Exodus International

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Exodus International is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization that promotes "the message of Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ."[1] Exodus International states reorientation of same-sex attraction is possible. They do not conduct clinical treatment but believe reparative therapy can be beneficial.[2] Techniques can include abstinence, "lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender."[3]

Founded in 1976, Exodus is a non-profit, interdenominational Christian organization which has grown to include over 120 local ministries in the USA and Canada and over 150 ministries in 17 other countries.[4] Although Exodus is formally an inter-denominational Christian entity, they are most closely associated with Protestant and evangelical denominations. The group also has monthly newsletters, annual conferences, speaking engagements and web services. Alan Chambers is the current president of Exodus.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1973, Frank Worthen began a ministry called, Love in Action, which ministered to homosexuals. A conference of various ministries to homosexuals was held in 1976 in the United States during which the ministries (including Love in Action) decided to form a coalition which called itself, Exodus International North America. The conference became an annual event when it convened for the second time in 1977.

The conference continued until 1979, when many officials of Exodus North America left the organization due to internal divisions. In 1980, the Exodus North America Conference experienced a rebirth with new leadership and a renewed sense of vision. Between 1981 and 1984, the views of Frank Worthen began to influence people outside of the United States through interviews and a book he wrote called, The Third Sex?. Exodus International attracted the attention of Johan van de Sluis, who attended the 1981 conference and subsequently created Exodus Europe in coalition with Exodus North America. Exodus Europe held their first conference in 1982 in the Netherlands. Conferences were held annually, each year in a new country. Ministries to homosexuals also arose in Australia and New Zealand under Peter Lane; Brazil under Esly Carvalho; and, Europe under Johan van de Sluis. Eventually, there was a Director for Exodus North America who was Alan Medinger. Medinger founded a ministry for homosexuals and pornography addicts called Emeritus. His position as Director of Exodus North America was filled in 1985 by Bob Davies.

In 1990, Worthen travelled throughout the Philippines, and sent Sy Rogers of Exodus North America to Singapore. During his stay in Singapore, Rogers traveled extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand and South America building vision for a world-wide ministry.

In 1994, Exodus Latin America was created under Esly Carvalho. In 1995 it was decided that the Exodus groups should converge under a single name, Exodus International. The Exodus leaders held a Summit in San Diego, California and formed the Exodus International Advisory Council which merged the various Exodus ministries to create a stronger, more focused Exodus International ministry. Ministries to those with homosexual inclinations were represented from all over the world.

Exodus South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand) was represented by Peter Lane and Debbie Hirsch. Exodus Europe was represented by Johan Van de Sluis and Jeremy Marks. Exodus Latin America was represented by Esly Carvalho and Affonso Zuin. Exodus North America was represented by Frank Worthen, Pat Lawrence, and Bob Davies. Exodus World-Wide was represented by Sy Rogers. Asian ministries to homosexuals were represented by Samuel Lee and Rene Gomez.

The founding Exodus Advisory Council was...

Frank Worthen Sy Rogers Bob Davies and Pat Lawrence – representing Exodus North America. (Pat Lawrence was selected as the International Coordinator) Peter Lane – representing Exodus South Pacific Jeremy Marks – representing Exodus Europe Esly Carvalho – representing Exodus Latin America

Between 1996 and 1999, ministries expanded throughout the South Pacific. In 1997 the Exodus Advisory Council became the Exodus International Board and restructured itself to include two representatives from each region. Exodus South Pacific changed their name to Exodus Asia Pacific and established ministries in Singapore and the Philippines, where Frank Worthen and Sy Rogers had previously ministered. The first conference was held in Brisbane, Australia in 1999.

In 2002 Exodus Brazil was created apart from Exodus Latin America. Exodus Brazil was headed by Willy Torresin de Oliveria. A homosexual man himself, he had attended a conference as a translator in 1989 without even knowing the nature of the group. 2002 also saw Oscar Galindo as the new director for Exodus Latin America. Under the leadership of Peter Lane, Exodus International saw growth in the countries of Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia in 2003.

In 2004, Exodus International renamed themselves Exodus Global Alliance. The first Leadership Summit was held in 2005 and later that year an International Conference was held to discuss ex-gay ministries growing in Africa, Asia, China, Europe, India and Latin America.

In 2006, Exodus began ministries in Caribbean countries such as Barbados and Jamaica as well as Latin American nations such as Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela.

2007 saw the formation of the Exodus Youth Network.

[edit] Corporate Culture

[edit] Affiliation With Focus On The Family

Focus on the Family (FOTF, or FotF) is an American evangelical Christian group. The non-profit organization was founded in 1977 by Dr. James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the last decade. A major component of the American Christian right, it is active in promoting interdenominational work for a social conservative public policy. [5]

Focus on the Family reaches out to persons with homosexual desires in cooperation with Exodus International through the Love Won Out Conference..[6]" Love Won Out maintains, [7]"The sin of homosexual behavior, like all sins, can be forgiven and healed by the grace revealed in the life and death of Christ. All sexual sin affects the human personality like no other sin, for sexual issues run deep into our character, and change is slow and uphill-but is possible nonetheless." (Love Won Out Conference Guide, pg 7) Exodus International aims to facilitate the slow uphill change in accordance with Focus on the Family's Love Won Out Conference.

Mike Haley speaks in the Love Won Out conference and is chairman of the board of Exodus International. [8]"Having been involved in the homosexual community as a teen and young adult, Mike offers tremendous insight into the causes and recovery of the homosexual condition. He has a degree in education and is pursuing a master's degree in counseling. Mike is the director of gender issues for Focus on the Family's Public Policy division and helped develop the Love Won Out conference. He also serves as chairman of the board of Exodus International." (Love Won Out Conference Guide, pg 9)

[edit] Reviews of Exodus Participants

[edit] Jones and Yarhouse

Given a conflicting background of (1) claims by the American Psychology Association, “The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable.”[9]; and (2) claims by Exodus leaders, “Sexual Orientation Change Is Possible”[10] and rhetorically, “there are tens of thousands of men and women just like me who have overcome homosexuality”[11]; Professors Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse performed a statistical study of Exodus participants.

Jones and Yarhouse teamed as authors and published their results in “Ex-Gays?”: A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change In Sexual Orientation”[12]. This particular study emphasized the results of various persons ‘seeking change’ while involved with Exodus ministries over a three-year period of time.

Critics of the study cite that the sample size was too small (98 participants)[13], and that sexual orientation of the participants was not changed from 100% homosexual to 100% heterosexual except for 11 cases (3 cases of the 11 were disputed)[14]. Proponents of the study cite that Exodus funded the study (which the authors acknowledge) and did not color the study results either pro or con[15]; and that the term ‘change’ was being more clearly defined to include change of sexual identification (e.g., I identify as ‘gay’; I identify as 'heterosexual'), change of sexual behaviors (becoming chaste or heterosexual in behavior), and also change in sexual orientation[16].

[edit] Schaeffer et al

Schaeffer et al surveyed 140 members of Exodus. After a year, 29% said they had changed their orientation, and another 65% said they were in the process of changing. Change was positively associated with religious motivation and emotional well-being.[17]

[edit] Ponticelli

Research by Ponticelli on 15 ex-lesbian women found that Exodus helped them change their lesbian identities through a combination of a new and compelling schema concerning sexuality, reinterpretation of one's past according to that schema, and social support.[18]

[edit] Incidents

There have been several incidents of note amongst the leaders and founders of the movement.[19] For example:

[edit] Michael Bussee and Gary Cooper

Exodus International's first incident occurred in 1979 when Michael Bussee (one of the five co-founding members who had helped organize the 1976 conference that led to Exodus' inception) left the group to be with Gary Cooper, a volunteer at the local Exodus ministry where they both worked, who was also volunteering for the first Exodus conference.[20] Michael and Gary left their wives, and had a committed relationship until Gary's death from complications due to AIDS in the early 1990's[21]. Their story is one of the foci of the documentary One Nation Under God (1993), directed by Teodoro Maniaci and Francine Rzeznik.

As acknowledged by Exodus International in 2006, Michael Bussee "has been a longtime critic of Exodus and its leadership" [22]. In June 2007, Michael issued an "apology" in conjunction with Jeremy Marks, former president of Exodus International Europe, and Darlene Bogle, the founder of Paraklete Ministries, an Exodus referral agency, which stated in part "Some who heard our message were compelled to try to change an integral part of themselves, bringing harm to themselves and their families." [23]


In an article regarding the history of Exodus International, Dr. Warren Throckmorton questioned whether Gary Cooper should be considered a "founder."[24]. However, Exodus International considers Michael Bussee and Gary Cooper as "co-founders" (among others) in an Exodus-released September 2006 article[25].

[edit] John Paulk

John Paulk, a well-known United States "ex-gay" public figure and Chairman of Exodus International, was removed by Exodus International Board of Directors vote on October 03, 2000, following confirmation of him "engaging in behavior which has negatively impacted the credibility of Exodus." [26]

Paulk, a self-described former "drag queen and homosexual prostitute", became active in Focus on the Family, was manager of Focus on the Family's Homosexuality and Gender Division.[27], and was the elected Chairman of the board of Exodus International North America in August 1995 for a first three-year term. Paulk was re-elected for a second three-year term in 1998 (the incident occurred during the second three-year term). [28]

On September 19, 2000 while on a speaking tour, Paulk was identified drinking and flirting at Mr. P's, a Washington, D.C. gay bar, giving his name as "John Clint," one he had used in his days as a hustler in Ohio. A patron recognized him and contacted Wayne Besen, an employee of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay political action organization. When Besen arrived at the bar forty minutes later and confronted "John Clint", he denied that he was in fact John Paulk. Upon exiting the bar, Paulk's picture was taken as documentation that he had been in the bar. When confronted by Besen about the incident and the photographs, Paulk admitted being in the bar, but stated that he didn’t know it was a gay bar and had simply stopped in for a moment to use the restroom. However, eyewitnesses reported that Paulk stayed for more than an hour, flirted with other men, and when questioned about his sexuality, said he was gay (see Besen's book Anything But Straight; see also [29]).

An Exodus press release soon followed:

"John's actions represent a serious lapse in sound judgment. His decision to enter a gay establishment for any reason opens him up to all kinds of speculation by both other Exodus leaders and also the gay community." [30]

[edit] Billboard parody controversy

On March 2, 2006, Liberty Counsel, a law firm acting on behalf of Exodus International, sent cease-and-desist letters[31][32] to Justin Watt, who blogs at Justinsomnia, and Mike Airhart, who blogs at Ex-Gay Watch. The letters "insist[ed]" that Watt and Airhart "immediately cease use" of an edited photograph on their respective blogs "or in any other form" which parodied an Exodus billboard. The original billboard image, obtained from Exodus's website, consisted of the message "Gay? Unhappy? www.exodus.to" while the parody image, created by Watt in September 2005, showed the same sign, substantially cropped, with the text altered to read "Straight? Unhappy? www.gay.com."

The following excerpt from Watt's cease-and-desist letter details Exodus's rationale for the request. The letter mentions Wikipedia because Watt had cited the Wikipedia entry on fair use in posting his parody.

"You appear to believe that the stolen image is exempt from federal intellectual property laws as a 'parody' due to 'fair use.' Unfortunately, the intricacies of federal law cannot adequately be covered on 'Wikipedia' due to the variety of facts addressed by courts in numerous cases. Your use of the image is indeed a violation of copyright law and is not covered by 'fair use.'"

In response, Watt contacted the ACLU, who took his defense and responded to the cease-and-desist letter[33] in partnership with the law firm of Fenwick & West LLP. According to reports in The New York Times[34] and USA Today,[35] Exodus decided against pursuing further legal action once the Exodus logo was removed from the parody.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Exodus International - Who We Are
  2. ^ Exodus International Policy Statement. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  3. ^ What's your "success rate" in changing gays into straights?. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  4. ^ Exodus International. Retrieved on 2006-05-04.
  5. ^ Focus on the Family- WikiArchive copy at the Internet Archive
  6. ^ Focus on the Family's Love Won Out Agenda; GA November 4, 2006; Speaker on "The Condition of Male Homosexuality:" Mike Haley
  7. ^ Focus on the Family's Love Won Out Conference Guide Copyrighted 2005-2006Archive copy at the Internet Archive
  8. ^ Focus on the Family's Love Won Out Conference Guide Copyrighted 2005-2006Archive copy at the Internet Archive
  9. ^ American Psychological Association (On Line), “Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?”, retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.html#cantherapychange on December 18, 2007.
  10. ^ “Former Homosexuals Applaud Research Showing Sexual Orientation Change Is Possible”, by unknown, September 2007, retrieved from http://exodus.to/content/view/783/37/ on December 18, 2007.
  11. ^ “Ex-homosexuals Protest APA’s Position On Homosexuality”, by Michael Faust (Baptist Press), showing Alan Chamber’s quotes on August 14, 2006, retrieved from http://exodus.to/content/view/563/37/ on December 18, 2007.
  12. ^ ISBN 978-0-8308-2846-3, published by Intervarsity Press, 2007.
  13. ^ Pg 39 of "Ex-Gays", as noted by Dr. Chapman on http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/11/a-critique-of-jones-and-yarhouses-ex-gays-part-1/ retrieved on December 20, 2007
  14. ^ Pgs 285, 297, 298 of "Ex-Gays", as noted by Dr. Chapman on http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/11/a-critique-of-jones-and-yarhouses-ex-gays-part-2/ retrieved on December 20, 2007
  15. ^ Pg 127 of "Ex-Gays", as noted by Dr. Chapman, on http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/11/a-critique-of-jones-and-yarhouses-ex-gays-part-1/
  16. ^ as noted by Dr. Chapman on http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/11/a-critique-of-jones-and-yarhouses-ex-gays-part-2/ retrieved on December 20, 2007
  17. ^ Schaffer, Kim; Nottebaum, L., Smith, P., Dech, K. & Krawczyk, J. (1999). "Religiously-motivated sexual orientation change: A follow-up study." 27: 329-337. Journal of Psychology and Theology. 
  18. ^ Ponticelli, C.M. (Jun 1999). "Crafting stories of identity reconstruction" 62: 157-172. Social Psychology Quarterly. 
  19. ^ Stafford, Tim. "An Older, Wiser Ex-Gay Movement", Christianity Today, 9-13-2007. 
  20. ^ DrThrockmorton.com
  21. ^ Exodus International article, "September 2006 - History Of Exodus", author unknown, retrieved from http://exodus.to/content/view/703/207/ on December 31, 2007
  22. ^ Exodus International article, "September 2006 - History Of Exodus", author unknown, retrieved from http://exodus.to/content/view/703/207/ on December 31, 2007
  23. ^ Channel 7 News, article, "Former leaders of ex-gay ministry apologize for 'bringing harm' and causing shame", June 28, 2007, author unknown, retrieved from http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/national/BO55979/ on January 07, 2008
  24. ^ "Are Sexual Preferences Changeable?", by Warren Throckmorton, retrieved from http://www.drthrockmorton.com/article.asp?id=156 on December 31, 2007
  25. ^ Exodus International article, "September 2006 - History Of Exodus", author unknown, retrieved from http://exodus.to/content/view/703/207/ on December 31, 2007
  26. ^ "Chairman Disciplined For Gay Bar Visit", author unknown (assumed to be Exodus International Media Relations), dated: October 03, 2000, retrieved from http://www.exodus.to/content/view/427/37/ on December 17, 2007
  27. ^ Archives, The Washington Post, "Ads Renew Ex-gay Debate", by Alan Cooperman, 21 Oct 2002
  28. ^ As above, "Chairman Disciplined For Gay Bar Visit"
  29. ^ Southern Voice (newspaper), "Ex-gay Leader Confronted In Gay Bar", by Joel Lawson, 21 September 2000
  30. ^ As above, "Chairman Disciplined For Gay Bar Visit"
  31. ^ My first cease-and-desist letter. Justinsomnia (2006-03-02). Retrieved on 2006-04-18.
  32. ^ Liberty counsel threatens to sue over Exodus parody. Ex-Gay Watch (2006-03-02). Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  33. ^ A response to Liberty. Justinsomnia (2006-03-22). Retrieved on 2006-04-18.
  34. ^ Miller, Lia. "Both sides in parody dispute agree on a term: Unhappy", New York Times, 2006-03-27, p. C7. Retrieved on 2006-04-18. 
  35. ^ Swartz, Jon. "Christian group backs off case against blog parody", USA Today, 2006-03-23. Retrieved on 2006-04-18. 

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

Languages