Around The World — Exodus International

Christian Support Divided Over Anti-Gay Pride Parade

December 8, 2011 by Jeff Buchanan

Jeff Buchanan, Executive Vice President, was interviewed by Charisma News regarding the current situation in Brazil. Here is an excerpt from the article. Check out the full post at CharismaNews.com

A city councilman in Brazil is paving the way for heterosexuals to stand against excessive gay rights with the nation’s first Heterosexual Pride Day. But some Christian ministries that work with gays think this so-called Straight Pride Day sends a divisive message.

Carlos Apolinário’s legislation proposes to celebrate heterosexual pride on the third Sunday of December. Although the mayor could rain on the parade by not signing the bill, Heterosexual Pride Day is set to take place in Brazil’s largest city—São Paulo—where gay pride marches frequently take over the city streets.

“I respect gays and I am against any kind of aggression made against them,” Apolinário said. “The creation of Heterosexual Day does not symbolize a struggle against gays but against what I believe are excesses and privileges.”

Perhaps ironically, gays and Christians alike agree that Straight Pride Day is a bad idea. With the percentage of gays killed in Brazil rising 113 percent in the last few years, the Brazilian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Association is concerned that Apolinário’s Heterosexual Pride Day could incite homophobic violence.

Jeff Buchanan, executive vice president of Exodus International, an interdenominational Christian ministry that assists those who struggle with same-sex attraction, is more concerned about social persecution than acts of violence.

Click here to read more.

Tagged with Charisma, Culture, Exodus In the News, Exodus Press Office, Heterosexual, Homosexuality, Jeff Buchanan, Sexual Orientation

The Reality of Grace

April 1, 2011 by Brenna Kate Simonds

My neat, little Christian world was blown to bits at an Exodus conference in 2004.

Exodus wasn’t new to me. I had met Alan & Leslie Chambers at a campus ministry conference in 2000, early on in my dating relationship with my now husband. I had kept in touch with them over the years of dating, engagement and then marriage. The Chambers also connected me with a local ministry for people struggling with same-sex attraction where I began serving in April of 2003.

But though I was very familiar with Exodus, this was my first Exodus conference. I had trekked all the way to California from Boston in order to attend. The conference had been going well, I was learning a lot, and I was having a good time.

And then Clark Whitten spoke.

Let me back up and share a little history.

I had been a Christian 5 ½ years, and my world wasn’t so neat & tidy as I wanted to believe. I had a long history, even before I was a Christian, of trying to overcome my struggles by using sheer will power. The truth is I did have some success overcoming some of the external ways my issues manifested themselves. I was no longer struggling with an eating disorder, something that had plagued me for 13 years. I wasn’t struggling really at all with same-sex attraction. In my good moments, I felt in many ways that I had arrived.

But if I was actually honest, I still had very dark times. Moments when a small trigger of some sort (a scowling glance or a thoughtless word from a loved one) would send me spiraling into a deep place of despair and self-loathing.

My struggle with my thoughts was so intense that a friend had begun to encourage me to explore grace. She saw how hard I was on myself and how I struggled in my relationship with God. She had been sending me emails about grace, as well as mailing books & teaching tapes (yes, people still listened to tapes occasionally then) all on the topic.

I was slowly beginning to realize that while I believed in my heart that I was saved by grace alone, I was demonstrating a different core belief through my actions: through rules and my own effort, I could overcome all my struggles and wrong thinking.

Now back to the Exodus conference.

Clark Whitten was, and still is, a frequent speaker at Exodus conferences. He seems to almost always talk about one thing: grace. At this conference in 2004, Clark preached a thorough sermon on grace (he followed it up with another teaching on the law which was almost as earth-shattering for me).

Honestly, as I sat there, I didn’t believe what he was saying. I mean, he was quoting the Bible, and using the verses in context. It seemed to line up with what I knew about God and what His Word says about grace. But it was, again, shattering my little Christian box I had been living in.

Grace just sounded too good to be true.

Grace really is too good to be true. Maybe that’s why we try to measure our accomplishments through rules and our own effort. Yet God is very clear in how He expects us to react when we fail: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Through giving us His grace & mercy, God has the help we need.

Clark reminded me that Jesus didn’t just die to modify my behavior. I didn’t like that answer at all because I still had a lot of behavior that I really wanted to be modified! That’s why I had constructed a nice set of rules to encourage my own behavior modification. I also saw a lot of behavior in others that I thought needed to be modified (yes, I was a bit of a Pharisee).

If I had boiled it down, my core belief I was demonstrating would have been “I believe I can change myself by berating myself.” Another core belief was “My faith, and the faith of others, can be measured by the external changes we have made.” Thus, when I made a mistake, my response was often to resort to name-calling and self-degradation.

Trying to be free through rules and human effort injects you into a cycle that makes YOU responsible for your own healing. I’ve found living this way only heaped shame and condemnation on my head.

Galatians 3 says “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

Colossians 2 says it another way: “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

The Bible is clear: rules have no power to restrain. Human effort will fail us.

So, if following rules has no power to restrain, then what does?

Clark said, “The greatest constraining power on earth against sin in your life is love.”

We make different choices, in our actions and in our thoughts, because He loves us, because He declared and proclaimed us worth knowing, worth loving and worth creating when He hung from that cross.

Choosing to live in grace became one of the keys in overcoming my struggle with self-image and self-acceptance. I needed to choose to walk in His grace when I failed. I needed to learn to accept God’s love when I made a mistake. I needed to transform my mind, as it says in Romans 12:2, and renew my thoughts to line up with what the Word of God says about me. I needed to choose to believe what He says about me.

Does grace sound too good to be true to you?

The Reality of Grace is the theme of this year’s annual Exodus Freedom conference.

I asked the question last September: have you attended an Exodus conference?

This year’s Exodus Freedom conference is June 8-11 in North Carolina. Have you considered attending?

Do it. Seriously. You can find more stories of lives changed at conferences here.

Tagged with Bible, Change, Conference, Encourage, Exodus Freedom Conference, Exodus International, Faith, Finding Freedom, God, Grace, Healing, Heart, Jesus, Romans, Sin, Struggle, Testimonies, Truth, Worship

Our Greatest Strength is Found in Unity and Respect For One Another – Letter from Alan Chambers for February 2011

February 23, 2011 by Alan Chambers

Alan Chambers, Dr. Kathy Koch, Stephen Black and Holland & Roxie Davis

This letter from Alan Chambers appears in both our offline and online newsletters. To receive this letter along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here.

—

Dear Friends,

As I mentioned in my December letter, one of the key areas of focus for me in 2011 is the leadership of Exodus worldwide. We have courageous and committed leaders serving in our Exodus Member Ministry Network, Exodus Church Association and Exodus Professional Counselor Network. Beyond the borders of North America, we also have key individuals serving under the banner of the Exodus Global Alliance. I know that God has asked me to encourage, serve and fervently pray for those giving their lives to extend the message and mission of Exodus. For example, our staff here in Orlando has joined together to pray for Exodus leaders in Australia who have been impacted by the recent and dramatic floods in their country. We also continue to pray grace and wisdom over each of our ministries.

This past month we hosted our 7th Annual Exodus Leadership Conference in Orlando. Ninety of the three hundred leaders from all over North America – including those from the frozen tundra of Winnipeg, Manitoba – were here in warm Orlando for worship, teaching and fellowship. It was an amazing week kicked off with an open house BBQ at the Exodus offices. It was a perfect night of mingling through the building (that so many of you made possible for us to buy in 2008), looking at photo albums and pictures collected over the last 35 years of ministry, eating under the stars in our back parking lot and simply enjoying one another’s company.

Learning From the Past and the Future – Reflections After 2010 Lausanne Congress by Mike Goeke

February 15, 2011 by Mike Goeke

This article was written after the 2010 Lausanne Congress in Cape Town, South Africa

—

Learning From the Past and the Future

Mike Goeke, October 2010

This past October, I participated in the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa. I was part of a team representing the Exodus Global Alliance, an international network of ministries helping people find freedom from homosexuality and helping churches address homosexuality with hope and redemption. During the course of the week, we presented several sessions on issues related to homosexuality and reaching the gay community with the Gospel. The Lausanne Congress was comprised of over 5,000 delegates and volunteers from all over the world – all gathered to discuss issues related to the evangelization of the nations. It was an eye-opening event. In some ways, my eyes were opened in encouraging and inspiring ways. In others, my eyes were opened in ways that were dark and discouraging. As I process what I experienced, I believe there is much to take away and much for us to learn as American evangelicals.

I brought many things home from Lausanne, but one thought that resurfaces over and over in my mind is the place that we, as Western evangelicals, find ourselves in the big picture of global Christianity. I believe that Africa, whose vocal church is generally legalistic and legislatively focused, represents where we have been as the “American” church. Canada and Europe, whose vocal church is generally highly pluralistic and secular, represent where we are going. This question resonates in my mind; can we do anything to stop the momentum before we end up in a place where we have either completely capitulated to culture or completely lost our ability to relevantly speak into culture?

Ugandan Gay Activist David Kato Murdered

January 27, 2011 by Alan Chambers

The leadership of Exodus international and its member ministries is grieved over the tragic murder of Ugandan gay activist David Kato and we send our sincerest condolences to his family & friends.

Many know that we have responded to the horrible and truly homophobic public policy being promoted in Uganda. Public policy that would harshly punish, imprison and possibly execute those who have same-sex attractions and/or identify as gay. Exodus International, in agreement with many other Christian and gay organizations, have pleaded with the government to show compassion, afford dignity and respect for those who identify as gay. We are absolutely opposed to the criminalization of homosexuality in any nation.

Memories of Bullying

October 13, 2010 by Brenna Kate Simonds

The recent suicides that are related to bullying have brought back some not-so-pleasant memories for me. I’m sure I’m not alone. Coming out of the closet (or rather, being pushed out kicking and screaming) as a high school student in 1990-ish in small-town New Hampshire was not fun. I always joke that Ellen didn’t come out for another 7 years I was made fun of, harassed, threatened, and insulted. I remember sitting in class and having a peer tell me that all gay people should be put on an island and blown up, as my teacher sat there and said nothing. I spent many classes just putting my head down on my desk and crying. I remember once being harassed so severely that I got up and walked out of the class because the anxiety of sitting there, in that class, overwhelmed me. I went to the principal’s office, as I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go. He didn’t ask me if I needed anything, didn’t ask me why I left my class, didn’t send me to the guidance counselor even though I was visibly upset; he just told me I could sit in the waiting area until my next class.

The harassment wasn’t limited to school hours. I would walk down the street and people would threaten me from their cars, yelling insults and screaming “Dyke”. I also wasn’t just bullied because I was same-sex attracted; I was bullied because I was smart, because I dressed differently, because I was a “band fag” – the list went on and on.

I’m sad to say that the people who witnessed these events, including the teachers, principals, students and bystanders, all did nothing. No one stood up for me. I spent much of that time suicidal and depressed.

I never told my parents, specifically my dad, my custodial parent at the time. It wasn’t that I had a bad relationship with him. The threats started before I was out to him, but even after he knew about my sexuality and fully loved and accepted me, I still didn’t tell him. Honestly, I didn’t even think to bring it up.

I didn’t come to know Jesus for another 6 years after high school. Coming to know Him meant slowly learning (still) that I am fully loved, fully accepted, worth creating, worth loving and worth knowing.

What should our response be to all of this? How can we empower our kids (and ourselves, for that matter) to know how to respond to bullying, whether toward them or another person?

We can start by teaching kids to stick up for themselves. I’ve read in several places recently that we should not overvalue compliance or a blind respect for authority. We can teach them to take risks and be problem solvers, to express their emotions, especially ones that are perceived as “negative” ones.

We also need our kids to know that we are here for them and if they are being bullied, we are a safe place to go. Kids need to know we believe in them, and that they (and everyone else) have inherent value that is not based on anything they do or are. They have worth because Jesus’ death on the cross declared that all people have worth. Romans 5:6-8 drives this point home:

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Just as important, though, is to stand up for those being bullied. I read several studies that showed up to 70% of bullying ends when someone steps in & stands up for the target of the bullying. So if you see someone being bullied, say something. Research tends to indicate that bullies are more likely to listen to a peer than an adult. That said, adults: teachers, principals, parents – say something. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says to encourage those who are timid, take tender care of those who are weak, and be patient with everyone.

There are a ton of scriptures in the Bible where Jesus stuck up for an underdog. An obvious example is the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, but there is also the woman at the well (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John 8), the women who anointed Jesus (Luke 7, Mark 14 & Matthew 27), Zacchaeus (Luke 19), and the list goes on.

If we are to love God with everything and to love our neighbor as ourselves, then we need to love as Jesus loved and act as Jesus acted.

Tagged with Abuse, Brenna Kate Simonds, Change, Church, Coming Out, Community, Compassion, Family, Finding Freedom, Friends, Gay, Homosexuality, Jesus, Love, News, Research, Respect, School, Sexual Orientation, Sexuality, Sin, Stigmatization, Teens, TN, Tragedy, Truth

Letter from Brazil – Alan Chambers Ministers and Experiences God’s Amazing Grace

August 26, 2010 by Alan Chambers

—

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you from Mage’, Brazil – a very poor city about 40 miles from Rio de Janeiro. I was invited to be the keynote speaker at an annual institute held at Central Baptist Church. The pastor’s wife originally learned about Exodus and me when she saw a pastor on television promoting God’s Grace and the Homosexual Next Door, the book that I wrote with Mike Goeke, Randy Thomas, Scott Davis and Melissa Fryrear. They ordered the book and for the first time ever realized there was a ministry out there for people seeking freedom from homosexuality. They know so many people in their area who are struggling with same-sex attraction or who are gay-identified and wanted to know how to minister to them.

At this point I have spoken 3 evenings and have 4 more to go. There have been 800-1000 people in attendance each night and the numbers continue to increase. I was brought here to minister to these people and help them understand how to reach out. I can tell that the messages the Lord has given me are definitely making an incredible impact, but I wasn’t prepared for how these people would impact me. I am not sure why I wasn’t prepared because every time I leave the United States and minister somewhere around the world, I end up being blown away by the people.

There are no hotels in the area, so a family in the church is housing me in a home that was given to them. I cannot begin to describe the conditions of the village where I am. It is like nothing I have seen in the United States or Canada. It is rural and poor with no beauty in the dwellings. Yet, this home that I am in is like a palace. Someone very wealthy gave it to this family and instead of living here they allow the church to use it for speakers like me. It has every comfort I would expect from a high-end American hotel. And, the family and pastor would come here every day and cook and clean for me if I would let them – which I don’t. They are giving me far better than they give themselves. Before I knew about this church or its people it seemed as if they must be a wealthy church in Rio. They offered an amount to pay me as well as airfare for two. Because that helps reduce the cost to Exodus, I accepted gladly. But now that I am here I believe I am the one who needs to pay them. I refused the money for airfare, which I am hoping does not offend them.

This morning I cried after breakfast due to being completely overwhelmed by their goodness, simplicity and generosity. What I continue to see, when I travel outside of the United States, are cultures I would never choose to live in, but ones that seem richer in inner beauty and wealth than I could ever hope for. The depth of their camaraderie is mindboggling. Their desire to serve and give is humbling. I feel proud and rich in comparison and not in a good way. I am so thankful for all that God has blessed me with and for the country where He allowed me to be born, but I am equally thankful for the places that He sends me. They remind me that I take a lot for granted – too much. I am not as thankful as I should be. I am not as generous as I could be. I am not selfless in ways that I could be. I’m not beating myself up, though I could, but rather allowing the Lord to re-center me.

I am so homesick for Leslie and my kids, but I know that I need to be here to share about God’s grace and provision, but equally to learn about those very things from these amazing people. I have been concerned about the finances at Exodus because of this terrible economic season and the growing costs that we are struggling with, but I am reminded to trust in the Lord for His provision – He will provide. But, even if He doesn’t do so in the way I hope He will, I will trust and serve Him.

Thank you for your generosity to Exodus, as it helps me to travel to other parts of the world to minister the Gospel as well as experience the Gospel through those I meet. I love the calling God has placed on me and I do not take it lightly. He has called all of us at Exodus to preach the Good News and to minister to those in captivity. We serve an amazing God who continues to make Himself known to me in ways that bring me to my knees crying, “Holy, faithful, gracious, loving, powerful, worthy, glorious, kind, generous and good Father.” No matter what trials or temptations face me I choose Jesus Christ because He is the one who deserves my deepest devotion. I encourage you today to remember how good God is and how much you have – even amidst your great needs and struggles. We are blessed when we know Him.

All for the Kingdom,

Alan

Alan Chambers, President

Exodus International

Tagged with Alan Chambers, Around The World, Canada, Church, Culture, Devotion, ECA, Encourage, Exodus International, Faith, Family, Finding Freedom, Friends, Gay, Giving, God, Good News, Gospel, Grace, Homosexuality, Hope, Jesus, Love, Melissa Fryrear, Ministry, Needs, Online, Randy Thomas, Sexuality, Sin, Television, The Gospel, Trust, United States, Writing

Statement from Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International on the Criminalization of Homosexuality, 2009 Uganda Conference and Beyond

June 8, 2010 by Alan Chambers

Criticism is easy to come by at Exodus. We are a large and diverse organization made up of many members. Our growth over the years has caused us to not always know what the hand or foot are doing, which sometimes causes us to look like we are “all butt”. That’s humanity for you, even Christian humanity.

That said, and without a wordy explanation or excuse, this public post is way overdue and I sincerely hope it clears up any speculation about how I really feel about gay and lesbian people, Ugandan or otherwise, the criminalization of homosexuality, Exodus’s connection to the now infamous Ugandan conference where Exodus board member, Don Schmierer spoke, and most importantly the grace of God.

First things first, I was personally lax in investigating thoroughly the pre-conference intelligence that was coming in from Timothy Kincaid, David Roberts and Warren Throckmorton, to name a few. My initial belief was that their major concern was over Caleb Lee Brundidges association with Richard Cohen. Again, no excuses, I was negligent in digging deeper and heeding their warnings. While I did share my concerns with Don Schmierer prior to the event, he was on the ground in Uganda and I saw this as an issue that didn’t warrant him canceling his appearance there—after all, in my mind, Don was simply sharing his normal talk on parenting. I do realize that his mere presence there, even as a private citizen, did give the appearance that Exodus was endorsing the conference and eventually the horrific political position that was fueled by that event.

As I have stated in less trafficked public settings, I am disappointed that some of my reasons for not heeding warnings was due to who was issuing them. I believe that probably works both ways, but in this case my error was grave. I cannot undo my initial lack of, then delayed, response or the harm that it caused, but I have learned from that terrible mistake and tried to make amends by condemning the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009 and by standing with a cross-spectrum group of people to see that the measure is, itself, killed. Exodus and I will continue to do that with regard to the Uganda measure or any other similar law or proposed law in other nations. We will also seek to condemn that which is condemnable more swiftly; not to do so finds us breech in our responsibility as an organization people look to for biblical wisdom.

I also regret that Exodus itself or by association, of which there is little or no differentiation in this case, was connected in any way to this conference and its organizers. Exodus and I do hold to a biblical view of human sexuality but that in no way means that we believe consensual heterosexual or homosexual adult sexual expression conducted in private should be criminalized. Nor do we believe that those same groups who deviate from biblical sexual thought or expression should be targeted as criminals, deemed unlovable or miscategorized as incapable of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In deed, we all fall short of the Glory of God and there is but one-way to Him: seeking His Son and acknowledging Him for who He is.

Debates can rage all day long on both sides about the details of these matters, but the facts remain; all people are of inestimable worth to God and He is unwilling for any to perish hoping that all might come to repentance. Thus, Exodus and I believe in the grace that stands 100% opposed to sin, 100% for holiness and 100% for all people to have the opportunity to know Christ.

***

Exodus has drafted a new policy statement concerning the criminalization of homosexuality:

Criminalization of Homosexuality

Exodus International opposes the criminalization of homosexual behavior as conducted by consensual adults in private. We strongly oppose the imprisonment, mistreatment, or death of homosexual men and women on the basis of their perceived or known sexual orientation. These actions breed cultural violence and institutionalized shame, neither of which reflect God’s redemptive heart.

***

MORE:

Baptist Press Covers Exodus Response to Ugandan NASWU Statement

Exodus International Responds to Ugandan Social Worker Association

Ugandan Statement Issued From Exodus Board & North American Leaders

Soulforce Agrees with Exodus about Uganda

President Obama & Secretary Clinton Speak Out Against “Odious” Ugandan Bill

New York Times Picks up Uganda Story

Rick Warren Graciously and Strongly Denounces Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Rachel Maddow vs. Richard Cohen – Interview Review & Missing the Point About Uganda

Rachel Maddow, Uganda and Me – Guest Post by Don Schmierer

Don Schmierer Added to Letter Opposing Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Charisma News Online Picks Up Ugandan Story

Exodus International Sends Letter Opposing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Martin Ssempa Should Renounce Support for Proposed Ugandan Criminalization of Homosexuality

Ugandan Government Poised to Harshly Prosecute Homosexuals

PLUS:

Dr. Warren Throckmorton has started a Facebook group as a central point for news and information on the subject.

Tagged with Alan Chambers, Christians, Conference, Criticism, Debate, Don Schmierer, Exodus International, Gay, God, Government, Grace, Heart, Heterosexual, Homosexuality, Hope, Jesus, Lesbian, New York Times, News, Rachel Maddow, Redemptive, Relationship, Richard Cohen, Sexual Orientation, Sexuality, Soul, Support, Uganda, Warren Throckmorton, Women

Core Issues Speaking Engagement

April 14, 2010 by Alan Chambers

Next week I will be traveling to Belfast, Northern Ireland to speak at an event for a group called Core Issues headed by Michael Davidson. I have been asked to share insights from my latest book, Leaving Homosexuality (Harvest House, 2009). Core Issues has recently had other Exodus leaders, like Christine Sneeringer, in to speak for what looks like a series on the complexities related to same-sex attraction and faith.

The speaker that kicked off this series for Core Issues and has some official connection to that organization is a man that I do not know named Dr. Paul Miller. Dr. Miller is facing an inquest for his work in the U.K. Because medical doctors and clinicians face these inquests routinely as a follow up to complaints, Exodus and I are not inclined to make a statement or pass judgment on issues for which we have insufficient information. It has been reported that Dr. Miller is an associate of Mr. Richard Cohen of the International Healing Foundation. Upon inquiry we found that, like many good and reputable therapists and laymen alike, Dr. Mike Miller did host a training for Mr. Cohen a few years ago which Michael Davidson attended. Both have since broken ties with Mr. Cohen and neither utilize or endorse his practices. (UPDATE 4/15/10: Dr. Mike Davidson simply attended a conference by Cohen thus had no affiliation. Dr. Miller did endorse Mr. Cohen’s book several years back, which is still on the IHF website.)

In addition, the idea of “gay-to-straight” therapy is not something that Exodus subscribes to. The mission of Exodus is to help those affected by same-sex attractions grow deeper in their relationship with Christ as they embrace God’s true intent for their identity and sexuality. While many have experienced change in attractions and orientation, that isn’t the focus of Exodus nor is it through any technique or tool that Exodus uses to get such a result. As such, I felt it necessary to, once again, clearly denounce unethical techniques like “holding therapy” and the over focus on gay-to-straight conversion therapies. Exodus International upholds the truth of scripture concerning human sexual expression but realizes that the point of this life far transcends attraction. No change or freedom can be attained by focusing solely on such issues.

—

Cross-posted at alanchambers.org

Tagged with Alan Chambers, Change, Christine Sneeringer, Exodus International, Finding Freedom, God, Healing, Homosexuality, Identity, Judgment, Leaving Homosexuality, Life, Relationship, Richard Cohen, Scriptures, Sexuality, Speaking, Straight, Therapy, Truth

Ugandan Statement Issued From Exodus Board & North American Leaders

March 22, 2010 by Alan Chambers

UPDATE 7:30pm EDT: 7 names added: Joe Dallas, Karen Booth, Dean Greer, Patrick Kennedy, Jason Thompson, Katherine Allen, Nancy Brown and links to Exodus blog coverage and other resources added.
UPDATE March 25th, 12:15pm EDT: 5 names added: Ron Dennis, Tammie Blanchette, Leslie Gunby, Tye Gamey and Bonnie Doebly, list formatted to read easier.

—Begin—

Due to the continued threat of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009, introduced before the Ugandan parliament on October 14, 2009, and bills like it in other nations, the Board of Directors of Exodus International and its North American membership felt a vital need to issue the following statement ( This statement is still open to Exodus International North American leaders to add their signature. If you would like to do so please email Alan at achambers ):

“Exodus International believes that every human life, regardless of an individual’s sexual behavior, is of inestimable worth to God and that defending this principle is foundational in offering a Christian response to any issue. As such, Exodus International has not and will not support any legislation that deprives others of life and dignity including, but not limited to, Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. We stand with all who are defending this basic, biblical tenet and remain committed to sharing the compassion, hope and life-giving truth and grace of Jesus Christ.

“In November of 2009, several of us sent a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Musenevi expressing our concerns regarding The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. The legislation would render some homosexual practices crimes punishable by life imprisonment and possible death. We believe that sexual crimes against children, whether committed by someone of the same or opposite sex, are the most serious of offenses and should be punished; we consider same-sex behavior in consensual adult relationships another matter.

Since the Bible clearly states that homosexual behavior was not part of God’s creative intent for human sexual expression, the Christian church must remain a safe, compassionate and confidential place. If homosexual behavior and knowledge of such behavior is criminalized and prosecuted, as proposed in this bill, church and ministry leaders will be unable to assist hurting men, women and youth who might otherwise seek help in addressing this personal issue. The Christian church must be permitted to extend the love and compassion of Christ to all, regardless of an individual’s adherence to scripture. We believe that such legislation would make this mission a difficult, if not impossible, task to carry out.

Many of us, and those we know and work with, have personally struggled with same-sex attractions and some have lived as gay-identified individuals, but we have since found a new identity in Jesus Christ. We now live our lives to reflect the transformation that is available to those who submit their mind, will and emotions to the Lordship of Christ. We sincerely believe that such transformation cannot be achieved in an environment of government coercion where the vital support, care and compassion of the Christian community is discouraged and prosecuted. In addition, it wasn’t through coercion that Christ set us free, but through the gracious invitation He extended to us for relationship and the freedom He gave us to choose our own path.

Alan Chambers
President
Exodus International

Rev. Bob Ragan
Director
Regeneration of Northern Virginia
Chairman of the Board, Exodus International
Exodus Membership Council

Mike Goeke
Counseling Pastor
Stonegate Fellowship
Vice Chairman of the Board, Exodus International

Jayson Graves, M.MFT
Christian counselor & Neurotherapist
Healing for the Soul
Secretary of the Board, Exodus International

Ron Dennis
Director
Theophilus Ministries
Board Member, Exodus International
Also a Founding Board Member of Exodus International

Clark and Martha Whitten
Pastor
Grace Church
Treasurer of the Board, Exodus International

Jeff Winter
Board Member, Exodus International
Founder, One by One

Don and Diana Schmierer
Board Members, Exodus International

Bob Stith
National Strategist for Gender Issues
Southern Baptist Convention
Chairman of the Board , Living Hope Ministries
Board Member, Exodus International

Melissa A. Ingraham, MA, NCC
Mental Health Counselor
Christian Counseling Center

McKrae Game
Executive Director
Truth Ministry

Dave and Diane Rasmussen
Co-Directors
Simon Ministries

Tony Moore
Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator
Exodus International

Tommy Corman
Executive Director
Love In Action International

Jim Katsoudas
Executive Director
Clean Heart Ministries

Kenny Warkentin
Resource Outreach Coordinator
Living Waters Central Region

Gregory C. Wallace
Executive Director
Hope & New Life Ministries

Mark Culligan
Founder
New Hearts Outreach

Tammi Wilds
Interim Director
New Hearts Outreach

Ryan Ortega
Client Relations & Technical Support
New Hearts Outreach

Bob Jones,
Executive Director
Fresh Word Ministries

Ron Smith
Director
New Hope Ministries

Russell Willingham
Executive Director
New Creation Ministries

Mike Levenhagen
Director
Reclamation Resource Center

Richard Holloman
Executive Director
The Sight Ministry

Billie Jimenez
Florida Regional Coordinator
Exodus International

Judy Williams
Co-director
In His Time Ministry

Sonia Balcer
Director
Safe Passage

Warren Lamb, Th.M.
Pastor, Truth In Love Fellowship
Director, Vancouver Bible Institute

Stephen Black
Director
First Stone Ministries
Exodus Membership Council

Jim Venice
Executive Director
Pure Heart Ministries

Jerry Armelli
Director
Prodigal Ministries

Michael R. Newman
Executive Director
Christian Coalition for Reconciliation

Allen Hildreth
Director
Walking in Freedom Ministries

Lewis E. Palmer & Carol A. Palmer
Director and Co-Director
Love and Grace Ministry

Jim Duran
Lead Pastor
The River Community

Joe Dallas
Genesis Biblical Counseling
Tustin, CA

Dean Greer
National Coordinator, Living Waters USA
Desert Stream Ministries

Patrick Kennedy
Co-Director
Bright Hope Ministries

Jason Thompson
Executive Director
Portland Fellowship

Katherine M. Allen
Founder/Executive Director
Sought Out, Inc.

Nancy K. Stanfield Brown
Exodus Regional Co-ordinator -Texas Region
Life+Guard Ministries Office Manager

Tammie Blanchette
Damascus Road Ministry Director
Park Avenue Baptist Church

Leslie Gunby
CEO
Waiting Room Minister
Exodus International Regional Coordinator

Tye Gamey
Director
Living Waters Canada Central Region

Bonnie Doebley
Director
Out of the Depths Ministry

Randy Thomas
Executive Vice President
Exodus International

Paula Mcnabb
Director of Business and Public Affairs
Exodus International

David Fountain
Senior Director of Communications and Events
Exodus International

Leslie Chambers
Director of Ministry Events
Exodus International

Chris Stump
Director of Exodus Books
Exodus International

Jeff Buchanan
Director of Church Association
Exodus International

Angela Buchanan
Director of Communications
Exodus International

Kristin Tremba
Director of One By One
Exodus International

Karen Booth
Director of Transforming Congregations
Exodus International

Dr. Marc Dillworth
Director of the Professional Counselor Network
Exodus International

Terri Brown
Director of Exodus Membership
Exodus International

Karen Eaglin
Director of Equipping Events
Exodus International

Paul Webster
Director of Ministry Advancement
Exodus International

Yvette Schneider
Director of Women’s Ministry
Exodus International

Amber Russelburg
Exodus International

Melissa Condrey
Exodus International