August 15, 2012

The first “gathering” conference of the Restored Hope Network will be in Fair Oaks, California. Speakers will include Dr. Robert Gagnon, Frank Worthen, and Andrew Comiskey. Both Worthen and Comiskey are past presidents of Exodus International. The conference webpage states, “Nowhere does the transforming power of Jesus Christ have more relevance then in our sexuality. Broken sexuality takes life; Jesus through His body restores hope for the integrity of our intimate relationships.” For more information go to Restored Hope Network Conference.

August 15, 2012

Excerpt reprinted from PFOX bulletin: “In the past, the Christian ministry Exodus International has refused to publicly support ex-gay rights or pro-family marriage legislation because their position was that they do not get involved in ‘politics.’ But now Exodus is openly supporting sodomy rights in foreign countries which do not legally recognize sodomy, according to the New York Times.”

“Also troubling is that Exodus leader Alan Chambers is now denying sexual orientation change. The erroneous notion that the absence of complete eradication of all same-sex attraction is proof that conversion is impossible, has long been championed by gay activists and now mimicked by Exodus. Of course, that notion is neither Biblical nor applied consistently to other sinful impulses.”

“Some affiliated churches and ministries, including those of ex-gays Stephen Black, Andrew Comisky, and Frank Worthen, have left Exodus and started their own ex-gay organization called Restored Hope Network.”

August 15, 2012

In response to California State Senator Ted Lieu’s charge of widespread harm to minors from sexual orientation change efforts, NARTH president Christopher Rosik, Ph.D searched two science literature databases for evidence. One database PsycARTICLES searched journals related to psychology and the other MEDLINE searched 1470 medical journals. While Rosik found 15,806 articles under six search headings of children/adolescents/minors and cigarettes/alcohol, he only found four articles under eight headings of harm related to sexual orientation change efforts. Three of the four were not research related. The one article about harm was from two gay professionals whose research sought individuals who felt harmed by sexual orientation change efforts. That study did not distinguish between mental health professionals and unlicensed religious counselors. Rosik concluded that the Lieu’s charge of widespread harm represents rhetoric and not research. The full text can be found at “Complete Lack of a Scientific Basis.”

August 8, 2012

Edited text: “Dear Senator Ted Lieu: You claim that ‘sexual orientation conversion therapy is absolutely illegitimate’ and that’s why you ‘want to stop parents from sending their kids to it.’ … please read the 2010 CDC AIDS report: 77% of diagnosed HIV infections were attributed to MSM (men who have sex with men). Of those aged 13 to 24 youth, 89% was attributed to MSM. In fact, MSM aged 13 to 24 youth had the greatest increase in diagnosis (44%). Talk about harm to children! Why do you want to prevent youth from receiving counseling for unwanted same-sex attractions when those attractions can kill them?”

Full text of the PFOX letter: Read the rest of this entry →

August 4, 2012

Excerpt from the promotional webpage for the book: “Linda Carter is a living example of the mercy, grace and power of God. Having lived as a lesbian for 15 years, she was saved and set free by Jesus Christ at age 33. She is no longer gay, has no desire to return to her former life, and offers that when an authentic Christian conversion takes place, a gay person will completely renounce that lifestyle.”

August 6, 2012

Here are a couple of differences articulated in Andy Comisky’s August 6th blog:

A “different view of the consequences of sexual sin. Whereas Exodus believes that practicing ‘gay’ Christians may well inherit the Kingdom of heaven, we beg to differ. We believe that Christ followers must reckon with homosexual behavior as a serious betrayal of their humanity and spirituality, and repent of it in order to be assured of salvation.”

A “different expectation of change for same-sex strugglers. Though we agree with Exodus’ desire to more accurately define ‘change’ for those with SSA, Exodus now appears tentative and unclear as to the degree to which the same-sex attracted will experience change at all in their sexuality. We believe that Jesus brings change to every Christian with SSA who seeks Him whole-heartedly. …”

“A different reliance upon reparative psychology. Read the rest of this entry →

August 2, 2012

In an article published by LifeSiteNews Archbishop-elect of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia took the position “that society has been silent when it comes to the health risks and dangers of the homosexual lifestyle.” In defending the Archbishop the director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office, Peter Kearney, stated that there is “something of a conspiracy of silence around the vast array of medical evidence that exists to suggest that same-sex behavior is hazardous, is harmful, and is dangerous. And the wider question really is as a society why don’t we debate that? Why don’t we have that discussion in the same way, for example, that we’ve been happy to look at how smoking, how alcohol, how over-eating, how drug addiction can cause harms to people’s health?”

August 2, 2012

Townhall columnist Michael Brown has pointed out CA State Senator Ted Lieu’s strange motives using his own words. Brown wrote “As of today, it is legal in California to give hormone blockers to an 11 year-old boy in order to delay the onset of puberty, but it could soon be illegal for a 17 year-old with unwanted same-sex attractions to receive professional counseling, even with parental consent. Now, California Senator Ted Lieu, has removed any doubt as to why he introduced Senate Bill 1172: ‘The attack on parental rights is exactly the whole point of the bill because we don’t want to let parents harm their children.’ This is an absolute outrage, and every parent in California needs to contact their senators and urge them to vote against this ridiculous and wrong-headed bill.” Link to Michael Brown’s article.

August 1, 2012

Christianity Today published an article describing the controversial statements by Peter Kearney, the director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office. About a week ago Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia stated in a forum that evidence linked gay sex with early death rates and “suggested that the early 2011 death of Labour MP David Cairns could be linked to his homosexuality.” Tartaglia later apologized for suggesting Cairn’s death was linked to his homosexuality. Amidst a barrage of criticism Kearney boldly stated that society was not taking a “compassionate” response by choosing to ignore the “complex infections, diseases and illnesses that are caused” by gay sex.

July 25, 2012

Excerpt from Chris Stump’s article: “It was never enough for me to give up the bad habits. I had to give them up and replace them with something better. You see, those habits served as fleshly gods. When I was anxious, stressed, bored, or depressed I’d run to them. They were the things that sustained me. So taking them away was never enough. Because I would still have those stressful, fearful, or depressing times. I had to give those up and seek the one who actually could bring healing, growth, and freedom.”

“Worship isn’t just praying and journaling. It’s the time when we allow Christ into the very depths of our souls. Read the rest of this entry →