July 18, 2013

Analysis by Ex-Gay Truth editor Thomas Coy: The USA Today column by Tom Krattenmaker gave the impression that Exodus International controlled the ministries under its umbrella and that most of these ministries will close when Exodus International closes its doors, much to Krattenmaker’s approval. Krattenmaker wrote “Other less-known reparative-therapy ministries will carry on the work that Exodus abandoned.”

The truth is that there are no reports of any of the 260± independent ministries under the former Exodus umbrella closing. Many of these ministries have joined together under a new umbrella organization called Restored Hope Network. In fact, Restored Hope Network was formed two years ago in response to the direction Alan Chambers was taking Exodus International. While ex-gay responses have expressed both sorrow and betrayal toward Alan Chambers attempted dismantling of the ex-gay movement, Chambers disillusionment cannot erase the many changed lives and changed sexual orientations these independent ministries have produced. The ministries formally under the Exodus International umbrella help those with unwanted same-sex attraction overcome their same-sex attraction through the resolution of past trauma, building same-sex identity through affirmation, and obedience to God’s Word. These ministries are more than “pray away the gay.”