Alan Chambers (activist)

Alan Manning Chambers (born February 21, 1972)^[1] is the former president of Exodus International^[2] and co-founder of Speak. Love., headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Before coming to Exodus, Chambers served on the pastoral team at Calvary Assembly of God, one of the largest churches in Orlando.^[3]

On June 19, 2013, Chambers repudiated the organization's mission in a nearly hour-long talk at the organization's 38th annual meeting.^[4] He co-founded Speak. Love. with two other former Exodus leaders later that year.

Background

Chambers was actively involved in promoting policies that in his view preserve and protect traditional marriage and the family. He testified before the Massachusetts state judiciary committee on same-sex marriage.^[5][6] He was also a member of the Arlington Group,^[7] a coalition working to pass legislation against same-sex marriage.

Chambers says that he has mostly overcome his attraction to men (although he does speak openly about his own ongoing sexual attraction to men^[8]); however, he rejects the term ex-gay.^[9][10] He is married to Leslie Chambers and has two adopted children.^[3][11] He travels extensively and is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at conferences, churches and college campuses. He has debated at many university campuses, such as the University of California at Berkeley, Pepperdine University and Reformed Theological Seminary.

Prior to Exodus International's annual conference in 2012, Chambers stated, "I do not believe that cure is a word that is applicable to really any struggle, homosexuality included.... For someone to put out a shingle and say, 'I can cure homosexuality' — that to me is as bizarre as someone saying they can cure any other common temptation or struggle that anyone faces on Planet Earth."^[8] In July 2012, while appearing on NBC's Hardball, Chambers stated that he always believed the catchphrase "Pray away the gay" to be a lazy stereotype and one that he never used, as it invalidates the nature of the complex issue surrounding homosexuality. Chambers went on to tell host Michael Smerconish that he has same-sex attraction, and for anyone to say he does not have temptations, or that he could never be tempted, or does not have same-sex attraction is not true.^[12][13]

In June 2013, he closed the organization with a public apology to the LGBT community, saying that "For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical." He remarked that he will now seek to create "safe, welcoming and mutually transforming communities.”^[14]

Works

Books

• God's Grace and the Homosexual Next Door: Reaching the Heart of the Gay Men and Women in Your World Chambers, Alan, Harvest House Publishers (2006) ISBN 978-0-7369-1691-2
• Leaving Homosexuality: A Practical Guide for Men and Women Looking for a Way Out Chambers, Alan, Harvest House Publishers (2009) ISBN 978-0-7369-2610-2

Articles

• "Pride & Prejudice: Montel Williams Style"^[15]
• "How Will You Respond to Homosexuality?"^[16][17]

Interviews

He has been interviewed by numerous television, radio and print outlets across North America and Europe, including WORLD, TIME, ABC’s 20/20, MSNBC’s Buchanan & Press and ABC’s Nightline.^[18] His editorials have appeared in The Orlando Sentinel and The Boston Globe.^[3]

Television interviews

• Life Today with James & Betty Robison, "Exposing the Myths About Homosexuality", October 29, 2007, interviewed Alan Chambers^[19]
• CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, broadcast February 6, 2007, interviewed Alan Chambers^[20]
• The 700 Club CBN News segment, "Study Says Gays Can Change Orientation," broadcast February 19, 2008, interviewed Alan Chambers^[21]
• CNN's Paula Zahn Now, broadcast June 27, 2007, interviewed Alan Chambers^[22]
• Fox's The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet (syndicated), broadcast September 13, 2007, interviewed Alan & Leslie Chambers^[23]
• "Pray the Gay Away?", Our America with Lisa Ling, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Originally broadcast March 8, 2011.
• MSNBC's Kara Blizzard Live, broadcast October 9, 2011, interviewed Alan Chambers^[24]
• "Pray the Gay Away? — Breaking News," Our America with Lisa Ling, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Originally broadcast August 21, 2012
• "God and Gays," Our America with Lisa Ling, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Originally broadcast June 20, 2012^[25]
• Chambers was also interviewed in an episode of the Swedish TV show Uppdrag granskning, "Bögbotarna", which aired in May 2014.

Print interviews

• Christianity Today, "The Transgender Moment", February 12, 2008, interviewed Alan Chambers^[26]
• Christianity Today, "An Older, Wiser Ex-Gay Movement", September 13, 2007, interviewed Alan Chambers^[27]
• WORLD magazine, "Good From Bad", February 9, 2008, quotes statistics on Exodus^[28]
• New Man, "Alan Chambers Talks to New Man About His Ministry to Homosexuals", March 20, 2008, interview with Alan Chambers^[29]

Accolades

In 2011, WORLD named Chambers as their "Daniel of the Year," for his stance on Christian issues.^[30] Chambers was listed in Charisma magazine as one of the top Christian leaders who represent the future of the American church.^[3]

See also

• Exodus International
• Ex-gay movement

References

External links

• Official website
• Exodus International official website