It's a miracle: (or something) Exodus ministry to shut down after apology to gay community

[cali]

A controversial Christian ministry devoted to changing people "affected by homosexuality" announced Wednesday night that it was shutting its doors after operating for more than three decades.

The announcement by Exodus International came during its religious conference in Irvine and after its President Alan Chambers apologized to members of the gay community for "years of undue judgment by the organization and the Christian Church as a whole," the Florida-based ministry said in a statement.

"I am sorry I didn't stand up to people publicly 'on my side' who called you names.... I am sorry I have communicated that you and your families are less than me and mine," Chambers said in his apology.

"More than anything, I am sorry that so many have interpreted this religious rejection by Christians as God's rejection. I am profoundly sorry that many have walked away from their faith and that some have chosen to end their lives."

Chambers said in a statement that the organization's directors voted to shut down Exodus and start a new ministry that would would work with other churches to create "safe, welcoming and mutually transforming communities.”


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http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-exodus-ministry-to-shut-down-20130619,0,2132827.story

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Con man thinking only of his money. Yesterday they were going to remain open, now they admit

they have to take a new name to keep getting rich off of hate. Note that none of the individuals or the organization is divesting of the wealth they gained doing harm to others, no they will keep every penny and be back for more.
Chambers is a vicious con man. He has never done good in his life and never will.

[sibelian]

2. The tide of public opinion changes...

So his strategy changes. There is not an honest bone in his body.

[Skinner]

3. I can't help wondering if this is kinda like Philip Morris changing it's name to Altria.

They are apologizing, shutting down, but then creating a new organization of some kind. I guess it all depends on what this new organization does. I find it hard to believe they are going to get out of the gay conversion business. I suspect they are just going to try to put a happier face on their fucked-up agenda.

When has the board of directors of any organization stopped believing in the core mission of their organization? Answer: Never.

[dickthegrouch]

4. Anyone smell a Fraud lawsuit coming?

I'd love to see Chambers and his cronies have to put their money where their mouths are and show us just how sorry they are about defrauding all those folks with their expensive, useless "therapies".
Now we have an actual admission of involvement in people's suicides to work with in the courts.

[Ms. Toad]

5. It is easy to reject this -

But I prefer to be hopeful that people can, and do, change. I may well be wrong - but I find that when I reinforce behavior which (taken at face value) is good that it is also more likely to really become a permanent internal change (even if it really was empty words to start out with).

I am not saying everyone should (or can) do this. It is just a personal practice - particularly around LGBT issues - which I find productive.