A post titled Ugandan Statement Issued From Exodus Board & North American Leaders appeared on the official Exodus blog today. To our knowledge, this is the first official statement on the issue from Exodus.
Last November, a letter signed by Exodus president Alan Chambers, vice president Randy Thomas, Christopher Yuan of Moody Bible Institute and Grove City professor Warren Throckmorton was sent to Ugandan president Museveni. That letter condemned the Anti-Homosexuality Bill being considered there but was not signed by a member of the board and was not a statement but a letter.
The statement released today is certainly welcome and anything which helps dissuade Ugandans from enacting such an inhumane law is a good thing. However, there is no way around the glaring fact that this statement is extremely late. Mega-Pastor Rick Warren made a rather bold statement, both in a video and a letter directly to President Museveni, last December. And the original conference which put this legislation in overdrive occurred over a year ago. An Exodus board member, Don Schmierer, attended that conference and signed today’s statement.
No one can go back and undo the past, but we sincerely hope that Exodus leadership can take lessons from this. Be very careful when becoming involved with potential hot-spots abroad — know who you are dealing with and the effect your message can have, especially when no healthy counterbalance exists. And act fast to admit mistakes and minimize the damage you might have done, whether intentional or not.
The official statement from Exodus:
Exodus International believes that every human life, regardless of an individual’s sexual behavior, is of inestimable worth to God and that defending this principle is foundational in offering a Christian response to any issue. As such, Exodus International has not and will not support any legislation that deprives others of life and dignity including, but not limited to, Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. We stand with all who are defending this basic, biblical tenet and remain committed to sharing the compassion, hope and life-giving truth and grace of Jesus Christ.
In November of 2009, several of us sent a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Musenevi expressing our concerns regarding The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. The legislation would render some homosexual practices crimes punishable by life imprisonment and possible death. We believe that sexual crimes against children, whether committed by someone of the same or opposite sex, are the most serious of offenses and should be punished; we consider same-sex behavior in consensual adult relationships another matter.
Since the Bible clearly states that homosexual behavior was not part of God’s creative intent for human sexual expression, the Christian church must remain a safe, compassionate and confidential place. If homosexual behavior and knowledge of such behavior is criminalized and prosecuted, as proposed in this bill, church and ministry leaders will be unable to assist hurting men, women and youth who might otherwise seek help in addressing this personal issue. The Christian church must be permitted to extend the love and compassion of Christ to all, regardless of an individual’s adherence to scripture. We believe that such legislation would make this mission a difficult, if not impossible, task to carry out.
Many of us, and those we know and work with, have personally struggled with same-sex attractions and some have lived as gay-identified individuals, but we have since found a new identity in Jesus Christ. We now live our lives to reflect the transformation that is available to those who submit their mind, will and emotions to the Lordship of Christ. We sincerely believe that such transformation cannot be achieved in an environment of government coercion where the vital support, care and compassion of the Christian community is discouraged and prosecuted. In addition, it wasn’t through coercion that Christ set us free, but through the gracious invitation He extended to us for relationship and the freedom He gave us to choose our own path.
Alan Chambers
President
Exodus International
Rev. Bob Ragan
Director
Regeneration of Northern Virginia
Chairman of the Board, Exodus International
Exodus Membership Council
Mike Goeke
Counseling Pastor
Stonegate Fellowship
Vice Chairman of the Board, Exodus International
Jayson Graves, M.MFT
Christian counselor & Neurotherapist
Healing for the Soul
Secretary of the Board, Exodus International
Clark and Martha Whitten
Pastor
Grace Church
Treasurer of the Board, Exodus International
Jeff Winter
Board Member, Exodus International
Founder, One by One
Don and Diana Schmierer
Board Members, Exodus International
Bob Stith
National Strategist for Gender Issues
Southern Baptist Convention
Chairman of the Board , Living Hope Ministries
Board Member, Exodus International
Melissa A. Ingraham, MA, NCC
Mental Health Counselor
Christian Counseling Center
McKrae Game
Executive Director
Truth Ministry
Dave and Diane Rasmussen
Co-Directors
Simon Ministries
Tony Moore
Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator
Exodus International
Tommy Corman
Executive Director
Love In Action International
Jim Katsoudas
Executive Director
Clean Heart Ministries
Kenny Warkentin
Resource Outreach Coordinator
Living Waters Central Region
Gregory C. Wallace
Executive Director
Hope & New Life Ministries
Mark Culligan
Founder
New Hearts Outreach
Tammi Wilds
Interim Director
New Hearts Outreach
Ryan Ortega
Client Relations & Technical Support
New Hearts Outreach
Bob Jones
Executive Director
Fresh Word Ministries
Ron Smith
Director
New Hope Ministries
Russell Willingham
Executive Director
New Creation Ministries
Mike Levenhagen
Director
Reclamation Resource Center
Richard Holloman
Executive Director
The Sight Ministry
Billie Jimenez
Florida Regional Coordinator
Exodus International
Judy Williams
Co-director
In His Time Ministry
Sonia Balcer
Director
Safe Passage
Warren Lamb, Th.M.
Pastor, Truth In Love Fellowship
Director, Vancouver Bible Institute
Stephen Black
Director
First Stone Ministries
Exodus Membership Council
Jim Venice
Executive Director
Clean Heart Ministries
Jerry Armelli
Director
Prodigal Ministries
Michael R. Newman
Executive Director
Christian Coalition for Reconciliation
Allen Hildreth
Director
Walking in Freedom Ministries
Lewis E. Palmer & Carol A. Palmer
Director and Co-Director
Love and Grace Ministry
Jim Duran
Lead Pastor
The River Community
Randy Thomas
Executive Vice President
Exodus International
Paula Mcnabb
Director of Business and Public Affairs
Exodus International
David Fountain
Senior Director of Communications and Events
Exodus International
Leslie Chambers
Director of Ministry Events
Exodus International
Chris Stump
Director of Exodus Books
Exodus International
Jeff Buchanan
Director of Church Association
Exodus International
Angela Buchanan
Director of Communications
Exodus International
Kristin Tremba
Director of One By One
Exodus International
Dr. Marc Dillworth
Director of the Professional Counselor Network
Exodus International
Terri Brown
Director of Exodus Membership
Exodus International
Karen Eaglin
Director of Equipping Events
Exodus International
Paul Webster
Director of Ministry Advancement
Exodus International
Yvette Schneider
Director of Women’s Ministry
Exodus International
Amber Russelburg
Exodus International
Melissa Condrey
Exodus International
Exodus wrote:
Am I the only one that finds this statement at odds with the supposed intent of the letter. The most commonly cited verse that anti-gay Christians and ex-gays like Exodus cite to condemn homosexuality comes from Leviticus. That verse calls for the death penalty.
I don’t live by Leviticus, and I know that Alan and the rest of these folks don’t either, though they often seem to want to demand it of others.
This letter is a mess unless Alan and company want to spell out that they don’t think that Leviticus condemns homosexuality, or they don’t agree with the death penalty (though it is in the Bible).
While on the one hand, I guess it is a good thing that they are finally, after all this time, after all the cajoling, and only after mainstream media criticism, condemning the legislation. On the other hand, they are speaking out of both sides of their mouth, and anyone who has heard the sort of “Biblical innerrancy” BS from these guys would read this letter and just shake their heads.
“If homosexual behavior and knowledge of such behavior is criminalized and prosecuted, as proposed in this bill, church and ministry leaders will be unable to assist hurting men, women and youth who might otherwise seek help in addressing this personal issue. The Christian church must be permitted to extend the love and compassion of Christ to all, regardless of an individual’s adherence to scripture. We believe that such legislation would make this mission a difficult, if not impossible, task to carry out.”
Gee, I feel sorry for the “Kristian Church” will be deprived of working its mojo on homos. My goodness, their mission would be difficult.
antonio
“Since the Bible clearly states that homosexual behavior was not part of God’s creative intent for human sexual expression, the Christian church must remain a safe, compassionate and confidential place”
Gee, I googled “clobber passages” and couldn’t find that statement ANYWHERE in the bible.
Ya think they might be making it all up?
Are they hand delivering it?
Why would the Ugandan parliament care what anyone from Exodus thinks?
And they won’t learn any lesson from their message and anti gay hot spots either.
The United States still has hot spots, and much of what are civil and Constitutional rights have been contingent on the assumption AND expectation that gays and lesbians can change.
Exodus’s own assertions by individuals in their ranks constantly contradict anything that comes from gay people, creating a burden for gays and lesbians.
There is chronic need for proof of value yet to be fully acknowledged, let alone accepted about and FOR gay people.
What happened what that Exodus seized on an opportunity they sought for themselves, and once the Draconian dangers were revealed, took their sweet time before drafting THIS piece of CYA.
And that’s what it is. C. Y. A.
Why trust anyone from Exodus as far as you can throw them?
I’ve noticed that this phrasing is being used much more lately. It seems to be the latest attempt to call the lives and relationships of gays and lesbians sinful, in a kinder, gentler “I’m not a hateful jerk” sort of way. It also sounds less confrontational than the clobber passages, which can also be hard for anti-gays to defend.
Too little too late. Had they not ben caught red handed for contributing to this legistlation and hatred behind it, they would have done nothing. Absolutely nothing. Without the public outcry Exodus and Chambers would have happily remained silent about this. Exodus and Chambers have dedicated their lives to hurting gays. This statement means nothing and shows no true repentance. As usual they take no resposibility aboit their role n all this and how they are part of anti-gay hate industry.
They made this happen. Pontius Pilate comes to mind.
If I believed in God I’d have to say: Whether God intended it or not, the end result of His creative intent included homosexuals. So if God is perfect then the creation of homosexuals must have been intended. If they were unintended, then God is not perfect. So which is it?
And the implied notion that “homosexual behavior” exists, but not homosexuals, is only believable by those living in the Fairyland of Magic Truth.
Richard– that one’s too easy. Original sin? The fall? In Adam’s fall/we sinned all? Sinful and broken world?
That one’s already been answered, albeit in a totally non-falsifiable proposition.
🙂
since you have chose not to publish my comment, I am terminating my subscription. Thank you
antonio
Huh? What comment and what subscription? The only comment I see from you is the second one down on this thread.
One of the great things about statements of this sort are that they require no substantiation. They are as valid as
or
Of course, they also are as valid as
and
gussying up a statement of opinion with quasi-official sounding phrases doesn’t elevate them above the level of opinion. And appealing to the Bible and what it “clearly states” while ignoring what it actually says is both arrogant and (if you believe in God) dangerous territory.
{aka Emproph}
Agreed.
—
(From here on out, Bold & italics mine)
Note to Exodus: It would have actually worked if not for the word sexual. Next time you may want to relay a more accurate sentiment: “God considers every human life, regardless of an individual’s behavior, of inestimable worth.”
Now let’s listen to that the way it was meant to be dehumanizing:
“Exodus International believes that every human life, regardless of an individual’s homosexual behavior, is of inestimable worth to God…”
Much better, but who’s counting?
2) The legislation would render some homosexual practices crimes…
3) we consider same-sex behavior…
4) Since the Bible clearly states that homosexual behavior…
5) If homosexual behavior and knowledge…
They literally define us as what they consider to be the ugliest thing about us.
But when it comes to themselves…
Note that the word “struggle” is in the past tense, implying that their “struggles” with SSA are over and done with.
And now for my interpretation of the quote as I imagine it without the pretense:
Many of us, and those we know and work with, continue to struggle with the temptation to engage in homosexual behavior, and some of us even used to live the homosexual lifestyle.
But we wouldn’t want anyone to think of anyone at Exodus as a homoSEXUAL nowwwouldwe? Because all that anti-gay propaganda on the Exodus website would then be true of all of you. Clever.
“Another matter?” Sounds somewhat pressing. What say you, Sarkastica?
Sarkastica: So remember that, you, you, you homosexual behaviorists! We’re not done with the lot of you yet–nor with your not-sinful-looking consensual adult relationships! Oh, and btw, we weren’t trying to establish any kind of connection between adult same-sex behavior and crimes against children just because we put the phrases as close together as we possibly could. We would never do anything to stigmatize non-child molesting gays.
I’m assuming that’s a package deal since depriving others of dignity is one of your strongest suits, Exodus.
And finally, the climactic conclusion, the seismic clincher, the jump on board sweetener, ETCETERA, ETCETERA!:
You go over there and support (silence = consent) the teaching that gay people are child-molesting sexomaniacs responsible for the Holocaust, and the best backtrack you can come up with is to suggest not locking them up because you might be able to save a few of their souls?
Sorry, Exodus, actions speak louder than words. Until the signatories of that statement are flying over to Uganda in rotating shifts for the entirety of the time this bill is on the legislative floor, to meet with President Museveni—face to face—as much and as many times as possible to PLEAD for this bill to be removed from consideration, then this statement of yours, as well as the support of its signatories, means WORSE than nothing.
Note to those signatories who have the capacity to understand the meaning of guilt: Comprehend things before signing them. Well intentioned or not, by signing onto this Exodus-inspired veiled verbal gay-bashing fiesta of C-Y-A tripe, you put your stamp of approval on it, and by extension, encourage and enable those in favor of passing this genocidal legislation.
From the Christian Post, 3-26-10
What’s next, Chambers, disdain for the Bible?
Your literature is littered with usage of Leviticus 20:13:
‘If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
One would think such a “horrible conference” would be a Biblical dream come true for Exodus.
Most death penalty cases don’t have statutes of limitations. Therefore, ex-gays who may (or may not) be celibate now, might easily face the death penalty for their past indiscretions that they so loudly proclaim in their testimonies. In fact, under these sorts of laws, a flowing testimony of drugs, booze, wanton sex and other misbehavior would be as good as a death warrant. This would completely throttle their business model, and we’d never hear another version of Randy Thomas’ testimony.
Didn’t Chambers first deny Exodus had a clear-cut role in the conference, instead saying Don was a “mere board member” or something to that effect? Of course, we called him on that and he’s framing his apologies as though Exodus DID participate and WAS fully aware. Just thought I’d mention that thought.
“Just thought I’d mention that thought”
—
Exodus President Speaks, Proud of Uganda Conference Participation
Ex-Gay Watch
March 13th, 2009
Backup:
Sexuality Expert: Uganda Anti-Gay Seminar Takes Wrong Approach.
Christian Post
Mar. 13, 2009
Uganda and Beyond
Alan Chambers’ blog
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Just thought I’d elaborate on that thought.