Exodus VP Says Sorry and Living Waters Greatest Regret

From Randy Thomas's blog (bold emphasis mine)

When Alan Chambers made his apology to the gay community, I couldn’t have been more supportive. I am so proud of my friend and fully agree with what he shared.

I, too, have been taking a personal moral inventory. So many eye-opening experiences have occurred in the past twenty-four months – including the suicide of a beloved friend and former partner this past January. The loss of Michael forced me to face some issues I had not been willing to deal with until that time. And it’s through this process that I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to apologize to the gay community.

Public Policy

My understanding of public policy at that time was limited to the talking points I was given to tailor my testimony around. I did not do much research beyond these talking points – and as a result, my perspective was limited and nearsighted. I am very sorry that my uncritical perspective contributed to the hurt that many LGBT persons were already feeling.

I participated in the hurtful echo chamber of condemnation. I gave lip service to the gay community, but really did not exemplify compassion for them. I placed the battle over policy above my concern for real people. I sometimes valued the shoulder pats I was given by religious leaders more than Jesus’ commandment to love and serve. That was wrong and I’m disappointed in myself. Please forgive me.

I directly empowered people to co-opt my testimony and use it against the gay community. There were a few times I almost worked up the nerve to confront them, only to hear them invoke my name at an opportune moment. “Of course I love gay people,” they would say. “Just look at my good friend Randy…” It was very selfish of me to back down in these situations. I apologize.

I was, in a sense, attracted to this kind of power and allowed my conscience to be numbed so I could have a seat at their table. In the name of trying to positively affect Christian leaders, I willingly became one of their pawns. Again, I was selfish and prideful. Please forgive me.

The only thing I don’t regret about my past public policy efforts are some of the friends I made during that time. These few trusted Christians are in the public policy realm for all the right reasons.

Keeping The Peace – Putting Out Fires at Exodus 

In 1992, I was part of an Exodus affiliated ministry in Texas that believed being in relationship with Jesus alone was our goal. I never felt pressured to change my same sex orientation. I saw my life greatly improved by having the freedom to question my sexuality and identity. I assumed this was what happened at every Exodus group, and I ended up idealizing the entire ministry based on my singular experiences in Texas. However, after joining the Exodus staff, I was confronted with the reality that some methods used by some of our local ministries ended up bringing hurt and pain to the very people they were trying to comfort.

There are many good people in the broader Exodus movement that I didn’t want to hurt by sharing the bad we’d uncovered. Other staff members and I dealt with some of these ills privately. But by keeping quiet, and not even letting our own leaders know the depths of what concerned us, I contributed to the negative response surrounding Alan’s recent apology. To protect some leaders, which wasn’t totally inappropriate, others didn’t know how bad some things had gotten. Therefore, some have been shocked that Alan apologized and that I, among others, were supportive. In order to protect the reputation of some, I chose silence. I apologize for remaining silent and passive. Looking back on my time with Exodus, it seems I was always waiting for a convenient time to discuss some of my concerns publicly. But as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “There is never a wrong time to do the right thing.”

Past Teachings 

When I look back at some of my old interviews, group meetings, and keynotes over the past twenty years, I realize there are many things I would communicate differently today. In the past I taught quite a mixture of performance-based accomplishment along with God’s grace. I taught that God is always present, but if we don’t manage our sin properly, it could negatively impact our relationship with Him.

That’s not grace. It doesn’t take seriously the finished work of the Cross.

I look back on my time as a Living Waters coordinator (eleven years ago) with the most remorse. Even though there is some good in this program, it often ripped open old wounds in the name of healing by attempting to manufacture an environment for the Lord to work in. I have to apologize for the times some people may have felt manipulated to bare their souls to a group full of strangers. I apologize for any pressure we, on the Living Waters team I led, might have placed on group participants as we tried to help them cultivate “authentic experiences.”

As a trained Living Waters coordinator, I used to hang on to every word Andrew Comiskey said. I even did some online consulting work for him. But today, over a year after leaving his employ as a consultant, I look back and recognize there were signs that something was wrong. In retrospect, I realize I helped build Andrew Comiskey’s online platforms – platforms which have increasingly gotten more vitriolic and stigmatizing toward the LGBT community. I regret that and I’m sorry.

Conclusion

I apologize to the gay community for idealizing and reinforcing the institutional groupthink of Exodus. I apologize for remaining publicly silent about the hurt caused by some of Exodus’ leaders and actions. I also apologize for my inexperienced participation in public policy, placing my personal ambition over truly serving the gay community as a Christian friend.

Moving forward, I pray the Lord helps keep me humble and reveals any issues/situations that require my consideration. I will keep an open heart and ear, and if and when action is necessary, I pray to find the grace and courage to quickly apologize and/or make amends.

Randy Thomas & Anthony Venn-Brown after the final meeting of the final Exodus Conference June 203

The final Exodus Conference

The Secret Mission is no longer a secret

Jim Burroway, Alan Chambers, Anthony Venn-Brown (L to R)

What a bizarre feeling to be walking into the Exodus International conference at the Concordia University. Irvine California last night.  Especially as initially I had a déjà vu moment as I caught a cab to the wrong university, The University of California, Irvine.  I had been at the latter in 2007 for the first ex-gay survivors conference.

Finally finding the registration table and auditorium I looked around at the 300 people and tried to read their faces. Some had obviously heard the news of the apology to the LGBTQ community, some looked tormented and others happy to renew contact with people they  had come to know at previous Exodus events. I sat down in the back row next to my friend Jim Burroway the editor of Box Turtle Bulletin. As far as I knew we were the only openly gay and accepting people in the place.

Even with all I knew that had been going on the message Alan Chambers delivered caught me by surprise.

Background

My approach, if possible, has always been to engage instead of attack (this is the philosophy of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International). Attacking from a distance is easy. Trying to engage someone in dialogue is time consuming and requires grace and patience.

Since 2010,  every time Alan Chambers did something positive I sent him an email thanking him. He always responded. Over the last 12 months our dialogue became warmer. I have also been in a secret Facebook group with Alan, other Exodus leaders and a number of ex-gay survivors. The discussions have been challenging at times but, to their credit, some Exodus people continued listening and engaging.

For some reason I had a strong sense that I should attend the conference. In February  I asked how Alan would feel about me attending the Exodus conference. Alan's  reply was:

Anthony,

Thanks for your email. I would love for you to come to the conference. I think it will be a year like no other---I don't know what that means other than it isn't turning out to look like it used to look. Our numbers are down and my desire for change is high.  It might just turn into an opportunity to promote common ground. You must decide whether God wants you to join us.  Please let me know how that turns out.

Praying.

Alan

Last night's historic announcement

Alan Chambers delivering the historic announcement.

I honestly didn't know what Alan was going to announce last night. I knew it would be a challenging meeting considering that the apology to the LGBTQ community had been strategically released only hours before. Exodus shutting down was a possibility but I doubted that would be announced at the first night of the conference.

The mood in the meeting was sombre and you could tell Alan was preparing the audience for some challenging news. But I am sure most of the crowd were unprepared for what was about to come. After all, many had come because they were struggling with 'unwanted same sex attraction' .

Whilst Alan was making the announcement, once again strategically, the announcement that Exodus International was ceasing to exist was released on their website.

Alan's preparation for the audience was sensitive. He began to cry several times. He detailed his personal journey to face issues and be completely honest.  And also about his spiritual journey to  become less judgemental, more accepting and to be like Jesus. He criticized the churches attitude towards LGBT people and the community. He wants to make changes and forge a new path of honest and open change.

What now?

Some are sceptical of these changes. Some are angry and rejecting the apology. Many are celebrating. Being an ex-gay survivor myself and worked with so many since 2000 I understand and empathise with all these reactions.

No doubt these recent announcements will have a huge impact on western evangelicalism and if handled properly will spill over to Asian and African evangelicalism. But this won't happen overnight.

There is still much to do which is obvious to those of us who have worked in this space for many years now. The challenge that lies ahead of us now is to work with those who have suffered because of the message "homosexuality is a choice and it can be changed". Sorry doesn't necessarily heal the past  but it does give us hope for a better future. With two thirds of ex-gay ministries disappearing in Australia in the last decade I believe that we have led the way. These recent announcements should mean that my goal to see them all disappear is closer to a reality.

More on that later.

© Anthony Venn-Brown 

Twitter: @gayambassador 

Facebook: Anthony Venn-Brown - A Life of Unlearning

Facebook: Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International 

Website: www.gayambassador.com 

Email:  info@gayambassador.com 

Anthony Venn-Brown is the co-founder and former leader of Freedom2b, Australia’s largest network of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from Christian backgrounds. He is also an educator and consultant on LGBT/faith issues and leader in deconstructing the ‘ex-gay’ myth. Anthony’s autobiography 'A Life of Unlearning', details his journey from married, high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches to living as an openly gay man. Anthony has been twice voted ‘One of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians’ (2007 & 2009) and  was one of four finalists for the 2011 ACON Community Hero Award. He is also the founder and director of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International.

Alan Chambers, President of Exodus, says sorry to the LGBTQ community

I Am Sorry  June 19, 2013 By Alan Chambers 

To Members of the LGBTQ Community:

In 1993 I caused a four-car pileup. In a hurry to get to a friend’s house, I was driving when a bee started buzzing around the inside of my windshield. I hit the bee and it fell on the dashboard. A minute later it started buzzing again with a fury. Trying to swat it again I completely missed the fact that a city bus had stopped three cars in front of me. I also missed that those three cars were stopping, as well. Going 40 miles an hour I slammed into the car in front of me causing a chain reaction. I was injured and so were several others. I never intended for the accident to happen. I would never have knowingly hurt anyone. But I did. And it was my fault. In my rush to get to my destination, fear of being stung by a silly bee, and selfish distraction, I injured others.

I have no idea if any of the people injured in that accident have suffered long term effects. While I did not mean to hurt them, I did. The fact that my heart wasn’t malicious did not lessen their pain or their suffering. I am very sorry that I chose to be distracted that fall afternoon, and that I caused so much damage to people and property. If I could take it all back I absolutely would. But I cannot. I pray that everyone involved in the crash has been restored to health.

Recently, I have begun thinking again about how to apologize to the people that have been hurt by Exodus International through an experience or by a message. I have heard many firsthand stories from people called ex-gay survivors. Stories of people who went to Exodus affiliated ministries or ministers for help only to experience more trauma. I have heard stories of shame, sexual misconduct, and false hope. In every case that has been brought to my attention, there has been swift action resulting in the removal of these leaders and/or their organizations. But rarely was there an apology or a public acknowledgement by me.

And then there is the trauma that I have caused. There were several years that I conveniently omitted my ongoing same-sex attractions. I was afraid to share them as readily and easily as I do today. They brought me tremendous shame and I hid them in the hopes they would go away. Looking back, it seems so odd that I thought I could do something to make them stop. Today, however, I accept these feelings as parts of my life that will likely always be there. The days of feeling shame over being human in that way are long over, and I feel free simply accepting myself as my wife and family does. As my friends do. As God does.

Never in a million years would I intentionally hurt another person. Yet, here I sit having hurt so many by failing to acknowledge the pain some affiliated with Exodus International caused, and by failing to share the whole truth about my own story. My good intentions matter very little and fail to diminish the pain and hurt others have experienced on my watch. The good that we have done at Exodus is overshadowed by all of this.

Friends and critics alike have said it’s not enough to simply change our message or website. I agree. I cannot simply move on and pretend that I have always been the friend that I long to be today. I understand why I am distrusted and why Exodus is hated.

Please know that I am deeply sorry. I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand up to people publicly “on my side” who called you names like sodomite—or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart. I am sorry that I have communicated that you and your families are less than me and mine.

More than anything, I am sorry that so many have interpreted this religious rejection by Christians as God’s rejection. I am profoundly sorry that many have walked away from their faith and that some have chosen to end their lives. For the rest of my life I will proclaim nothing but the whole truth of the Gospel, one of grace, mercy and open invitation to all to enter into an inseverable relationship with almighty God.

I cannot apologize for my deeply held biblical beliefs about the boundaries I see in scripture surrounding sex, but I will exercise my beliefs with great care and respect for those who do not share them. I cannot apologize for my beliefs about marriage. But I do not have any desire to fight you on your beliefs or the rights that you seek. My beliefs about these things will never again interfere with God’s command to love my neighbor as I love myself.

You have never been my enemy. I am very sorry that I have been yours. I hope the changes in my own life, as well as the ones we announce tonight regarding Exodus International, will bring resolution, and show that I am serious in both my regret and my offer of friendship. I pledge that future endeavors will be focused on peace and common good.

Moving forward, we will serve in our pluralistic culture by hosting thoughtful and safe conversations about gender and sexuality, while partnering with others to reduce fear, inspire hope, and cultivate human flourishing.

Read full apology here and here 

 

Rescued from Reorientation 

March 13, 2013 by Exodus International

I’ve had the unique experience of spending the past 10 years heavily involved in Exodus ministries.  The early years were often difficult because I had to navigate conflicting messages, but I couldn’t be more grateful I remained in those circles.  I’m grateful because In the midst of drastic changes and often confusing messages, it’s been a space for me to encounter the radical grace of Jesus.

What do I mean by confusing messages?  I mean that I often haven’t understood the end goal.  Some leaders in the past claimed that an eradication of homosexual attractions was the goal, and I’ve sweated through how-to workshops to ensure the complete removal of attractions as I “embraced my femininity”.  (“Does this mean I have to trade Northface for Gucci and hiking for heels?” I thought to myself.)  Some have shamed those of us who were continually honest about our unchanging attractions, and insisted that if we were only more dedicated then we too would experience “freedom” from homosexuality.  And some have simply said that Jesus offers us life, and that if we come to follow Him with all our hearts then we won’t be let down—gay attractions or not.  I read every book I could find, searched the Scriptures through and through, talked to gay people, talked to straight people, cried, messed up, wrestled and struggled to find the answer to the question: will God still love me if my attractions never change? 

I’ve come to realize that my confusion was the result of two issues in particular: 1.) There were people who insisted that I should make a categorical shift from gay to straight.  They insisted that God’s one and only will for someone in my shoes was a process of reorientation.  Most people affiliated with Exodus no longer believe that—thank God.  2.) There was also confusion on my end by what people meant when they said they weren’t gay.  The term “gay” is understood in a variety of ways in our culture right now.  There are some who believe “gay” refers to attractions alone, while others understand it to mean an expression of sexual behavior. 

When most of the people in Exodus circles said they were no longer gay, I believe they were saying they’re not basing their identities on their attractions; I don’t believe they intended to communicate a complete eradication of homosexual attractions.  Because many Christians do still understand the term to inherently mean, “I’m actively engaging in homosexual sex,” they choose not to identify themselves by that label so as not to falsely communicate their belief regarding what Christ is calling them to in celibacy (for those whose attractions don’t shift).  This group also believes there are countless things that make up the whole of their identity, and they want to communicate the entirety of who they are as Christ followers and Christ followers alone.  That makes sense to me now.

While I’m grateful to have stuck around long enough to see these issues resolved, I’m grieved by several consequences I feel have resulted from the past false communications and occasional misunderstanding of terms: the first problem I see is that it appears walls have been erected in our process of conceptualizing our framework for understanding the nuances of our faith and sexuality.  I personally feel like there are often barriers between Exodus and gay Christians who have chosen to remain celibate in obedience to what they believe the Scriptures ask of them.  I’m burdened by the breach between us and our brothers and sisters who are in the same boat, trying to navigate the difficult waters of determining God’s will for people like us.  And I truly hope for unity in the days to come.

The second consequence I see—a tragic consequence that breaks my heart—are the stories I hear from gay people who have been shamed by Christians because they were given an ultimatum: Leave homosexuality or leave our churches.  That’s nothing short of tragic.  You deserved better than that; you deserved to have Christians come alongside you to listen, to empathize, to pray for you, to cry with you, to throw their arms around you and struggle with you.

If Exodus ministries have in any way contributed to that—whether it was because of past false communication or misunderstandings regarding terminology—I’m personally extremely sorry.  It grieves me that somehow the beauty of Christ’s way has at times been reduced to the message: “stop being gay.”  Here’s what I can tell you: Jesus Christ is the most beautiful One who’s ever walked the earth.  He embodied grace, mercy, justice, love; he saw the unseen; he touched the untouchable; he cried with the outcasts and shared meals with the marginalized.  And if in any way at any point there has been a message communicating anything other than, “Jesus loves you right now, right where you are,” then you haven’t been loved the way you deserve.

So to those of you who have been disillusioned, damaged, or downright shamed for being gay: know it breaks the heart of God and there are many of us at Exodus grieving on your behalf.  I also want you to know I earnestly pray for you.  I don’t know many of your names or faces, but I pray the Lord will meet you and bring healing from the pain that was caused. I pray that one day we can hear your stories—stories of encountering the scandalous love of Christ in the most unexpected places.  And I want you to know now what I wish you had known when you passed through before: “Jesus loves you right now, right where you are.”

Australian & New Zealand Ex-gay....going .....going...g

Nearly Two Thirds of 'Ex-gay' Ministries Disappear

20.07.2012

Exodus International, the make a wish foundation for self-loathing homosexuals, is in crisis.

It began with Alan Chambers, director of 'ex-gay' ministries umbrella organisation Exodus, honest admission to a gay Christian conference in January that 99.9% of people he'd met had never actually changed their sexual orientation. Eleven ministries defected and some evangelical leaders called for Chambers resignation.

In April this year, Dr Robert Spitzer renounced his often 'ex-gay' quoted study that sexual orientation change is possible and apologized to the gay community.

Last month Exodus issued an official statement that it no longer supports reparative therapy. “In the past, we’ve been aligned with organizations that believe feelings can completely change, temptations can completely go away. We now believe that’s an unrealistic and unhealthy expectation that can cause a lot of damage.”, Chambers said in an interview.

And at the opening address at the Exodus conference last week Chambers, in very contrite and sober tones, burst the bubble for many attendees admitting that Exodus had it wrong on many levels.

What about Australia?

A little know fact is that several years before Exodus came into existence in 1976, Australia had an 'ex-gay' ministry operating both in Sydney and Brisbane in the late 60's which was run by Moombara and Bundeena Christian Fellowships. I know, because in the early 70's I spend six months in the residential program that promised me I could become heterosexual within two years if I prayed and was committed enough to rid myself of my homosexuality.

Australia and New Zealand's 'ex-gay' ministries have been in decline for some time. Research by Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International discovered that over sixty percent of ministries and support groups offering help for those with 'unwanted same sex attraction' have shut down in Australia and New Zealand in the last decade. At this rate, they should completely non-existent by 2020.

The evolution of the 'ex-gay' message

There has been a progressive white-anting of the Exodus 'change is possible' message. Initially, the Exodus message was simply God can do a miracle and freedom from homosexuality comes if you pray hard enough or have a demon cast out of you. The magic wand approach. That was phase one. When this clearly was not successful for people, ministries moved into a more therapeutic model endeavouring to bring people to a place of healing for their 'sexual and relational brokenness'. The term 'reparative therapy' was created was created at this time. Heterosexuality was still the goal.

The most recent phase has been to admit that those with 'unwanted same sex attraction' would experience a life long struggle. It will never go away, or as one Australian 'ex-gay' leader amusingly put it to a seeker of straightness, 'you will always walk with a limp'. Not much hope in that message, is there? Especially to those wanting so desperately to be 'normal' and accepted.

While we are talking about strange terms. What's with this ridiculous term 'unwanted same sex attraction' or sometimes abbreviated USSA? This term began to gain popularity during phase three in the 90's.  I believe this was introduced for two reasons. Firstly, to distance people from the increasingly popular scientific term 'sexual orientation' and secondly to disconnect people from a gay identity and the shame loaded word homosexual. Playing semantics doesn't change the reality though. It's not an attraction honey it's an orientation. It's in your brain wiring and hormones. It's not just a thought/temptation in the mind it's who you are and unwanted because you fear rejection of others and God if you accept it. I might have unwanted left-handedness but it doesn't change the fact that I am.

In 2000, the most prominent 'ex-gay' organisation in the UK, Courage, run by Jeremy Marks, walked away from Exodus and became gay affirming. The same thing happened with New Directions Ministries, run by Wendy Gritter, in Canada in 2009.

The Australian story

Australia's 'ex-gay' movement had a brief love affair with Exodus from 1978 to the late 80's and it looked like they had joined the growing band of ministries raised up by God to cure homosexuals. But all was not well. When the US based Exodus became more and more political in the 90's, Australian 'ex-gay' leaders felt increasingly uncomfortable with this and began to distance themselves. They stepped down from international positions and rarely attended conferences. They were still happy to be on the referral list though.

We've been de-constructing the 'ex-gay' myth in Australia for some time now. It began in earnest around the mid 2000's.

In 2007, I approached five former Australian 'ex-gay' leaders for apologies and statements about their past experience and new understanding. One of those was John Meteyard, who had just stepped down as the Exodus Asia Pacific leader. He had also been a Living Waters leader and on the International Advisory Board of Exodus. Maybe Meteyard was saying in 2007 what Chambers is saying today when he said ' In the past I have been ardent in my opinion that homosexual orientation was unquestioningly a result of the 'fall' and God's intention was therefore always to heal the same-sex attracted believer and help them to be 'whole'. In the past, I have frequently spoken publicly in support of these views. However, my position is now somewhat different. I now believe that it is crucially important that we all learn to respect the rights and choices of gay and lesbian believers as they work through the complexities of their unique situation with God in their own way and in their own time'.

I guess in many ways Meteyard was saying in 2007 what Chambers is saying now in 2012. Maybe because Meteyard had already resigned from his leadership role in the organisation it didn't have as much impact. It didn't stop him from getting lots of criticism from his former colleagues in the ex-gay world though just as Chambers is now.

Various journalists have gone undercover to get inside stories with varying degrees of success. One in Australia had his cover blown twice but others got through. The most successful of these overseas was Patrick Strudwick. After Strudwick's exposé of his experience, Lesley Pilkington, the counsellor in the story, had her membership revoked by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Another well-known example was the exposure of Marcus Bachmann’s counselling clinic. Bachmann, husband of presidential contender Michele Bachmann, had repeatedly denied accusations that he practised 'ex-gay' therapy. Undercover investigations proved otherwise.

These activities in Australia has made 'ex-gay' leaders a little gun shy and find themselves now having to grill inquirers deeper just to make sure they are not another wolf in sheep clothing who will write yet another incriminating story.

Another contributing factor has been the highly successful documentary, 'The Cure', which presented an in-depth insight into the Australian 'ex-gay' world. Not only did it have heartfelt personal stories from those who have been damaged by 'ex-gay' programs it included an interview with Ron Brookman, leader of the Living Waters program. Mr Brookman's performance was not very convincing. When asked if he still has homosexual thoughts, he seemed to get unnecessarily sidetracked talking about a recent incident when he noticed an attractive young man. According to Mr Brookman, it was the thigh that got the most attention. But it was only a thought and didn't mean he was actually gay.  When Mr Brookman appeared before the Senate Same-Sex Marriage Inquiry committee, to speak against marriage equality as a 'former' homosexual, he neglected to mention the thoughts and temptations he experiences. Instead he boasted of the 'former' homosexuals he recently performed marriages for and those who now had fathered children. I cringed, knowing the predicable path these married couples have embarked upon.

'Ex-gay' leaders present the most insidious and complex forms of denial that exist, as they jump between two positions;. the public persona and the reality of what is happening internally. I know because I lived in that place myself for 22 years, never really acknowledging to myself the reality that nothing was changing it was only suppression of my 'unwanted same sex attraction. When my gayness reared it's 'ugly' head I completely justified it as just thoughts, temptations or desires that would, one day, completely disappear. Like them, this was my hope.

Whilst the Australian and New Zealand gay media have increasingly given space to developments in the 'ex-gay' world, no matter how many attempts I made, the mainstream media were uninterested. Finally a story broke in the Sun Herald in 2008. This Easter, interest in The Cure documentary meant that The Melbourne Age did a front-page story and the Sun Herald a double page spread the same weekend on 'ex-gay' ministries. It wasn't pretty. Previously reluctant to talk to the media, 'ex-gay' ministry newsletters revealed they had further closed ranks and were licking their wounds. A newsletter released by Living Waters after the Easter weekend stated. "The articles, 'Healing' the Gay Worshiper’, (Sun Herald) and ‘Ministries Preying on Gay Shame’ (Sunday Age), were a mixture of ignorance, halftruths and outright lies about our ministry".

When the ABC did a radio program on 'ex-gay' ministries this year, a media statement from Hillsong Church said, “it’s never been the church’s official position to support ‘ex-gay’ ministries” and “will not refer people to such programs”. Another journalist, was told by an 'ex-gay' ministry leader that Hillsong continue to have a good relationship with his program and makes referrals. When she approached  Hillsong for comment she immediately got this response. “Under Pastor Brian Houston's leadership, it has been made clear to all the pastoral team that they are not to refer people to such programs, We are unaware of what they are referring to” a Hillsong spokesperson said.

Where does this leave the dwindling number of 'ex-gay' ministries in Australia? Hanging on for dear life like the proverbial shag on the rock while the rest of society, gay Christians and a growing number of churches and denominations move on to more enlightened understandings of sexual orientation.

It's not over yet

Don't think that it's the end just yet though. Institutions always rise when they feel threatened but it is a sign the end is nigh.

Haydn Sennitt, pastoral worker for Liberty Christian Ministries, after attending the recent Exodus conference in the USA  wrote on their blog "No discerning person can say that Exodus’ latest changes are not having an egregious  impact" If you are not sure what 'egregious; means, it is conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible; flagrant; glaring; gross; rank. In the lengthy article Sennitt sides with those who are distancing themselves with Exodus. After what appears to be a rap over the knuckles from Chambers he has mellowed a couple of incorrect comments but reaffirms his and other Australian 'ex-gay' ministry positions. Sennitt writes on his blog Exodus Sinking or Sailing, "Within Exodus and its affiliates there are many people whom I have a close and incredibly cordial relationships, such as Shirley Baskett of Exodus Asia-Pacific.  Not all, but many believe that change in sexual desire is possible and are living proof of it, as exceptional as that is; as such it is no secret that many regional and affiliated leaders are at odds with the new direction pioneered by Chambers and believe that it is not representative of their own position".

I have often reminded people that we need to focus on the real problem. 'Ex-gay' ministries are the symptom not the cause. Here in Australia they have seldom, if ever, really promoted their programs. They exist because vulnerable, tormented Christians seek them out or are referred to the programs by churches and ministers holding on to an outdated belief that homosexuality is a choice and sin not an orientation. I just heard the story tonight of a 40 year old man who openly shared his story with a Pentecostal pastor in Brisbane. The comments made by the pastor were ignorant, cruel and destructive and sent the man into a downward spiral that included thoughts of taking his own life. I hear stories like this too regularly.

In essence the enemy we fight is not 'ex-gay' organisations or churches, it's ignorance. We create change by focusing our energies into changing the latter instead of attacking the former.

The most insidious thing that definitely needs attention is the online 'ex-gay' ministries. These are being accessed by young people in Australia. All this is done anonymously both by the seeker and also the person providing advice and support. We don’t know what qualifications these people have, if any. There is no duty of care. No reporting. No-one they are accountable to. They are so dangerous, I know of one young man in Sydney, Ben Gresham, who went into deep depression and attempted suicide whilst going through Door of Hope - Setting Captives Free 60 day program. Ben now tells his story I the hope that other gay and lesbian youth don’t go down the same path .Another one that should be shut down is Living Hope Ministries.

So it is wonderful that 17 of the 27 'ex-gay' ministries in Australia and New Zealand have closed down but obviously there is still much to do.

Shortly I will be releasing another statement by a founder and former leader of one of Australia's Exodus affiliates. Stay tuned.

Anthony Venn-Brown

E: info@gayambassador.com

Twitter: @gayambassador

ABOUT ANTHONY VENN-BROWN

Anthony Venn-Brown is a founder of Freedom 2 b[e], Australia’s largest network of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from Christian backgrounds and is currently director of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International. He is an educator, consultant and commentator on LGBT/faith issues and been committed to deconstructing the ‘ex-gay’ myth in Australia. Anthony’s journey from married, high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches to living as an openly gay man is detailed in his autobiography 'A Life of Unlearning'. Anthony has been twice voted ‘One of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians’ (2007 & 2009) and was one of four finalists for the 2011 ACON Community Hero Award.

Alan Chambers Talks Gay 'Cure,' Salvation for Homosexuals

Interview: Alan Chambers Talks Gay 'Cure,' Salvation for Homosexuals

Sat, Jul. 14, 2012 Posted: 12:42 PM EDT

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Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, is currently on vacation with his family. But his much needed break is hardly going uninterrupted following his announcement that Exodus no longer supports reparative therapy.

"I would just [like to] start my vacation at some point," Chambers said Thursday, after weeks of juggling phone calls and media requests. "It's been a crazy few weeks."

Over the last six weeks, 12 ministries have left Exodus International, which has a membership of some 270 (including ministries, counselors and church associations). Chambers said the disagreement can't be boiled down to "one issue" but what has gotten Chambers in a bit of hot water with some Christians is his recent repudiation of reparative therapy and his theology.

He has specifically been called out by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary associate professor Dr. Robert Gagnon over his statements assuring homosexuals of their salvation. The New Testament professor has even called for Chambers' resignation.

(Read Gagnon's argument here.)

Chambers responded to Gagnon's statements in an interview with The Christian Post. The full transcript is below.

CP: I'm sure you saw or heard about Dr. Gagnon's statement. First of all, what is your initial response to his call for your resignation?
Chambers: Someone's always calling for my resignation. It's nothing new. It's something that's been part of my tenure at Exodus over the last decade plus. So he can add his voice to the chorus of others whether it's gay activists or now a New Testament professor.

CP: I believe you mentioned before that everyone at Exodus, the board, agree to the changes you made at Exodus. A New York Times story mentioned though that there is a growing schism within the network and I'm not sure if he was referring to Exodus or to all groups similar to yours. I wanted you to clarify if there is a schism. What kind of response have you been getting after the changes (to halt reparative therapy)?
 Chambers: Exodus is a very large organization. My board of directors is supportive of me as the president of Exodus and are very much involved in my decision-making and those types of things. They're a wonderful and balanced group of people and I'm grateful for their support. Within the membership we have 270 or so members within the network of Exodus whether that's a local member ministry, a counselor or one of our members of our church association.

We've had 12 ministries leave our network in the last six weeks or so. So there is some disagreement over a number of different things. I don't think it can boil down to one issue over another but I think there is some disagreement. But out of 270 or so organizations that are still a part of Exodus, 12 leaving is sad for sure but people have to do what they have to do. It's not any different than something like a split that we see happen in churches all the time.

CP: Let's get to the part that Dr. Gagnon expressed most concern for. You've made several statements expressing your belief that active homosexuals can still go to heaven if they have a relationship with Christ. What do you say to Dr. Gagnon and others who believe one's eternal destiny can be endangered if they have persistent and unrepentant sin and are acting out on that?
Chambers: Well, I find it interesting first that this all centers around the issue of homosexuality and we don't bring in any other sin issue into the picture – the ones that are running rampant within our churches largely go unaddressed. Issues of pride and judgment and gossip and slander and other types of sexual immorality, gluttony, you name it. I think it's hypocritical and inconsistent for us to attack this one group of people over any other group of people that are within our churches today. If we were talking about one of their sin issues we wouldn't have addressed this at all. I find that hypocritical and inconsistent.

You know my issue isn't whether gay people go to heaven or straight people go to heaven. The point that I'm trying to make is that we as believers can have security in Christ when we are believers. We will all struggle, we will all fall prey to some type of sin, some will fall prey to the same types of sin over and over again. I don't differentiate between this one sin struggle than any other.

Rob Gagnon said on NPR last week that homosexuality was a more egregious sin. I don't find where that's stated in the Bible at all.

CP: There are those who are struggling with same-sex attraction and are trying to not act on that and then there are those who are celebrating it, who are intentionally living that lifestyle and feeling accepted by God. Do you find a difference between them when it comes to their salvation and eternal destiny?
Chambers: Let me be clear that I'm not God so I can't tell you who is and isn't going to heaven. What I know about my relationship with Christ is that as a believer, I am eternally secure. I gave my heart to Christ and that gift of salvation is irrevocable. For other people who are involved in unrepentant sin whether it's the sin of homosexual sexual expression or gluttony or pride or heterosexual sexual expression outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage or any other thing – are those people in danger of losing their salvation over those issues? Would Rob Gagnon and other people make as big a deal about that as they are with this? I don't think so.

I think we as believers can be secure in our relationship with Christ. I'm not saying that sin isn't sin. I'm not saying that people should live in unrepentant sin. I'm not saying that that's a mark of a mature believer at all. Certainly if someone looks at my life, they will see that I have surrendered my heart, my life to Jesus Christ. I'll be very glad to tell them what my faults and my weaknesses are and the areas that I pray about in my life every day. But I know Christ. And that is secure. And I think that is something that actually helps believers pursue his holiness, when they don't have to live in that fear or that life of condemnation wondering whether God's going to yank His relationship from them.

CP: As you probably know this is an age old debate on the once you're saved always saved belief. This all kind of boils down to the doctrine of sin and sanctification. I understand there are varying views among Christians. But how do you view the process of sanctification in a Christian's life?
Chambers: I'll point to a Scripture that is very relevant to this whole debate. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 which talks about all those who won't inherit the Kingdom of God. And then it says in verse 11 which I think is so appropriate here "but you were washed, you were justified, you were sanctified through the blood of Jesus Christ." I think it's for me with regards to this issue I believe in justification at the point of salvation; I believe in sanctification at the point of salvation. That doesn't mean that we don't continue to mature as believers in Christ. But I believe that we are justified and we are sanctified. But sin resides, the power of sin resides in our flesh. It will always try us and it was always tempt us and therefore we always need to be submitting our mind, will and emotions to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

CP: In that passage you mentioned, Apostle Paul said there were cases where homosexuals did change after converting. Why did you decide to stop reparative therapy altogether if it maybe did or could help one or two people?
Chambers: I think it's an interesting look at all of this. There wasn't reparative therapy in Corinth. So in this passage I think people came to Christ and experienced a new life in him apart from the therapeutic process. But when it comes to someone pointing to this passage and saying homosexuals changed, well, I'm not sure that's what that passage is referring to. Certainly anyone who comes to faith in Christ has a new heart and they have an opportunity for new life and that's a wonderful thing. But it doesn't say anywhere in that passage that the people didn't still struggle with temptation or that they never fell prey to that sin again whether it was the issue of homosexuality or any of the other things that are listed there. So to pick and choose that once you come to Christ you're never going to struggle in those areas again or never fall prey to stumbling in those ways again, I just, I don't think we can assure that.

Now on to reparative therapy, I think counseling is a wonderful tool for anybody regardless of what struggle they bring to the table. I think we can all use a little bit of counseling on planet earth today. But when it comes to reparative therapy, the reason we have distanced ourselves from it is because some of the things that they employ and some of the messages that I've heard from reparative therapists with regards to what someone can expect once they get through that type of therapy. For someone to promise a percentage type cure for this issue, for instance I had someone who said they had experienced a 90 percent permanent – in all caps PERMANENT – reduction of their same-sex attraction. How can we quantify that? How can you even know that that's what you have experienced? And what if at some point you fall to 85 percent or 70 percent? That, I think, sets people up for unrealistic expectations and is something that I'm not willing to offer when we're sharing these types of messages or presenting what was presented to me.

When I said on national television I still struggle, a reparative therapist called me and said if you'll come into therapy with me I can cure you of your temptations and attractions 100 percent. And then there are the offers of using homosexual pornography within the therapeutic process to help people understand why they're struggling. And then there are encouragements to use heterosexual pornography or heterosexual images to encourage heterosexual attraction. I find it a golden idol, honestly, where we have been hypocritical to ask people to resolve this issue in a way that we haven't encouraged other people with other struggles to resolve. I'm looking at offering biblical holiness, not an unrealistic expectation for people that will leave them disappointed.

CP: How does that look like on a practical level at Exodus? If somebody comes into Exodus now and they're saying they're struggling with same-sex attraction, how does this new discipleship or Christ-centered model look like?
Chambers: It's really an encouragement of discipleship, it looks like anything else that we're offering to anyone else, any other person struggling with any other issue in their life. It's about pursuing a relationship with Christ. For some that will mean getting the help or expertise of a counselor that can help them walk through and navigate through some of the traumatic things that they've been through in their life. But to say that people who have same-sex attractions are the only group of people who need to go to a therapist to completely resolve those attractions isn't something I find biblically accurate.

It says in this world you will have trouble in John 16:33 but take heart you can have peace in me because I've overcome the world. I think for believers you know we are helping people pursue holiness through a relationship with Christ, through biblical community in their local church, through honesty and transparency, sharing what it is that troubles them, being accountable. But this isn't just for people with same-sex attractions it's for all people in the church. And I think that's really where we need to be more consistent as believers. Exodus will do that for people who come to us for help. But we will encourage the church to do that in general for anyone and everyone who's seeking to be a mature believer in Christ.

CP: So you want the church to play a much bigger role in this.
Chambers: This is the church's job. This is who we are as the body of Christ to reach out to people who are in need, who are struggling, who need to be discipled and to pursue Christ in their life. That's good news and the church should offer it wholeheartedly to anyone.

CP: Do you feel this issue is just so complex and complicated that you easily get misunderstood?
Chambers: I do. I think we've made it a golden idol. I think we in the church have treated it differently than we've treated anything else. We've made it bigger; the resolution for this needs to be bigger than for other people. I think we have to do a better job than we've done. So I do think there is, people rush to judgment and rush to clarify their point on this issue in ways that they don't' rush to judgment and to clarity on other issues.

CP: Are there any other misunderstandings that you want to clarify or anything you want to add to this?
Chambers: I think, again, if someone wants to know what I believe then look at my life. I am pursuing Christ wholeheartedly 100 percent. I don't need a theologian or a set of man-made beliefs to guide me in my daily life. I'm grateful for people's opinions but I choose to surrender and to serve Christ and Christ alone and in that my life has changed. My beliefs and my desires have changed. They have come into alignment with who he is and who he created you to be. And that's a wonderful thing and that's what we will always offer at Exodus.

Lillian Kwon

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Copyright © Christianpost.com.

Rift Forms in Movement as Belief in Gay ‘Cure’ Is Renounced

Rift Forms in Movement as Belief in Gay ‘Cure’ Is Renounced

July 6, 2012

By ERIK ECKHOLM

New York Times

For more than three decades, Exodus International has been the leading force in the so-called ex-gay movement, which holds that homosexuals can be “cured” through Christian prayer and psychotherapy.

Exodus leaders claimed its network of ministries had helped tens of thousands rid themselves of unwanted homosexual urges. The notion that homosexuality is not inborn but a choice was seized on by conservative Christian groups who oppose legal protections for gay men and lesbians and same-sex marriage.

But the ex-gay movement has been convulsed as the leader of Exodus, in a series of public statements and a speech to the group’s annual meeting last week, renounced some of the movement’s core beliefs. 

Alan Chambers, 40, the president, declared that there was no cure for homosexuality and that “reparative therapy” offered false hopes to gays and could even be harmful. His statements have led to charges of heresy and a growing schism within the network.

“For the last 37 years, Exodus has been a bright light, arguably the brightest one for those with same-sex attraction seeking an authentically Christian hope,” said Andrew Comiskey, founder and director of Desert Stream Ministries, based in Kansas City, Mo., one of 11 ministries that defected. His group left Exodus in May, Mr. Comiskey said in an e-mail, “due to leader Alan Chambers’s appeasement of practicing homosexuals who claim to be Christian” as well as his questioning of the reality of “sexual orientation change.”

In a phone interview Thursday from Orlando, Fla., where Exodus has its headquarters, Mr. Chambers amplified on the views that have stirred so much controversy. He said that virtually every “ex-gay” he has ever met still harbors homosexual cravings, himself included. Mr. Chambers, who left the gay life to marry and have two children, said that gay Christians like himself faced a lifelong spiritual struggle to avoid sin and should not be afraid to admit it.

He said Exodus could no longer condone reparative therapy, which blames homosexuality on emotional scars in childhood and claims to reshape the psyche. And in a theological departure that has caused the sharpest reaction from conservative pastors, Mr. Chambers said he believed that those who persist in homosexual behavior could still be saved by Christ and go to heaven.

Only a few years ago, Mr. Chambers was featured in advertisements along with his wife, Leslie, saying, “Change is possible.” But now, he said in the interview, “Exodus needs to move beyond that slogan.”

“I believe that any sexual expression outside of heterosexual, monogamous marriage is sinful according to the Bible,” Mr. Chambers emphasized. “But we’ve been asking people with same-sex attractions to overcome something in a way that we don’t ask of anyone else,” he said, noting that Christians with other sins, whether heterosexual lust, pornography, pride or gluttony, do not receive the same blanket condemnations.

Mr. Chamber’s comments come at a time of widening acceptance of homosexuality and denunciation of reparative therapy by professional societies that say it is based on faulty science and potentially harmful.

A bill to outlaw “conversion therapy” for minors has passed the California Senate and is now before the State Assembly. Earlier this year, a prominent psychiatrist, Dr. Robert L. Spitzer, apologized for publishing what he now calls an invalid study, which said many patients had largely or totally switched their sexual orientation.

Defenders of the therapy say that it can bring deep changes in sexual orientation and that the attacks are politically motivated.

David H. Pickup, a therapist in Glendale, Calif., who specializes in the treatment, said restricting it would harm people who are unhappy with their homosexuality by “making them feel that no change is possible at all.”

Mr. Pickup, an officer of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, composed of like-minded therapists, said reparative therapy had achieved profound changes for thousands of people, including himself. The therapy, he said, had helped him confront emotional wounds and “my homosexual feelings began to dissipate and attractions for women grew.”

Some in the ex-gay world are more scathing about Mr. Chambers.

“I think Mr. Chambers is tired of his own personal struggles, so he’s making excuses for them by making sweeping generalizations about others,” said Gregg Quinlan, a conservative lobbyist in New Jersey and president of a support group called Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays.

Exodus International, with a budget of $1.5 million provided by donors and member churches, is on a stable footing, Mr. Chambers said. He said the shifts in theology had the support of the Exodus board and had been welcomed by many of the 150 churches that are members in North America, which increasingly have homosexuals in their congregations. More opposition has come from affiliated ministries specifically devoted to sex-related therapies, with 11 quitting Exodus so far while about 70 remain.

In another sign of change, the vice chairman of the Exodus board, Dennis Jernigan, was forced to resign in June after he supported anti-sodomy laws in Jamaica. The board pledged to fight efforts anywhere to criminalize sexual acts between consenting adults.

Robert Gagnon, an associate professor at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and author of books on homosexuality and the Bible, last week issued a public call for Mr. Chambers to resign. “My greatest concern has to do with Alan’s repeated assurances to homosexually active ‘gay Christians’ that they will be with him in heaven,” he said in an e-mail.

Gay rights advocates said they were encouraged by Mr. Chambers’s recent turn but remained wary of Exodus, which they feel has caused enormous harm.

“Exodus International played the key role in planting the message that people can go from gay to straight through religion and therapy,” said Wayne Besen, director of Truth Wins Out, a group that refutes what it considers misinformation about gays and lesbians. “And the notion that one can change is the centerpiece of the religious right’s argument for denying us rights.”

Many of the local ministries in Exodus continue to attack gays and lesbians, said David Roberts, editor of the Web site Ex-Gay Watch, and they often have close ties with reparative therapists. He speculated that Mr. Chambers was trying to steer the group in a moderate direction because “they were becoming pariahs” in a society that is more accepting of gay people.

Mr. Chambers said he was simply trying to restore Exodus to its original purpose when it was founded in 1976: providing spiritual support for Christians who are struggling with homosexual attraction.

He said that he was happy in his marriage, with a “love and devotion much deeper than anything I experienced in gay life,” but that he knew this was not feasible for everyone. Many Christians with homosexual urges may have to strive for lives of celibacy.

But those who fail should not be severely judged, he said, adding, “We all struggle or fall in some way.”

If you feel that you are tormented by uwanted same-sex attraction then the answer lies in loving and accepting your true self.....and offer you this suggestion. Before you invest the time, money, emotional energy and possibly years of your life trying to go from gay to straight, ask the ex-gay leaders what guarantee they can give you that it will work. If they are honest with you, the best they will be able to offer you as a degree of ‘heterosexual functionality’, but the gay never actually goes away. Then ask yourself what would be the best way to spend your time, money and emotional energy…..rejecting yourself or accepting yourself.

After 22 years of trying to change including ex-gay programs, exorcisms and 16 years of marriage, I came to the realisation that loving myself was far healthier than hating and rejecting my true self. Like 1,000’s of others today, I finally discovered that I can live a wonderfully fulfilling, moral life as an openly gay man and still have my faith.

Anthony Venn-Brown