The reorganization of the ex-gay network Exodus International — into a new entity with no affiliates — accomplishes five objectives:
- Going forward, it insulates the current leadership from decades of accumulated scandals at Exodus member ministries. It also insulates now-severed Exodus ministries from fresh complaints about Exodus’ past psychological warfare. After all, if Exodus no longer exists, what’re folks whinin’ about?
- It insulates international antigay activists, who haven’t received Exodus’ recent apology. (Hat tip: Andrés Duque.)
- It releases Exodus leadership from serious financial obligations.
- It eliminates the possibility of Exodus being held liable for damage done to individuals and families by its amateur “counselors” — though local ministries could still face scrutiny.
- It frees member ministries to go their own way, to support the new organization, or to join hardline antigay activists at the Restored Hope Network (RHN).
RHN is a hardline ex-gay network that was launched in 2012 by some of Exodus’ most abusive former ministries. Thus far, RHN refuses to listen to reports of abuse committed by its member ministers; it refuses to oppose antigay laws and the imprisonment of sexual minorities; it encourages churches to ostracize and stigmatize sexual minorities and their supporters; and it contends that anyone can change one’s sexual orientation through “reparative therapy,” which falsely blames inadequate parenting for the formation of sexual orientation.
Exodus has apologized for its past, but much of that past now resides — impenitently — at RHN.
Bottom line: While the apology was a moral and spiritual leap forward, Exodus’ “closure” leaves behind unfulfilled responsibilities.
It was very obvious, watching Alan on Lisa Ling that there was judgement in his eyes. I read it as “I’m on god’s side and you’re not. I’m married to the opposite sex, you’re not. God approves of me, not you”.
His apology was not “I’m sorry and I’ll never do it again”. It was “I’m sorry about trying to turn you straight, but I’m still going to judge the shit out of you in my new organization for being a natural fully functional gay person”.
As long as Alan Chambers lays one judgement on gay people, like he does to himself, he is against reality and will continue to hurt others. Nothing has changed at the core. He still peddles in gay sexual shame. Conversion seminars was where the big money was. That’s gone, so goes Exodus. He is still an anti gay discriminatory bigot no better than any other right wing preacher man. That, is a fact.
However, in his defense, if we as a race are too chicken to look at the Bible and make the necessary changes that divides humanity into warring jerks, then maybe we deserve the Alans of the world to attack us to wake up. We all need to wake up to the hypnosis and deal with the roots of the problems.
In actuality, we have a very small homosexuality problem. What we really have, is a HUGE Biblical god fraud problem. Ok now 1..2..3…glaze over! Or maybe not. Stay awake this time. It’s our world. We choose what we believe. Can we make it a better place? Can we turn in bitching and moaning for actual change? I think we can.
You need to look up the definitions of the words “obvious” and “fact” before you apply them to a feeling you got while looking in someone’s eyes. Like, let’s actually look at the content of his words, yeah? (And, granted, you can still find plenty to criticize there.) Everything else is just projecting.
Indeed, Jay. Projecting.
Although the flesh is weak, but the spirit is strong.
Only Jesus saves and not anal sex!
Soli Deo gloria!
JOÃO EMILIANO MARTINS NETO
So oral is still ok?
Who ever claimed that any kind of sex would “save” someone? Honestly, these platitudes don’t add much to the conversation. You have a belief that, for you, explains how the world works. Others don’t share this view. That would be fine, except that a condition of your belief is that no one else’s matters. That’s really the bottom line here, and why you can’t have a reasonable debate on the issue.