In May, we learned that Randy Thomas was stepping down as Vice President of Exodus International and taking on a part-time role. Yesterday, he announced he was stepping down altogether from the ex-gay organization. Today, Exodus has announced Jeff Buchanan as its new Executive Vice President.
This is a promotion for Buchanan, previously Senior Director of Church Equipping and Student Ministries. But it’s also a money-saving move for Exodus, as is apparent from its June newsletter, Exodus Impact:
[Jeff] will continue to oversee Church Equipping and Student Ministries until the recession lifts and we are able to hire others to help in one or both of those areas.Before coming to Exodus in 2008, Jeff was an Associate Pastor in Nashville, TN and was the director of Journey, a sexual wholeness ministry in his local church. He is an ordained minister and has a Masters of Theological Studies from Liberty University.
So they aren’t really replacing Randy, and the impetus for his leaving is looking more and more like money. I’m guessing this may have started with Randy having to take a substantial pay cut, hence the shift in duties. At that point he probably figured he may as well make peanuts on his own than be a falling VP in his old workplace.
Randy has a relatively new mortgage which he got during a time when anyone could get a mortgage — financial worthiness or not. Walking away from a steady job with benefits in this economy would be nuts. He can claim that God led him here or there all he wants, but this smells like hard times at Exodus to me.
That aside, Buchanan will end up with Alan’s job if Exodus survives that long. He’s a hardline spiritual gatekeeper and I’m sure he already thinks he would be better at it.