Exodus International, controversial ministry offering "alternative to homosexuality," to shut doors

[tpsbmam]

Source: CBS News

A controversial Florida-based Christian ministry that advised gay people "seeking freedom from unwanted same-sex attraction" plans to shut its doors.

Exodus International announced in a statement Wednesday that its board of directors voted unanimously to close down "after a year of dialogue and prayer about the organization's place in a changing culture." The Orlando-based ministry says it opened in 1976 and boasts member agencies around the world.

"Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we've ceased to be a living, breathing organism," Exodus President Alan Chambers said in the statement. "For quite some time we've been imprisoned in a worldview that's neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical."

<snip>

"It is strange to be someone who has both been hurt by the church's treatment of the LGBT community, and also to be someone who must apologize for being part of the very system of ignorance that perpetuated that hurt," said Chambers. "Today it is as if I've just woken up to a greater sense of how painful it is to be a sinner in the hands of an angry church."



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57590238/exodus-international-controversial-ministry-offering-alternative-to-homosexuality-to-shut-doors/

---

HOLY SHIT! This is huge! WOW!!! These "pray away the gay" Christians have been very influential internationally. What will the ramifications of this end up being?

[MADem]

1. This is a big deal...I guess they prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and the gay still didn't go away!

After awhile, I suppose they had to ask themselves if their god wasn't perhaps trying to tell them something...?

What's odd is, the guy making the announcement admits it doesn't work, but still carries the religious-taught guilt around:

But, in his apology Wednesday, Chambers said he "conveniently omitted my ongoing same-sex attractions.

"I was afraid to share them as readily and easily as I do today," he said. "They brought me tremendous shame and I hid them in the hopes they would go away. ... 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."

Saying he was "deeply sorry" to the LGBT community, Chambers said he understood "why I am distrusted and why Exodus is hated." However, he also said that he wouldn't apologize for his personal beliefs against same-sex intercourse and same-sex marriage.

"I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced," said Chambers. "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 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."

In Exodus' closure announcement, the ministry said local affiliated ministries would continue without the Exodus affiliation.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57590238/exodus-international-controversial-ministry-offering-alternative-to-homosexuality-to-shut-doors/

[Iliyah]

2. Two of the original founders, males,

ran away with each and got married - LOL

[area51]

3. If the words of Leviticus are so important to them,

perhaps they can morph into a group which will bring people out of the sin of eating shellfish (Leviticus 11:10).

[okaawhatever]

4. I saw the guy from Exodus on Rachel's show tonight. His apology and announcement sounded

genuine. I don't know what made them change their minds, but thank goodness they came out publicly and admitted to having "seen the light." In the guy's speech he did say they were sorry for those they had hurt. So not only have they recognized that they were wrong, they've admitted that what they did harmed people. Let's hope their position catches on.

[Ratty]

5. Now that is an apology

None of the usual sorry to anyone I may have offended, my words were taken out of context, blah blah. The guy nailed it and covered all the bases. Yes, he still admits he believes homosexuality is sinful and it's more of the love the sinner garbage. Not someone I'd want to hang out with but I'm giving him big props for the earnest apology. If more christians would embrace the whole judge not thing and keep their fucking opinions to themselves I'd be perfectly satisfied.

[okaawhatever]

6. Exactly. I still want to find out what prompted the change. nt

[marshall]

7. We can all learn from that type of apology

Some mistakes are bigger than others, bu we all need to apologize sometimes.

[SharonAnn]

10. Exactly. It is very impressive and is an example of a REAL apology.

[LeftishBrit]

8. Excellent news!

[Jamastiene]

9. They should go home, get down on their knees,

and pray for forgiveness for all the trauma they caused for all those years. I liken their apology to someone burning your house down on purpose, saying, "Oops, sorry." then walking away with no consequences and no remorse whatsoever. In a just society, reparative therapy would be a crime akin to rape and/or torture. The trauma that crap causes never truly goes away. Damn their nonchalant, self centered apology. There is no apology they could give that would be enough to make up for all the damage they have caused through the years.

[ruggerson]

11. k/r

Nt

[jmowreader]

12. I don't see much of a change there

It may actually be worse now. All his local Pray Away The Gay groups are still in operation, just without the Exodus lightning-rod on their roof. And he is still against same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage, and will probably still be used as an anti-gay mouthpiece. So, how did anything get better?