Comments on: Ex-gay ministry may have been casualty of political endorsement

By: Selena Mosley

Selena Mosley — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:11:39 +0000

I am disappointed with Pastor Caldwell’s response to this situation.

I used to attend Windsor Village and did so about a year after walking away from my homosexual identity.

I was blessed to be counselled by Barbara Hicks which helped me in my further recovery from homosexuality.

I helped to write the webpage that is in discussion and I also attended a meeting for those who desired to work with the Metonia Ministry. I no longer attend Windsor Village because I moved to California.

I can’t say if Pastor Caldwell knew about the ministry but I am deeply concerned with his response to this matter.

I feel for those who are members of his congregation and looking for clear direction in this matter, especially those who are struggling with unwanted homosexual desires.

We have to take a stand and let go of the fear of being labled homophobic.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:52:59 +0000

What happened to “choice”? Just because a certain ministry does not meet the need of one doesn’t mean it won’t meet the need of another. It saddens me that once again someone caved in to the political correctness and has made something so important to those who are quietly looking for support and encouragement that much harder to find. This seems very cruel and self serving to me.

By: Eddy

Eddy — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:26:49 +0000

I thought these were pertinent questions and then realized we got sidetracked. Any thoughts? How about this spin? There are approx. 120 ministries at the church. Yet only one had to be scrubbed from the church website. Let me repeat: from the church website. Shades of censorship? (If it isn't, what do we call the influence behind the scrubbing?) Or this spin? Let’s for a moment imagine that the church ministry was ‘pro-gay’. Would it have been scrubbed? If it had, would gay people be outraged? Why? --or Why not?

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:04:20 +0000

Eddy,

It’s a long history of hateful treatment towards gays that has caused this. Just as some white folks were horrible towards blacks, regular white folks had to pay the price – it has taken a long time (and yes there was fallout on to others who were never racist) to overcome the racial barrier.

This is the way things are in this world.

By: Karen Booth

Karen Booth — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:51:31 +0000

Mary, I hear what you’re saying … I think. And I agree with the part that Metanoia may be paying the price for the political actions of others. I just identify different folk as the culprits, that’s all.

By: Karen Booth

Karen Booth — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:50:01 +0000

Warren, I don’t know if the ministry is kaput. I haven’t been in contact with Barbara since last year. Just speculating about what the outcome might be if it were.

BTW – does the word “kerflooey” (or however it’s spelled) derive from the same root as kerfuffle?

By: Eddy

Eddy — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:03:51 +0000

And when a Christian ministry to homosexuals does not get politically involved they find they are political collateral anyway and are censored from their churches’ own website.

Seems the answer isn’t as simple as ‘staying out of politics’.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:23:28 +0000

Calrification: particular ministry = any ministry to homosexuals

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:06:21 +0000

Karen, I am really sorry – it was not me who took the website down. We have to take a hard look at the actions of the past and see how it has hampered today. That is why this particular ministry – to homosexuals – should stay out of politics.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:19:08 +0000

Karen,

Metanoia lost it’s effectiveness when it was removed from that site (it’s reach is diminished) I do not know their political stance – but hope they don’t have one. I believe it is a tragedy of the anti-gay rhetoric from the past from gay bashing christians in other organizations that also “help” homosexuals overcome. This is a legacy of hate that christians today have to overcome.

Eddy,

Exodus in the past has put on it’s website front and center their endorsment of the marriage amendment. Today it is referred to on this page:

http://exodus.to/content/view/325/140/

and it is NOT asking us to vote this time – just making their statement.

And here http://exodus.to/content/view/34/57/

is it’s non-enodrsment of the “thought laws” aka – hate crimes bills. Looking at their site tonight they do have a page of affiliations that are political. Which speaks louder than anything else. I understand they are an umbrella organization for many ministries that are geared towards “helping” homosexuals and that each individual organization has it’s own politics.

I do support their right to manage in anyway that they so choose. I just disagree with it. And think it is counterproductive in the long run and big picture.