Former Ex-Gay Ministry Leaders Apologize
LOS ANGELES, (AP)
Three former leaders of a ministry that counsels gays to change their sexual orientation apologized, saying although they acted sincerely, their message had caused isolation, shame and fear.
The former leaders of the interdenominational Christian organization Exodus International said Wednesday they had become disillusioned with promoting gay conversion.
“Some who heard our message were compelled to try to change an integral part of themselves, bringing harm to themselves and their families,” the three said in a statement released outside the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.
The statement was from former Exodus co-founder Michael Bussee, who left the group in 1979, Jeremy Marks, former president of Exodus International Europe, and Darlene Bogle, the founder of Paraklete Ministries, an Exodus referral agency.
The statement coincided with the opening of Exodus’ annual conference, which is being held this week at Concordia University in Irvine.
Exodus’ president, Alan Chambers, said the ministry’s methods have helped many people, including himself.
“Exodus is here for people who want an alternative to homosexuality,” Chambers said by phone. “There are thousands of people like me who have overcome this. I think there’s room for more than one opinion on this subject, and giving people options isn’t dangerous.”
Founded in 1976, the Orlando, Fla.-based Exodus has grown to include more than 120 ministries in the United States and Canada and over 150 ministries overseas. It promotes “freedom from homosexuality” through prayer, counseling and group therapy.
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Guilt, prayer, counseling and group therapy or (Brain Washing) are powerful tools that have been proven effective in curbing or controlling behavoirs. Such can be described as critical to survival or not. Examples being but not limited to: Guilt to persude an individual to alter actions, prayer to curb or elliminate food consumption during religous fasting, hypnosis to control pain during surgeries, counseling & therapy for chemical addictions, brain washing to convince captives that their government actions are illegal, immoral, in need of judgement. My examples are not detailed,and I am not opposed to the benefits of some of the above mentioned tools (as long as an individual willingly submits to it). But,one can plainly see that whatever the majority or those in power/control believe, it is their option to exercise at their will “tools” available to them to conform an individual to their believes, whatever the cost may be. I believe their is another “zealous” religous group doing the same to conform others in the name of “Allah”. They use car bombs, murder, extortion, etc as “tools” of their arsenal. Be Who You Are!