So-Called Change Ministries, Ex-Gay Claims =
Bad Theology & Bad Medicine

by Michael Adee
[6-22-05]

Sadly in 2005, as I travel our church and country I still encounter younger or older women and men who have been pushed into so-called change ministries by fundamentalist-oriented pastors, their parents and even some Presbyterian clergy or churches. In their search to accept, affirm and embrace themselves as children of God being created good in the image of God just like heterosexuals, our sisters and brothers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning are simply seeking to integrate their sexuality or gender identity with their faith.

The major mainstream nationally accredited medical and clinical organizations such as the APA and AMA among others have condemned such "change ministries" as unnecessary, injurious and harmful to the healthy development of persons whose same-sex loving nature and sexual orientation is perfectly natural, normal and essential to who they are as human beings.

Using religious sanction and extreme fundamentalist Christian ideology, nearly all of these "so-called change ministries" prey upon persons of faith seeking to embrace who they are as LGBT persons or parents, family members or clergy who have been taught homophobia and heterosexism from their religious tradition.

Lives and families are on the line here and this is why the major mainstream nationally accredit medical organizations offer such strong warnings and guidelines about these "ex-gay" claims and those who support such life-threatening treatments and programs.

This week in Memphis, Tennessee major protests of such a "Christian-based ex-gay program" broke out. [Read the report.]

It is important for all of us who care about all God's children to be thoroughly informed about the false claims, hidden agendas, predatory behavior and life-threatening actions of such groups.

Some LGBT people do sometimes "struggle" with the integration of their sexuality, who they are, who they fall in love with, how they make love; not because of their sexual orientation or gender identity of course, but because of persistent internalized or institutionalized heterosexism and homophobia.

This is another reason why the Presbyterian Church (USA) must remove its anti-gay, discriminatory and un-Christian authoritative interpretations of 1978 and 1979; and its exclusionary G-6.0106b ordination law used as a self-righteous barrier by those who want to keep LGBT persons out of the church and punish heterosexual allies who support equality. (For more on this go to www.mlp.org for Victory 2006.)

MLP continues to provide educational resources and field outreach to combat this prejudice and reduce their unnecessary struggle within some of our sisters and brothers. For more information go to the MLP website -  for a series of articles and references.

As Presbyterians who are "reformed and always reforming" with a rich history of open minds, open hearts, responsible interpretation and application of the Bible, high standards of pastoral care, in addition to moral and ethical critique of public policy, all of us must be informed about "so-called change" ministries and challenge their life-threatening claims.

So-Called Change Ministries and Ex-Gay Claims are Bad Theology and Bad Medicine. Please be informed, ask the right questions, speak out for you may indeed save a life, a family and a church.

with hope and grace,

Michael

Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., National Field Organizer
More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue # 447, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 820-7082, michaeladee@aol.com, www.mlp.org