From the Orlando Sentinel:
Alan Chambers will discuss “the topic of change in homosexuality, faith and the ex-gay movement.” Cooper’s program airs at 10 on CNN.
One topic: The suggestion that the Rev. Ted Haggard, former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, is “completely heterosexual” after attending an Exodus program.
That’s the first I’ve heard that Haggard attended an Exodus program.
Alan Chambers is so dishonest. He tells Terry Gross on NPR that he is “completely heterosexual.” Tonight to Anderson he dances around the question by saying that he is living “beyond his feelings” and that he “is human.” Then in recent articles about Haggard, he talks about how his wife “keeps him accountable,” and away from temptations to homosexuality. He should just come out and say that he is still attracted to men, but that he has decided to live his life not acting on that attraction.
It was also interesting to here Alan say that there are “gay Christians,” and bemoan the fact that ex-gays are in the minority compared to openly gay Americans. While that might have come accross as so very, very tolerant on CNN, it doesn’t square with so many of his other comments in the last year, and a book that he wrote saying that being gay and Christian are essentially incompatible.
Why does the head of this religious organization have such a difficult time with the truth? or at least being consistent?
He definitely didn’t attend an Exodus ministry or one that deals specifically with homosexuality for that matter.
Alan, I missed the show. Do you know if it will be re-aired?
Alan didn’t address my comments that his tune changes depending on his audience. Instead he decides to comment on whether Haggard was in an Exodus ministry. Is it really appropriate for the head of Exodus to publicly comment on who has or hasn’t attended an Exodus ministry? Do people who attend Exodus ministries have an expectation of privacy?
John this lack of privacy issue is just another proof of the fact that Exodus does not always uphold the agreements of confidentiality like the APA and other mainstream psychological organizations are legally sworn to. I find, among other issues, that these ex-gay ministries are so childish and ridiculous.
I think (as far as Haggard is concerned) it also just shows how extreme Evangelical Christianity is such a baby food religion. This phenomenon is not only found in the ex-gay ministries but it is found throughout much of the extreme right wing Christian mindset. Issues like “Biblical Creationism vs. Evolution” in the public schools, etc. Someone wrote about how these people are living in a parallel universe. That is not only disturbing but it shows that their world is all too often like a little kids’ fantasy world and they’ll do just about anything to fight against reality. It’s sort of a Christian Peter Pan syndrome.
I am very heartened by the fact that there is an increasing number of Christians from a diverse background who are embracing their gay and lesbian children and families. They are taking part in a great spiritual awakening that is happening across this country with our GLBT families. This is also evidence that the Bible has immense possibilities of hope in the future as an increasing number of Christian leaders are choosing to teach love and not hate. They are choosing to use the Bible in its historical context and to let the Spirit set them free from past traditions that have kept GLBT people from their place at the Table of Christ.
It could be that some people outside the LGBT and conservative Christian communities, which is an awful lot of people, think that “Exodus” is a synonym for “ex-gay.” Or someone didn’t do their fact-checking. Wouldn’t be the first time.
–Jayelle Wiggins-Lunacharsky
The question CNN should have asked:
As part of the ex-gay movement, how does Exodus plan to deal with the fact that Mr. Haggard’s claim raises the question of how he has accomplished in three weeks a goal that other ex-gays say took them years to reach?
Alan states, “My attraction greatly dimminished over the course of many years. Sixteen years into it my life isn’t even remotely the same as it once was.”
Of course this often happens with age. As we get older, sexual desire often diminishes. Therefore is it Jesus making these changes or simply the natural dwindling of male libido?