Exodus expressed dismay at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s decision to allow partnered gay clergy to serve in the church.
Orlando, FL. Exodus International, the world’s largest interdenominational ministry helping those conflicted by same-sex attraction to live a life that reflects the Christian faith, is troubled by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s vote today to allow congregations to hire clergy involved in same-sex relationships. Exodus says this is a clear move away from biblical teaching on sexuality and a disconcerting approach to this issue.
An Exodus ministry leader named Nate Oyloe presented “his personal testimony of leaving homosexuality” to the ELCA conference in Minnesota.
“In my life, homosexuality didn’t just encompass my attractions, it defined my identity. As a Christian seeking to live by and be defined by the truth of Scripture first, I concluded that I could not pursue both. I am saddened that as a result of the ELCA’s decision, others will find it harder to obtain the biblical answers and compassionate support that helped me to experience life-giving freedom.”
Another way to look at the decision would be to rejoice that people who are attracted to other people of the same sex will no longer be pressured to “change” into an “ex-gay,” and will instead be accepted and loved for who they are.
Life-giving freedom? Really?
Having to spend your life resisting the “temptation” to actually fall in love and enjoy emotional intimacy with someone qualifies as freedom? I have a hard time imagining that.
I certainly find your interpretation far more reasonable, Emily.
Interpretation: Exodus wants to shove its “biblical answers” and “compassionate support” down gay Lutherans’ throats and doesn’t want them to consider the possibility that they may best attain life-giving freedom by accepting their natural sexuality and pursuing appropriate relationships.
I rather doubt Nate is “sad”, probably pissed would be more in tune, as struggling everyday against one’s true nature is a very confused road to hoe. It poses the idea of the deepest self and cultural betrayal. Especially in the light of seeing masses of gay people having no struggle with their sexuality at all, as much as the struggle with being mamed for it.
PS I am also very grateful that the APA, your web sight (thanks) and those like it, and the media are doing such a great job of exposing Exodus-like programs. The result is making them look as though they are true “Koolaid” style scams which is highly unfortunate. It greatly helps our gay brothers and sisters effected by such feel better and better everyday. I find this to be the truest form of God in action.
From a purely business standpoint I can understand how Exodus would be dismayed or troubled by the ELCA’s move, just as a horseshoe maker may have been troubled by the advent of automobiles.
Where will the Alans and the Randys of the ex-gay industry find jobs after their market dries up? Maybe they could learn to make horseshoes for the Amish who are “conflicted by
same-sexautomobile attraction to live a life that reflects the Christian faith.”To be honest, although I’m sure that the ex-gay industry will contract considerably in the future, I doubt that it will ever dry up completely. I say that because, human nature being what it is, there will always be people who are dissatisfied with some aspect of who they are and who waste years of their lives trying to change it, and this creates a market. The pages of Old Moore’s Almanack used to be (and probably still are, but I haven’t read it for yonks) full of adverts promising people things of that kind that they’re never going to get – none of them for free, of course.
It’s like I always say, the anorexic are trying to conform to unrealistic standards of beauty AND physical attributes.
It’s not that being curvy isn’t normal, natural or desirable, it’s that women are in the position of being expected to look and be more vulnerable and less strong and therefore more acceptable to who holds the power over this image, which is men.
It’s physically impossible to give up food, or be attracted to food because it’s life sustaining AND made more enjoyable beyond it’s basic and simplest forms.
But yet, starvation is the result of denying oneself this vital intake.
This is also very true of gay people and the unrealistic expectations of them. The expectation to starve of love and intimacy as those around them are feasting on it freely. Ex gays are the anorexics of gay intimacy, and love. They are denying themselves their real needs, while accepting that starvation is the price of being accepted and fitting into an industry, a business, a cultural phenom that influences a great deal of how our society sees itself.
Eventually the inevitable hunger will overshadow that influence and gay folks will return to their normal pattern of self fulfillment.
As long as being loved, accepted and validated is the condition and impetus to starve, well one will do so.
It’s no surprise, nor unexpected….that this is exploited and sometimes has ended in as much tragedy as anorexia to an uncaring industry that will cast blame on the failure of the individual who attempts starvation, is the point.
Just my two cents, thanks.
I think the analogy works, Regan.
I also think these folks can get “troubled” twice a day every day before breakfast, and that what really saddens them is losing potential clients, venues, etc. I guess I could be more charitable and less flip about it, but I can’t be bothered.
I truly appreciate the great posts above. My testing time came when I had to, for self-preservation mostly, decide that not only does God NOT make mistakes, but that our sexual orientation is just one of many, many blessings we
receive from a loving God. Accepting our sexual orientation
as a blessing, and NOT a curse, has made all the difference
in the world. As a Pastor/Chaplain, I come in contact daily with adults and young people who ask me so many hurting questions in their lives. As Paul Harvey would say, “I have news…” I can add, “GOOD NEWS!!!”
The people I really feel sad for are the heart-hardened folks who will never change, or refuse to change their self-imposed falsehoods and negative teachings that have been handed down for generations and never challenged. They most likely have not had an original thought since Mummy and Daddy said their prayers with them when they were 4-5-6 years old. What a tragedy, what a wasted life. My prayers are for them also!
Peace, Blessings, Joy, Hope, Love,
Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain
To the fellow who gave his testimony:
That’s all fine and dandy for you, but are you lutheran?
No?
Okay, so what bearing does your religion have upon theirs?
I can only assume that ragarth is referring to my “testimony” above. I was raised in the old ELC, aka ALC, today as the ELCA. I still keep strong ties with many ministers of the ELCA
through ministerial associations.
Besides the bearing of friendships and a church doctrine much the same as the ELCA, the only real bearing we have to each others’ religion (and I believe you mean ‘denomination’) is Christianity. That alone…is all we need!
‘Nuff said!
Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain
What’s really important here is that being gay CAN reconcile with being Christian and within the supportive function of a monogamous and committed relationship. And the surrounding church community should work to help keep the couple together and focused as they would a hetero couple.
Religious communities reconcile themselves with all kinds of secular policy that includes religious taboos. Certainly new medical or psychiatric issues are a part of that, so to continue to expect gay people to live as pariahs indefinitely, while pointing fingers and concluding that whatever pathologies (if any) arise are results of homosexuality, rather than the damaging effects of being set up to fail is the utmost of intellectual and moral dishonesty.
Even worse is the indictment that all gay people are the same and WILL represent chaos, and/ or that homosexuality itself is representative of chaos, is wrongful.
It’s ALWAYS wrongful and unfair to indict all for what occurs in a few or what they do.
Christians don’t accept that indictment on themselves, so why do they do that to the entire of gay people?
The best way for Lutherans, or anyone for that matter to see for themselves how gay people function in a committed relationship surrounded by their church or secular community, is to actually HAVE THEM DO IT, instead of making a harsh conclusion before that fact.