Our newest employee, Kirk Chambers had “Letter To The Editor” pubished in the Florida Baptist Witness.
Study shows ex-gay ministry has 53 percent success rate
When the American Psychological Association (APA) makes a blanket statement that says change is not possible (“Study shows ex-gay ministry has a 53 percent success rate,” August 27, 2009), they fail to consider two things: personal testimonies and reliable research. It is a shame that Jones and Yarhouse’s six year study was not taken seriously when the APA was creating their new resolution concerning the possibilities of sexual orientation change. Based on the recorded data from their six years of research, Jones and Yarhouse found overwhelmingly valid reasoning and support for someone to change their sexual preferences over time. It is also disappointing to see that the APA will hardly take notice to real, personal testimonies of people who have changed their orientation and are currently living happy lives. If the APA’s goal is to help people better understand psychological conflicts and share truthful research to the best that they can, it would be wise for them to begin considering evidence that may counter their majority viewpoint and to stop disregarding studies that may threaten their blatant agenda and standards.
Kirk Chambers, Exodus International
Orlando via Letters to the Editor.
Good job Kirk and of course I agree. Let the research speak for itself instead of forcing it into a APA-correct ideology or discarding it altogether.
MORE:
What is the Success Rate? – Guest Post by Brad Sargent
About Randy Thomas
It breaks my heart to see all those who turn to science other than God for their answers.Science can not begin to understand the healing power of Christ Jesus.I look at it as a form of passive faith.I will finish by adding this,(Dead to Sin,Alive in Christ)In the same way,count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.Do not offer the parts of your body to sin,as instruments of wickedness,but rather offer yourselves to God,as those who have ben brought from death to life;and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.For sin shall not be your master,because you are not under law,but under grace.Romans 6:11-14.I once was bound by homosexuality,but by the healing power of our Christ Jesus my bondage to such sin has ben broken.I ask you how science can begin to touch that.Its the POWER of GOD that has set me FREE from bondage…God bless
Does exodus make the research paper available? Without knowing more specifics It'd be hard to know if that's even feasible, but I'd definitely be interested in a read.
I recently got my hands on the Jones and Yarhouse study and it’s quite an interesting read. In my view, it doesn’t say as much about orientation change as it does about behavior modification, and I mean that in the best possible way. People who still have a homosexual orientation (or same-sex attractions, whichever term you prefer) but live celibate lives are counted as successes (which they are to Christ, of course, but not “successes” in terms of having their orientation changed), and those are in the vast majority of the 53% success rate. Those who have developed heterosexual feelings are in the minority, and even they describe such feelings as “meaningful but complicated.” I certainly think the Jones and Yarhouse study is a fascinating read that deserves more attention from the APA, but I don’t know how much conclusive “proof” it gives to 100% orientation change. To me, it seems to say that Christian values-based living is very possible and healthy for people with homosexual orientations, while heterosexual feelings are a side effect that happens in a minority. Orientation change shouldn’t be the goal, after all, and I hope that no one is suggesting that the only ex-gay successes are those whose orientations have changed. In my view, behaviors and attitudes matter, not desires. So an ex-gay with a homosexual orientation who is chaste is just as successful as one who has a functioning heterosexual relationship with his/her spouse.
After all, helping people live according to Christian values is what Exodus is about, right? According to Julie Neils, it’s not about orientation change, so why is what the APA says a concern? And didn’t the APA recently make a statement that says that in some cases, it is best for a Christian to seek out to live according to their values? I know Warren Throckmorton had good things to say about their recent report, which didn’t exactly give a glowing review of ex-gay ministries (of course), but did recognize that for some people, devotion to their faith was more important than sexual expression.
CollegeJay, Exodus’ focus is to bring people in proper relation with Christ and walk obediently in their sexuality with Him. We always say that the goal is not heterosexuality, but holiness. It’s an identity change, more so than an orientation change. It is a concern what the APA says, because they discount thousands of people’s testimonies of experiencing some since of orientation change in their sexuality. Change is possible, and to discredit that is certainly something Exodus does not agree with. Also, many people have sought out secular means of leaving homosexuality, and have been successful. So it’s not simply those that are devoted to one faith or another that experience change. Change is possible through secular means as well. The APA should recognize that.
I recently got my hands on the Jones and Yarhouse study and it’s quite an interesting read. In my view, it doesn’t say as much about orientation change as it does about behavior modification, and I mean that in the best possible way. People who still have a homosexual orientation (or same-sex attractions, whichever term you prefer) but live celibate lives are counted as successes (which they are to Christ, of course, but not “successes” in terms of having their orientation changed), and those are in the vast majority of the 53% success rate. Those who have developed heterosexual feelings are in the minority, and even they describe such feelings as “meaningful but complicated.” I certainly think the Jones and Yarhouse study is a fascinating read that deserves more attention from the APA, but I don’t know how much conclusive “proof” it gives to 100% orientation change. To me, it seems to say that Christian values-based living is very possible and healthy for people with homosexual orientations, while heterosexual feelings are a side effect that happens in a minority. Orientation change shouldn’t be the goal, after all, and I hope that no one is suggesting that the only ex-gay successes are those whose orientations have changed. In my view, behaviors and attitudes matter, not desires. So an ex-gay with a homosexual orientation who is chaste is just as successful as one who has a functioning heterosexual relationship with his/her spouse.
After all, helping people live according to Christian values is what Exodus is about, right? According to Julie Neils, it’s not about orientation change, so why is what the APA says a concern? And didn’t the APA recently make a statement that says that in some cases, it is best for a Christian to seek out to live according to their values? I know Warren Throckmorton had good things to say about their recent report, which didn’t exactly give a glowing review of ex-gay ministries (of course), but did recognize that for some people, devotion to their faith was more important than sexual expression.
CollegeJay, Exodus’ focus is to bring people in proper relation with Christ and walk obediently in their sexuality with Him. We always say that the goal is not heterosexuality, but holiness. It’s an identity change, more so than an orientation change. It is a concern what the APA says, because they discount thousands of people’s testimonies of experiencing some since of orientation change in their sexuality. Change is possible, and to discredit that is certainly something Exodus does not agree with. Also, many people have sought out secular means of leaving homosexuality, and have been successful. So it’s not simply those that are devoted to one faith or another that experience change. Change is possible through secular means as well. The APA should recognize that.
Well, I know you say that the goal is not heterosexuality, but holiness. I agree with that. I just also think there are also plenty of people who are holy (well, as holy as a Christian can be in this life) and who aren’t heterosexual, but homosexual (in orientation, not behaviors obviously).
For me, Exodus’ focus is a good one. To bring people in proper relation with Christ and walk obediently in their sexuality with Him is a great thing. It’s something that every Christian, straight or gay, has to deal with. My concern is that orientation change is seen as a requirement or a goal, when in reality, there are plenty of people walking in obedience with Christ who haven’t experienced an iota of orientation change, and I don’t think that’s because they weren’t trying or because God doesn’t love them. I think some people can shift, and others can’t, and we can’t really know who is who, but all are called to obedience.
And some of these homosexual folks (like myself) are comfortable describing ourselves as “gay” even though we’re obediently celibate. I think Randy said it in another thread (on Julie Neils’ “Big Foot and Nessie” article): change is possible, but not necessarily probable. For those who don’t change or who identify as “gay,” I hope Exodus recognizes our value and worth in this struggle as well, in the same way they want the APA to recognize those whose orientations have shifted a few points on the Kinsey Scale. Like I said, I think the APA really does need to look at the Jones and Yarhouse study and give it more respect. I haven’t seen any similarly comprehensive studies about secular therapies, though. Do you have a link to any? Thank you.
Well, I know you say that the goal is not heterosexuality, but holiness. I agree with that. I just also think there are also plenty of people who are holy (well, as holy as a Christian can be in this life) and who aren’t heterosexual, but homosexual (in orientation, not behaviors obviously).
For me, Exodus’ focus is a good one. To bring people in proper relation with Christ and walk obediently in their sexuality with Him is a great thing. It’s something that every Christian, straight or gay, has to deal with. My concern is that orientation change is seen as a requirement or a goal, when in reality, there are plenty of people walking in obedience with Christ who haven’t experienced an iota of orientation change, and I don’t think that’s because they weren’t trying or because God doesn’t love them. I think some people can shift, and others can’t, and we can’t really know who is who, but all are called to obedience.
And some of these homosexual folks (like myself) are comfortable describing ourselves as “gay” even though we’re obediently celibate. I think Randy said it in another thread (on Julie Neils’ “Big Foot and Nessie” article): change is possible, but not necessarily probable. For those who don’t change or who identify as “gay,” I hope Exodus recognizes our value and worth in this struggle as well, in the same way they want the APA to recognize those whose orientations have shifted a few points on the Kinsey Scale. Like I said, I think the APA really does need to look at the Jones and Yarhouse study and give it more respect. I haven’t seen any similarly comprehensive studies about secular therapies, though. Do you have a link to any? Thank you.