Two days ago we reported on media reports from Jamaica following a visit there from Exodus board vice chairman Dennis Jernigan. Jamaica is a particularly violent place for gay and lesbians. Jernigan’s visit and statements while there were used in support of their anti-sodomy laws. The US, Great Britain and others are apparently trying to persuade Jamaica to address the basic human rights issues involved with this issue. Jernigan criticised President Obama, and expressed support for the developmental view of homosexuality, basically that it could be prevented if “fathers did their job.”
Readers will note that this sounds frighteningly familiar to the Uganda incident in 2009, when Exodus board member Don Schmierer visited that country for a conference titled “Anti-Homosexuality Conference of 2009.” Exodus’ lack of response for nearly a year and a half, and their statements up to that time were seen, rightly we think, as intensifying the already considerable danger to gays and lesbians in that African country. The blogosphere, and the mainstream media, served their function by holding Exodus accountable.
Exodus’ response to this most recent incident has been quite swift, and decisive. They are an organization in turmoil, a process of changes, the true nature of which is the subject of considerable debate. The same day this and other blogs reported on the incident in Jamaica, Exodus posted a new policy concerning the criminalization of homosexuality. Now they have issued a press release where Alan Chambers takes full responsibility for the actions of their board, staff and affiliates. They have also accepted Jernigan’s resignation.
Exodus International Releases New Policy Statement On the Criminalization of Homosexuality
Ministry responds to Christian Music Artist and Exodus Board Member, Dennis Jernigan’s Remarks in Kingston, Jamaica
Orlando, Fla—Exodus International, the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with homosexuality, released a new policy statement on the criminalization of homosexuality. While the ministry has long held this perspective, they felt compelled to release a written statement in light of Exodus Board Vice Chairman, Dennis Jernigan’s, comments to the media in Kingston, Jamaica. Exodus board member, Don Schmierer, experienced a similar collision with the media on a trip to Uganda in 2009.
“Dennis Jernigan recently traveled to Jamaica to share his testimony and lead worship at a number of venues,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus. “While there he was thrust into a media firestorm and asked to comment on President Obama’s threat to issue sanctions against Jamaica for their laws concerning the criminalization of homosexuality.
“Dennis shared his belief that President Obama is deceived about homosexual behavior and the biblical morality of it. Dennis assured me he is not for the criminalization of homosexuality, and he will release his own statement on this matter. However, Jernigan offered this immediate response ”:
“I believe my heart and intent were misconstrued and therefore, may have harmed Exodus’ mission of ministering to those struggling with same-sex attraction (SSA). To that end, as of this moment, I step down as Vice Chairman of Exodus.”
Here is an excerpt of the Exodus policy statement, also supported by its Board of Directors.
We will not support any legislation that deprives others of life and dignity based on their sexual orientation or the expression of such within the confines of a consensual adult relationship. Finally, we stand with the LGBT community both in spirit, and when necessary, legally and physically, when violence rears it’s head in Uganda, Jamaica or anywhere else in the world.
Chambers is working with the Exodus International Board and staff to craft strong statements, policies and procedures that will ensure their position on life-impacting issues such as this one.
“It is our resolution that unfortunate incidents like this do not happen again in the future,” said Chambers. “As president of Exodus International I take full responsibility for any board member, staff member or ministry affiliate’s ignorance of global issues, especially as they travel. I will make it a priority to keep all who are professionally affiliated with Exodus apprised of the nations where legislative initiatives or laws clearly violate our policy opposing criminalization of homosexuality. We will also craft a policy for our ministry that prohibits our involvement with groups and nations that violate our policies.”
A decisive and swift response was needed and they gave it. One can argue, rightly we believe, that much of this should have been addressed after the Uganda incident so that another never happened, but failing that, credit must be given for this response. It was the right thing to do and they did it.
Policy statements are difficult to write, especially under duress. I know, as I worked on policy statements for a University over a year… and failed to get them all published.
If I focus on the first part of Alan’s statement, “We will not support any legislation that deprives others of life and dignity…” I perceive one intent. If I focus on the second part of Alan’s statement, “… based on their sexual orientation or the expression of such within the confines of a consensual adult relationship”, well, I perceive quite another intent.
Alan may wish to consider a Given; Therefore Negative Statement; Positive Statement format. It is easier to follow. I will craft an example (I am making up their policy):
“Given that the Bible states we should not ‘sow two seeds in one field’; that we should not ‘wear two types of fabric’; and that we shoud not ‘become entangled in the things of this world’; we therefore resolve the following policy: Exodus is non-political, and shall not engage as an organization in any country’s politics, political platforms, and/or law-making process. Exodus is primarily a ministry that seeks to work with SSA that desire to live a sexual life in conformity to the Bible’s highest standard of ‘one man and one woman’ in one lifetime marriage.”
Well, you can see the pattern (above). Then, Exodus can craft a statement on ‘consensual adult relationships’ and concerning God’s mercy on adultery, adultery-by-remarriage, same sex partners, same sex married, and so forth… or not craft the statement, and remain silent.
Much love in Christ always and unconditionally; Caryn
It’s great that Exodus did not dismiss criticism from gay activists and promptly responded.
At first glance, the Exodus policy statement sounds like a step in the right direction. However, “will not support” doesn’t mean ‘oppose’. The policy statement seems to allow Exodus to remain silent on existing anti-gay laws. And, as I understand, the political issue in Jamaica is about removing existing anti-gay laws.
It’s also not clear to me how far Exodus is willing to go to not support the deprivation of dignity of LGBTs. Dignity would seem to include the issues such as housing non-discrimination, employment non-discrimination, hate speech, and other legislation that religious political conservatives often oppose.
I’m glad that Exodus will legally and physically stand with LGBTs. I assume this means Exodus representatives will attempt to meet threatened LGBT activists in-person the next time they visit areas known for violence against LGBTs such as Uganda and Jamaica.
I remain concerned that Exodus took no action from May 22, when the first media reports appeared in Jamaica, until Dennis Jernigan’s blog post was protested a few days ago.
Why did Exodus wait three or four weeks? That’s an improvement over their handling of the situation in Uganda, but it still indicates that their internal controls are not working and that they require ongoing external monitoring.
Parsing the Exodus policy, I am also concerned that while they will not directly support new antigay criminalization legislation, it is unclear whether they will support a referendum on whether to preserve such legislation. The latter is what Dennis Jernigan did in Jamaica.
Mike- when have any of these groups ever taken action without public outcry?
(I hear crickets.)
@Mike Airhart
In one of his responses to us, Alan said that he was aware that Jernigan was travelling, but did not know of any political or potentially perilous elements until the blog posts relating the recent media revelations over there. Your post on the 13th was the first, I believe, with ours early the next day basically expounding on it.
I’m probably one of the leading pessimists on the current changes at Exodus, and I think a case could be made, especially after Uganda, that more care should have been taken to establish a working policy before Jamaica happened — Alan said as much himself. But I think it would be inaccurate not to acknowledge a tremendous improvement in the response this time over the last.
The Uganda situation was truly a fiasco and one that could have been heavily attenuated at multiple junctures and was not. This recent incident, though showing Exodus is far from perfect, could have happened to any number responsible organizations I suspect. If Jernigan had been allowed to remain on the board, however, I don’t think they would have a leg to stand on.
Any number of responsible organizations wouldn’t take the trouble to ask “Hey, we all agree that gay people shouldn’t be imprisoned, right?”
@Boo
We haven’t yet been able to contact Jernigan so I don’t know what he said over there beyond the video. We have been told that there was no doubt amongst the staff and board that they did not support imprisonment for gays and lesbians. It was irresponsible that Exodus did not make that policy public until now, but I think that’s been covered.
I think Jernigan was absolutely stupid and his words (just those in the video even) were reprehensible. As I said in my OP, I think he was emboldened by an arrogant, emotionally based sense of divine providence. He had no business being over there in that capacity and deserved to lose any position he had with Exodus.
These christianists are so filled with hubris.