Transforming Congregations, a 21-year-old United Methodist ministry that helps local churches minister to people struggling with sexual-identity confusion and sexual brokenness, is merging with Exodus International, the world’s largest Christian outreach to those dealing with homosexual attraction.
One by One, a ministry in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition, will be a part of the merger as well.
From an Exodus International news release:
Together, these [three] ministries will form a new division under the leadership of Exodus that will equip leaders within both evangelical and mainline churches worldwide to break the polarizing debate over homosexuality through an approach that is both biblically orthodox and truly compassionate.
This merger will work to enhance current efforts to equip churches through the Exodus Church Association, an interdenominational network of more than 120 churches helping those dealing with same-sex attraction to live a life that reflects the Christian faith….
“The compassionate truth of the Gospel is still the hope of the world today,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International and author of…the newly released Leaving Homosexuality.
“Together, we hope to advance a new era in the global Christian church that is defined by God’s truth as well as His heart for hurting individuals experiencing confusion and conflict about their sexuality.”
Transforming Congregations and One by One “will function essentially as departments within Exodus’ church-equipping ministry,” according to a report by Charisma News Online.
“[W]e will retain our own identity and focus on missions,” said the Rev. Karen Booth, executive director of Transforming Congregations, which has been affiliated with Exodus since 2000.
“We still will be working within the United Methodist Church or with churches from the Wesleyan heritage…. I hope with Exodus working with us, we will be a bit more strategic in our outreach.”
Karen Booth was among several speakers at a July 15 news conference announcing the merger. You can listen to her comments below.
The news conference was part of Exodus International’s 34th annual Freedom Conference, held at Wheaton College in Illinois.
Who has the United Methodist church gotten into bed with? What sort of science is Karen Booth referring to? Paul Cameron? NARTH? What?
When someone is depressed, we advocate prayer, but we also recommend getting the help of a professional therapist, and possibly a doctor to prescribe medication, because depression is a mental or emotional disorder, sometimes with physical causes.
Yet when someone is struggling with “same sex attraction,” we exclusively advocate Bible study and a program to pray away the gay.
Groups like these use “same-sex attraction” and “homosexual tendencies” because they sound like a disorder that can be cured. But, while science has yet to pinpoint a “cause” for homosexuality (though being born that way is a strong theory), enough is known by actual, credible scientists, that groups like the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association have removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders, and officially stated that homosexuality cannot be cured — and more importantly, that to attempt to do so can inflict serious harm.
People become “ex-gay” because they are told by society, and especially Christians, that they are unnatural and sinful, and it leads to a self-loathing, rather than an acceptance of who they are. They hide their true selves and attempt to live as God supposedly wants them to. It works for some. Good for them. But to say they are no longer gay — I don’t believe it. And I imagine some are not as “at peace” with themselves as they appear to be.
People use the Bible to justify their own disgust at the thought of two men having sex, like that’s what being gay is exclusively about. In my experience the Bible can be used to justify anything. And it has. And in the process, it has become a weapon that hurts people.
[Editor's note: For background on the American Psychiatric Association's 1973 decision to remove homosexual attraction from its list of mental health disorders, see "From Mental Disorder to Civil-Rights Cause," WORLD, Feb. 19, 2005.]