Humility: Exodus International Repents of the “Gay Cure” Lie
Some of the most important figures in the ex-gay movement, men and women who deeply believed in so-called reparative therapy, are realizing the futility of changing people’s sexually orientations. Each one has been the darling of anti-homosexual Christians, each has had to forfeit that relieved gratitude, and each has suffered for repenting of their mistaken notions.
Alan Chambers,president of Exodus International
Exodus International recently announced that it is impossible to make gay people straight. Alan Chambers is the current president of Exodus International, and he has renounced the belief in a “Gay Cure.” (Click here)
Darlene Bogle, former Exodus leader
A few years ago, three major figures in the ex-gay movement issued a public apology for the damage they did to gay and lesbian believers. Michael Bussee (co-founder of Exodus), Darlene Bogle (a former Exodus ministries leader), and Jeremy Marks (former UK ex-gay leader).
“Former Ex-Gay Leaders Apologize” (Click here)
Michael Bussee, one of the co-founcers of Exodus, explains his journey in more detail in the following interview.
Two Of Exodus’ Founders Come Out As ‘Ex-Ex-Gay’ (Click here)
John Paulk was a major ex-gay leader employed at Focus on the Family. Even while preaching the gay cure message, he was discovered in a gay bar hitting on another gay man. After his experience of “stumbling,” James Dobson cut him loose.
“Ex-Gay” Caught in the Act (Click here)
John Paulk, frmr ex-gay with FOTF
These men and women were all vigorously committed to the ex-gay movement. They have more experience working with gay and lesbian believers than anyone. And they have seen first hand the suicides and self-mutilations that resulted from the cruel lies, the promises of an unnecessary deliverance made by anti-homosexual Christians.
Michael Bussee, co-founder of Exodus International
These Christians aren’t researchers. They’re not theology professors. They’re not academics. These are actual gay and lesbian believers who sincerely believed that “deliverance” from same-sex attractions was possible for every homosexual.
Hard, cruel experience taught them this was a lie, a lie that cost lives.
Exodus International’s president Alan Chambers is now being accused of antinomianism. If you’ve read many of my blogs (Click here), I have demonstrated that the Apostle Paul himself was the first, original Christian antinomian. He was ”against Law.”
“Exodus International’s Alan Chambers Accused of Antinomian Theology” (Click here)
The debate over whether or not we are under the Law has been debated for the entire 2,000 years of Christian history. The New Testament writers were differed on the issue, which is why the issue cannot be settled. Each side, those who cling to the Law, and those who follow the Law of Love, have produced untold amounts of verbiage to support their position, although those who love Torah tend to be more on the wordy side. All the arguments have been argued. Everyone, especially the lovers of the Written Code, have stockpiles of ammunition to use. The debate will not end. There is no “solution,” as much as we’d like to settle problems like this once for all. We must love as Christ taught, and leave the Standard Bearers to their sacred task.
We can’t blow off the experience of people who were actually committed to “freeing” homosexuals from their sexual orientation, and learned it was not possible. The leaders of Exodus International all know the real truth.
The people at Exodus International love gay and lesbian believers. Because they love them, they do not lie to them and hold out false hopes.
Their ability to learn from their mistakes is wonderful and promising. Their sanctification and repentance in this area gives us hope for others who, for a while, cling to damaging notions.
Are you certain of your last sentence? Anyone who uses the term ex-gay without irony is lying. Does no-one in Exodus still believe in a “cure”?
The video has the wonderful line, that people should not believe they have to change who they are and become who they are not, to be Christian. That is a wider lesson, applicable generally, not just to homosexuality.
Clare, I’ve given a broad outline of some recent history. What I have presented is not nuanced, not analytical. It’s more reportage. I’m not privy to what goes on inside Exodus.
For a number of years I occasionally dip into what’s going on inside the LGBT Christian community. There’s a lot of variety there, contrasting beliefs, etc. There’s a lot more communication going on within that diverse community than we can see from the outside. The leaders have known one another for a long time, even prayed and ministered side-by-side.
From what I’ve seen, the leaders truly care about one another. They are all committed to relieve the suffering of others. Most of what I’ve seen involved the Gay Christian Network. They have hosted a discussion with the various leaders. The rank and file, however, who have suffered grievously from the reparation therapy people, were not necessarily able to forgive. Wounds have not healed, and salt was poured in. GCN leaders took a lot of criticism for allowing reparation therapy advocates to share the stage at a particular conference I read about.