot people ‘struggling with homosexuality’, such as ‘women may appear and dress in a more masculine way’.

Since the fact sheet emerged one of the city’s biggest housing associations, Plus Dane, has broken off links to the church.

Church bosses explained although the fact sheet is ‘simplistic’, they believe ‘the ways a person chooses to express their sexuality can change’ and added there had been ‘success with some congregation members’.

‘Gay people deserve better than the BBC’s pathetic attempts to represent us’: George Michael slams EastEnders gay storyline

They added the fact sheet had been now been removed from the church website.

Frontline has been condemned by gay rights campaigners as trying to ‘repress’ people’s sexuality with ‘Dark Ages’ views, while Merseyside Police has asked the Church to stop describing it as a partner organisation.

The national Lesbian and Gay Foundation’s Andrew Gilliver said: ‘The issues about “childhood pain” are nonsense.

‘The pain is often caused by people who don’t understand what they’re going through.

‘We are born gay, but we learn prejudice. This is Dark Ages stuff.’

A spokesman for Merseyside Police, which holds meetings in the Church, said: ‘We would not regard any church as an ‘official partner’ and the religious beliefs of the churches whose buildings we use are entirely separate to and independent of the views and policies of Merseyside Police.’

The Church received Home Office funding in 2010 to run projects helping young men at risk, and Prime Minister David Cameron and Nick Clegg have both ‘met staff to discuss grass roots issues in Liverpool’, according to the Frontline Trust accounts.

Housing association Plus Dane runs a foodbank from the Church.

It said: ‘It has become apparent that aspects of Frontline’s ministry are incompatible with our values, which seek to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion.’

Liverpool council, which is listed on the Church’s accounts as a ‘donor’, said it had not funded any activities for five years.

A spokesman for the church denied being homophobic.

By Special correspondent