Alan Chambers, Exodus International "I am Sorry" (for hurting LGBT people)

[factsarenotfair]

Three years ago, Leslie and I began a very public conversation with Our America’s Lisa Ling, from the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) regarding some of our deeply held beliefs about Christianity and the LGBT community. Today, we have decided to carry this public conversation even further. While this conversation has and may well continue to be met with many different responses from supporters and critics, it is our desire to keep having these honest discussions in the hopes of arriving to a place of peace.

Several months ago, this conversation led me to call Lisa Ling to take another step on this messy journey. I asked if she would, once again, help us add to the unfolding story by covering my apology to the people who have been hurt by Exodus International. Our ministry has been public and therefore any acknowledgement of wrong must also be public. I haven’t always been the leader of Exodus, but I am now and someone must finally own and acknowledge the hurt of others. I do so anxiously, but willingly.

It is strange to be someone who has both been hurt by the church’s treatment of the LGBT community, and also to be someone who must apologize for being part of the very system of ignorance that perpetuated that hurt. Today it is as if I’ve just woken up to a greater sense of how painful it is to be a sinner in the hands of an angry church.
...
You have never been my enemy. I am very sorry that I have been yours. I hope the changes in my own life, as well as the ones we announce tonight regarding Exodus International, will bring resolution, and show that I am serious in both my regret and my offer of friendship. I pledge that future endeavors will be focused on peace and common good.
...
http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry/

[sibelian]

1. That's nice.

...

[Initech]

2. As long as Exodus International exists, the damage has been done.

Fuck that organization. And any organization that exists to make people suppress their true selves.

[OilemFirchen]

3. Has his Come to Jesus movement...

had a Come to Jesus moment?

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Wicked people who harmed others for profit and should not be trusted. Ever.

A pitiful liar, slander merchant and for profit hate monger. Note he is keeping his gig and group open, cashing as always the checks and retaining the wealth he gained by doing harm to others who never did any harm to him.
The massive ego in this man's verbose but passive apology just shouts 'this is all about me, my con, my marks and my money'.

[MNBrewer]

5. I forgive HIM, personally for the things he apologized for

I will continue to hold against him, and his organization, the things which he pointedly did not apologize for, and will continue to work against him.

[alp227]

6. His "Exodus International" outfit is repackaging itself after this "ex-gay" PR disaster

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-infamous-ex-gay-group-exodus-international-to-become-reduce-fear-ministry/discrimination/2013/06/20/69095

In a stunning announcement, Alan Chambers, the president of the so-called “ex-gay” Christian ministry Exodus International, tonight announced he is shutting down the 37-year old organization — and turning it into “Reduce Fear,” a new Christian ministry. Earlier today, Chambers published an apology, but tonight on the group’s website and at what is to be Exodus’ final annual conference, Chambers said that the “Board of Directors reached a decision after a year of dialogue and prayer about the organization’s place in a changing culture.”

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"REDUCE FEAR"? Alan, thanks a lot for making America more secular by digging Christianity down the silly hole!