Exodus is changing all right, but hardly in the right direction. Despite hinting numerous times at a more progressive outlook, here comes yet another move to put Exodus firmly in the “What the hell were you thinking of?” category.
In March, reports BTB, Exodus board member Don Schmierer (pictured) will be heading for Uganda to share a platform with Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively and Cohen cohort Caleb Lee Brundidge. The embarrassments for Exodus are numerous.
Lively is no ordinary revisionist. He doesn’t deny 6 million Jews were killed – the author of The Pink Swastika just says that the Nazis responsible were “militant male homosexuals,” and uses this theory to dismiss gay victims of the Holocaust and justify discrimination against homosexuals today.
Exodus’s relationship with risibly unorthodox ex-gay guru Richard Cohen has been somewhat love-hate. After his ridiculous antics were exposed on CNN and the Jimmy Kimmel Show, Exodus joined IVP, NARTH and PFOX in quietly dumping Cohen. In 2006, Exodus officially disassociated themselves from Cohen and his techniques, only to make friends again in 2008.
At least as worrying as the association with Lively and Cohen, however, are the organizers of the conference itself, Family Life Network. Executive Director Stephen Langa made the outrageous claim that homosexuals in Uganda were “busy recruiting school boys and girls at an alarming rate.” Uganda is a country where gay sex can be punished by life imprisonment, yet Langa is hosting the conference in direct response to fears that homosexuality could be decriminalized.
So what does this say about Exodus? We can be certain it is changing – unfortunately by becoming increasingly unconcerned about the company it keeps. Alarmingly, Exodus feels justified in going to a country where the persecutions of homosexuals is sanctioned by the state and, rather than defending the oppressed and speaking up for justice and equality, being used by anti-gay propagandists as fuel for the fire.
Update 4:30PM ET
Warren Throckmorton is reporting on his blog that Caleb Lee Brundidge, mentioned above, is also involved in a ministry which states as one of its goals to raise the dead. From Extreme Prophetic:
Raising the dead has always been a mandate of the church. Jesus commissioned us to go in His name and preach the good news of the Kingdom. He then went on to explain, that includes healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. Our evangelism teams, led by Caleb Brundidge and Melissa Fisher recently grabbed hold of this and went out to practice raising the dead. Watch this video, hear Melissa share some great testimonies, and be inspired on how you can take reaching out with the gospel to a whole new level!
The leader of Extreme Prophetic apparently claims the title of Prophet, and she and her team have been to funeral homes trying to raise the dead in what they call “mortuary outreaches.” While they don’t report any success with resurrections, they do claim that that gold dust appeared while they were trying which they believe to be evidence of God’s Spirit.
We certainly hope Exodus board member Don Schmierer can learn more about Extreme Prophetic on his trip to Uganda with Caleb.
Alan Chambers finds the oddest times to be “speechless”.
Cohen + Exodus. Speechless.
Lively + Exodus. Speechless.
A campaign against decriminalisation + Exodus. Speechless.
But then I remember, Alan’s been in this sort of situation before and said nothing. Actually, it’s considerably worse this time — it’s directly one of his his very own Board members.
Alan knows on what side his bread is buttered. And by whom.
(Reminder: Never confuse moralistic with ethical, people.)
Moralistic = amoral.
Alan Chambers applies few if any morals to himself, grantdale. He and his admittedly ultraconservative wife appear to believe there are only two morals in the world (abortion and homosexuality) — anything else goes.
In a country where being gay can result in a life sentence, how does one set up any sort of Exodus ministry. It would seem a form of regicide. Anyone showing up for help would be admitting that they are gay and should be locked up for the rest of their life or worse (although it is hard to imagine a fate worse than life in a Ugandan prison-I think that I would prefer to hanged or shot).
I wonder if Randy’s (constantly changing) ex-gay testimony would be grounds for a life sentence. All the versions involve him up to his eyeballs in his hedonistic pre-ex-gay lifestyle. Perhaps Randy should join his good friend on his trip to Uganda and test the waters so to speak.
Maybe the authorities in Uganda will be smart enough to realize that these traveling clowns are really still homos, so something good may come out of this after all, considering how that country deals with homos.
The only upside to this is that it is evidence that Exodus is being pushed to extreme places who will hear their message. I seriously doubt that they can get any more of a foothold here in the US. They’re getting shrill and louder, and while it’s uncomfortable to listen to, it’s proof of a last gasp.
Who else is going to donate and validate?
My cynical mind is telling me that Lively chose this country precisely to test how far he can go in incriminating gays and lesbians and seeing exactly how much power he might have in that country.
It’s poorer, I doubt anyone coming to him can give him any major financial profit. This is a power trip for him.
The white messiah sowing seeds among the great primitive masses.
He’s so full of himself, and perhaps and rightly, it should all backfire on his butt.
Perhaps too, he’s hoping to find someone who will dutifully spy and out those gay people who refuse to come out and submit to his ministry.
And as pointed out, the threat of jail or some other fearful prospect is potent incentive for said masses to fulfill his ambition.
Yep, such incentives are not there in America like they used to be.
How deceitful, above all things…is that his worth is tied into that people should be so fearful, forced…not persuaded, to choose between their freedom and his influence on their most profound identity.
So much for FAITH in God and the persuasive power of goodness towards another person for it’s own sake.