The gay/homosexual reformatory known as Exodus International is no longer. Its owner, Alan Chambers, has closed it and apologized to the gay community citing the fact that he is still attracted to men.
Exodus International was born as an idea to 'reform' gay people and return them to the church through some arcane counseling program that would 'change their ways' and allow them to return to a heterosexual life away 'from sin'.
Unfortunately for Chambers, he too was indelible proof that the genetics of 'gaydom' are not mutable, and he must have succumbed to his own orientation, seeing in the end the fallacy of his own beliefs.
That said, let's remember for a moment that Mr. Chambers was not only one of the most outspoken gay 'reformers' out there, but that he also profited from trying to turn gay men/women 'back' to heterosexuality. He was featured in a few documentaries, including one by Oprah Winfrey, which was featured on her network OWN.
Exodus was no mere flash in the pan. It was a network of 220 Florida churches. It had been 'counseling' gay and lesbian people "through counseling and prayer since 1976. However, the group had been discredited by public bodies representing psychiatrists and psychologists", as Chambers himself admitted.
Chambers apologized for the damage he might have done to the gay/lesbian community through the ministry/counseling outfit he oversaw. Chambers also apologized for making worse a bad situation, either through reinforcement of the shame and guilt many gay/lesbians are made to feel, but also because in his words "I am sorry that there were times I didn't stand up to people publicly 'on my side' who called you names like sodomite, or worse."
But the church has not taken Chambers' heart felt apology or his recognition of the problem that exists with stigmatizing and demonizing the gay community lying down. They have immediatelly opened another network of 'counseling' called Reduce Fear, to take the place of the now defunct Exodus International.
It seems that even Chambers' heartfelt plea for the church to recognize that gay/lesbian people are all 'prodigal sons' and should be embraced by the church, has fallen on deaf ears.
Op-Ed
Partial Source : the Independent UK / 6.21.13
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