Former Exodus International VP Jeff Buchanan has revealed more of why he stepped down from the post. While the organization said nothing about his reasons, Buchanan posted to Facebook to confirm he resigned because of his disagreement with Exodus’s new message:
For those of you who may not be aware, Angela and I have recently resigned our positions as Director of Communications and Executive Vice President of Exodus International. This was a difficult and painful decision, but one we felt we needed to make due to challenges with current messaging that reflects a theological stance we cannot align ourselves with. We leave many dear friends in the Exodus movement working on the front lines of ministry. We pray Christ’s message of hope and freedom will continue to be heard with clarity and courage.
Meanwhile, God has graciously opened a door for both of us to serve on the staff at a church in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. We are excited about returning to pastoral ministry and serving in the context of a local church environment. We appreciate your prayers during this transition and hope that you will keep in touch in the coming years.
Buchanan’s promotion to the post, just over a year ago, seemed to herald a more hardline direction for Exodus, as XGW contributor Emily K noted at the time; yet it was a mere five months later that the wheels were set in motion for big change at Exodus — in a softer direction.
Just how sudden were these changes at Exodus, given that within a few months of promoting a hardcore ex-gay advocate to VP, President Alan Chambers was already signalling big branding changes to save the organization from financial ruin and social irrelevance? It seems the reversal was unexpected enough to catch even Exodus’s own VP off-guard.
It’s unlikely to be long before Buchanan aligns himself with the Restored Hope Network, the new ex-gay organization set up to counter Exodus’s rebranding.
In related news, the Restored Hope Network had its first conference this weekend — coinciding with the latest (and last?) Exodus International’s Love Won Out conference. Anti-gay theologian and biblical scholar Robert Gagnon noted publicly the scarcity of LGBT protesters at the event, but proposed an explanation that falls perfectly in line with his skewed perception of gays:
There were only 7 quiet protestors. Not much of a showing. San Francisco was having a “leather” event that no doubt was a more attractive event for those with a “gay” identity! Moral of the story: schedule the meeting during homosexual debauchery events.
That line by Gagnon is sickening. I’ve been following Exodus for nearly seven years now and I don’t think in that time I’ve heard any of their leaders say anything that snotty and gross — even back when they were much more conservative. He’s one sad, strange little man.
Does it occur to them that a conference that has less people than a local Denny’s isn’t going to attract much attention? You have to be relevant if you want to be protested. Good luck with that.
I would say that Gagnon’s “compassionate”, “gracious” and “loving” remark – to apply his own jargon to it – shows both how contemptuous and how contemptible his attitude to us really is.
Nothing from the principals anyway, with the possible exception being Randy in some of his worst days. But affiliate ministries, oh yeah. But if you add in the rest of his tripe, he goes further than they ever did. I really struggle to find any “Good News” in what Gagnon sells.
And 14 ‘likes’ for Gagnon’s offensive remark. It seems the “Restored” Hope Network is attracting the most virulent, anti-gay former Exodus members.
It should not go unnoticed that the holy rollers only do show up publicly with their denouncements and preaching where and when they know gay people WILL gather. It doesn’t matter if it’s a political protest or adult event.
There are at least three adult themed events in Los Angeles every year. And there are huge billboards in many places advertising ‘gentlemen’s clubs’.
The holy rollers are not to be found there. Protesting the open sex industries to do with heterosexuals as the majority.
There is sex trafficking, in well known sections of such cities as Atlanta and Newark. Sometimes of very obviously, CHILDREN. Girls as young as 10 sometimes.
The holy rollers are not to be found on corners in ways to reduce such trafficking.
And as we’ve heard in the news recently, Chicago was a blood bath over the summer.
And where I live in Los Angeles, gang shootings have taken the lives of innocent young people. Girls, boys….children.
Yet, NOM, FRC….and their minions who write weekly articles denegrating gay people and the incursion of gays into areas the anti gay are only reserved for heterosexuals, say NOTHING about the epidemic of violence.
Nor the specific violence directed at females or the scourge of gang violence. Which claims many lives in any given urban environment.
No.
The holy rollers have reserved a lot of time, money, media outreach and political action to keep gay people from marrying or doing anything else to be self reliant.
Well, it’s no wonder violence is winning. The war on non violent fellow gay citizens has priority after all.
W. T. F?!