@ Michael B; this is in part due to your longstanding work. Thank you for being faithful and persistent. You were a “confusing presence” early in the black and white conversation and I am grateful you hung in there with your story.

Regarding the posting, I think this is a better and more realistic framework. It should highlight more that Biblical demands put pressures on all practicing Christians to modify their behaviors—those with SSA are being “singled out,” in my opinion…and their task is much more challenging than the heterosexual. The core compassion in the conservative church is not there for those with SSA on many fundamental issues. I think Exodus is trying to build that place. Hoping they get much better.

Exiting the culture war, while highlighting it is a good idea.

@ David R

You are absolutely right, that the battle must go to people like Barton who distort history to advocate for theocratic intrusions into government. But NARTH is not just a function of “Bartonism” it is connected for Analytic Psychology. It is a multi-headed beast.

Regarding Spitzer, Exodus can only renounce it after the author has renounced it. The data were illustrative of some people like Chambers.

People can change…some of their sensations, many of their behaviors. Will they have a truly loving community to greet them in the choices they make?

Checking the Exodus website, missing in action are: Frank Worthen (formetly Love In Action), Dan Puumala (Outpost), Andy Comiskey (Desert Stream) and Carl Conli (HIS Ministry.) There may be others I have overlooked.

Frank Worthen’s ministry and “OUTpost” were two of the five founding Exodus agencies in 1976. Now, there are serious disagreements about which way to steer what Chambers has called the “big ship”.

What these mutineers seem to want: (1) A reaffirmation of “reparaive therapy” and SOCE, (2) A reallignment with NARTH and Nicolosi, (3) A retraction of Chambers’ admission that 99.9% don’t change their sexual orientation, (4) A repudiation of what Comiskey calls the “cheap grace” theology expressed by Chambers and (5) A reassignment of Chambers duties at Exodus, playing a “reduced role at best”.

Since Chambers seems unwilling to do these things, I wonder how many more Exodus affiliates are ready to abandon ship?

They’ve got a lot to do if they want to be in a position of supporting gay Christians who hold the Side B view. New Direction is a good template. They must get rid of the notion that simply identifying as gay is somehow sinful. I view it as a step towards authenticity and truth-telling. They must repudiate that gay, bisexual and transgender people are somehow especially sexually broken. That framing of orientation and identify is abhorrent and especially damaging to the spiritual and emotional well-being of people who simply desire to follow Christ in honesty. It is spiritual abuse of the worst kind. We are no more and no less “broken” than any other human being.

This is what Exodus must figure out. In my opinion, member ministries should all follow the same rules or lose the brand.