June 19, 2013

The following news release “Exodus International to Shut Down” from Exodus International is reprinted in its entirety from the Exodus International website: Irvine, Calif. (June 19, 2013) — Exodus International, the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality announced tonight that it’s closing its doors after three-plus decades of ministry. The Board of Directors reached a decision after a year of dialogue and prayer about the organization’s place in a changing culture. (more…)

June 19, 2013

The following news release “Exodus Int’l President to the Gay Community: ‘We’re Sorry’” from Exodus International is reprinted in its entirety from the Exodus International website: Irvine, Calif. (June 19, 2013) — Exodus International, the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality, issued an apology to the gay community for years of undue suffering and judgment at the hands of the organization and the Church as a whole.

The apology (http://exodusinternational.org/apology) dovetails with the ministry’s 38th annual conference in Irvine, Calif. – and the Thursday, June 20, airing of the television broadcast “God & Gays” on Our America with Lisa Ling. (more…)

June 19, 2013

The following article “I Am Sorry” by Alan Chambers was posted on the Exodus International website and is reprinted in its entirety: Three years ago, Leslie and I began a very public conversation with Our America’s Lisa Ling, from the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) regarding some of our deeply held beliefs about Christianity and the LGBT community. Today, we have decided to carry this public conversation even further. While this conversation has and may well continue to be met with many different responses from supporters and critics, it is our desire to keep having these honest discussions in the hopes of arriving to a place of peace. (more…)

June 18, 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “Same-Sex Desire: Hardwired With No Hope for Change?” by Sue Ellen Browder on the National Catholic Register website: “An intensely polarized debate has developed primarily around the question, ‘Does reparative therapy work or doesn’t it?’”

“The SPLC lawsuit states: ‘The essential premise of conversion therapy — that it will ‘convert’ a gay person to a straight person — has no basis in scientific fact.’”

“But psychologist Nicholas Cummings, a past president of the American Psychological Association and lifelong champion of homosexual rights, said the real question people should be asking is not, ‘Does it work?’ but, rather, ‘Which individuals will most likely benefit from this therapy and which won’t?’ (more…)

JUNE 17, 2013

The following Voice of the Voiceless press release has been reprinted in its entirety: “Ex-Gays Call on The White House to Commemorate Unique Contributions. Voice of the Voiceless (VoV) is excited to announce the First Annual Ex-Gay Pride Month in July 2013! If you or your organization is interested in partnering to help sponsor our Ex-Gay Pride Awareness Day on the Washington, DC National Mall and Evening Dinner/Reception, please contact Co-Founder and Acting Director, Christopher Doyle at cdoyle@voiceofthevoiceless.info (more…)

June 14, 2013

The following article “VOV Condemns Kangaroo-Court Committee That Advanced Therapy Ban in New Jersey” on the Voice of the Voiceless website is reprinted in its entirety: Trenton, NJ, June 13, 2013 – New Jersey Citizens Against the Jerry Sandusky Victimization Act, A 3371 charged in their testimony today before the Assembly Women and Children’s committee that gay activists and their allies continue to fabricate stories and misrepresent the facts and scientific research related to the development and treatment of same-sex attraction.

The bill would ban licensed psychotherapists in New Jersey from providing widely accepted and proven sexual orientation change effort (SOCE) therapies to children and adolescents with unwanted same-sex attraction, including victims of abuse by sexual predators like Jerry Sandusky. The ban would apply even if these victims and their parents seek it. (more…)

June 13, 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “Gay-to-straight conversion therapy ban OK’d by N.J. Assembly panel” by Susan K. Livio on the nj.com website: “TRENTON — Over the objections of a conservative family group’s threat to sue, the Assembly Women and Children’s Committee today approved a bill that would prohibit licensed therapists from providing gay-to-straight conversion therapy to children.”

“Testimony from dueling mental health professionals and activists dominated the 2-1/2 hour hearing at the Statehouse, with proponents arguing the treatment has been discredited as ineffective and harmful to kids, and opponents insisting the bill tramples parental rights.” (more…)

June 12, 2013

The following news release is reprinted in its entirety from the Exodus International website: The Exodus International Board of Directors officially voted to withdraw from the Exodus Global Alliance (EGA) May 28, 2013 after 18 years of membership. Exodus International was a founding member of EGA in 1995. This change in relationship releases both ministries to serve the Lord, the Church and their constituents in ways that honor their respective calling. (more…)

June 10, 2013

Excerpts from the article “Power to Change 3: The Awakening Church” on Andrew Comisky’s website: “Changing deep patterns of sexual desire, behavior and motivation require the support of an entire community: it takes a village, Jesus-style. Any program or therapy is only as good as the greater community of faith surrounding the one seeking change. Perhaps that is why the enemy of sexual integrity seeks first to divide and weaken the church. If Jesus’ body falters toward those with same-sex attraction, no community of healing exists.”

“But when local churches become advocates of grace and truth for the gender broken, healing rises like sun breaking through clouds. And I am pleased to say that the church is rising in this hour to mobilize for such healing. (more…)

June 7, 2013

Excerpt from the article “Will Lisa Ling Misrepresent Sexual Orientation Change Effort Therapy Again?” on the Voice of the Voiceless website: … “Let me be clear when I say this. I like Lisa Ling. I like Our America. I also like Alan Chambers personally, although I do not agree with the direction he is taking Exodus International. But what is most troubling to me is that Ling refuses to interview actual psychotherapists who practice SOCE [sexual orientation change efforts] and/or clients who have gone through SOCE, either via individual therapy or through group therapy programs such as Journey Into Manhood. These programs differ dramatically than the Exodus programs, but the average person would not know that unless a reporter makes this distinction.” (more…)