Christian Ministry That Offered ‘Cure’ For Being Gay Shuts Down

Exodus International, “the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality,” announced yesterday evening that it would not only stop trying to “cure” people from being gay, but it’s closing its doors for good.

The decision seemed to have begun when the group’s leader, Alan Chambers, posted an open apology to the LGBTQ community, saying:

I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. 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. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know.

Not long after, Exodus International posted this release announcing it’s closing after three-plus years of trying to pray the gay away. An excerpt from the release reads:

“We’re not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change – and they want to be heard. … For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical. … From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we’re all prodigal sons and daughters.”

Good riddance. You can read the rest of the release here, and see Chambers apologize in real time at the final Exodus Freedom Conference in Irvine, Calif.

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