Exodus: Live Out Loud

Gay Advocates Begin Tour of Christian Campuses

Five members of the gay activist group Soulforce held hands Wednesday afternoon and stood to face about 50 Liberty University students behind the school's DeMoss Hall in Lynchburg.

They had just returned from donating five gay-affirming Christian books to the school's library, and Caitlin MacIntyre invited onlookers to join them in singing "Amazing Grace."

"No thanks," one student said.

Across the sidewalk, students paged through Bibles as the hymn's familiar first verse filled the air.

Liberty student Lawanda Sowell said she was searching for passages to describe her belief that homosexuality is a sin.

"They believe in what they believe because they are blind," she said.

The song ended, and the two groups stood opposite each other with two different opinions on how to interpret the role of homosexuality and the definition of marriage in the Bible.

Liberty was the first of 15 planned stops at faith-based institutions on Soulforce's annual Equality Ride, a national bus tour meant to encourage an inviting environment for any on-campus gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students.

"Nowhere in the Bible does it say, 'homosexuality is sin,'" said Soulforce member Nicholas Rocco DeFinis.

Read the whole article >>

Judge Rules Georgia Tech's "Safe Space" Program May Not Label Faiths "Anti-Gay"

From Southern Voice:

Georgia Tech’s Safe Space initiative, a faculty training program funded by student activity fees, cannot include information in its training materials and website that labels certain religions in a negative context because of their views on homosexuality, a federal judge ruled last week.

Ruling in a lawsuit filed by two Georgia Tech students in 2006, U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester said, “It is puzzling to the court that the promotion of tolerance would take the appearance of such intolerance as is contained in the religious materials distributed with the Safe Space program.”

“The handouts [included in Safe Space training] clearly take the position that churches that condemn homosexuality do so on theologically flawed grounds,” Forrester wrote April 29.

Characterizing some religions as welcoming of homosexuals while labeling others as “anti-gay” represents a “clear preference of one religion over another” and violates the First Amendment prohibition against the establishment of a religion, Forrester ruled.

Read the entire article >>

University of Toledo Disciplines Administrator for Being Critical of Homosexuality

From CNA:

An administrator at the University of Toledo has been placed on paid administrative leave after writing a column in a local paper that argued against including homosexuals as “civil rights victims” and characterized homosexuality as a lifestyle choice.   

Crystal Dixon, associate vice president of human resources at the state-run University of Toledo, wrote a column for the Toledo Free Press in response to an April 4 column by the paper’s Editor-in-Chief Michael S. Miller.  Miller argued that Ohio is behind in “gay rights” and also criticized the University of Toledo’s lack of health care benefits for some domestic partnerships.

Dixon, who did not identify herself as a university administrator, argued in an April 18 column that those “choosing the homosexual lifestyle” should not be considered “civil rights victims.”  She said that while she cannot change her identity as a black woman, “thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle.”  Dixon referenced prominent individuals who had renounced their behavior, sometimes because of “a realization that their choice of same-sex practices wreaked havoc in their psychological and physical lives.”

Read the whole article >>

Exodus Representatives Participate in Documentary Screening

"For the Bible Tells Me So," a documentary about Christian families who were faced with a homosexual child, and ultimately grew to embrace their homosexuality, was presented at an open screening at Stetson University last week. The screening was followed by a discussion panel featuring the film's director, Daniel Karslake. Among the other panelists were Mike Ensley of Exodus Youth and Dr. Julie Hamilton, a professional counselor affiliated with Exodus.

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal Online:

Overall, the movie won praise from both the conservative and liberal panel members.

"I loved that the core of it was families' stories," said Mike Ensley, a counselor with Exodus Ministries, which helps youth wanting to overcome homosexuality.

The documentary focuses on five Christian families coming to terms with a gay son or daughter. Just released on DVD, it's becoming a popular movie for church screenings, said filmmaker Daniel Karslake...

...Dissenting about some of the movie's science was Julie Harren Hamilton, a Palm Beach psychologist and president-elect of the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, which helps clients change their sexual orientation.

She disputed the suggestion that homosexuality is simply genetic, arguing that the causes are more complicated.

Karslake, the filmmaker, defended his research but agreed with Hamilton that everyone should study the issues for themselves and draw their own conclusions.

Truth & Tolerance DVD Promo

In the two short months since its release, Exodus Youth's DVD resource Truth & Tolerance has become one of our top-selling resources. We've recently put together this promotional video clip for YouTube. Check it out!

Exodus Youth Releases Outreach Guide

Exodus Youth has just released its latest resource in the Truth and Tolerance series: the Outreach Guide. This booklet is a comprehensive resource for reaching out to LGBT-identified youth and young adults with the truth and grace that is only found in Jesus Christ.

The Outreach Guide is for youth groups, Christian clubs and student organizations who are looking for a way to speak Biblical truth about sexuality while also befriending, loving and sharing Christ with those who are struggling with or embracing homosexuality, bisexuality or transgenderism.

The Guide contains outlines for various types of events, tips for sharing and communicating well, important legal information, and more. Click here to find out how to get this FREE resource.

Equality Ride's Conflicted Message Meets Contrasting Responses

Wheaton College, Billy Graham's amla mater and the site of the 2002 Exodus Freedom Conference, welcomed Soulforce's 'Equality Ride' this week. From the Chicago Sun-Times:

"We're hopeful that God will manifest himself today, and that the truth will be revealed in meaningful discussion," College Provost Stan Jones told the equality riders. "We hope our students reflect well what our school is all about."

[Equality Ride's Jacob] Reitan told a reporter that he appreciated Wheaton College's hospitality, but he didn't want to sugarcoat Soulforce's visit.

"Wheaton is categorically different from most schools," he said. "Wheaton College not only expels students who practice homosexuality but who also affirm homosexuality. We do not believe that students should have to face this kind of discrimination."

"Sexual intimacy belongs with the confines of marriage," Jones said. "We don't single out homosexuals. But we do stand on historical and biblical Christian beliefs that have remained the same over the centuries."

It's great that the Riders are getting a chance to see for themselves that those who disagree with their beliefs don't actually hate them. Schools are also witnessing how developing a response that's uncompromising but also compassionate can really deconstruct the agenda at work here. While the reports on ER's website credit the hospitality demonstrated by Lee University as acceptance of their message, I suspect it probably had a little more to do with the fact that, just two days before, Scott Davis, David Fountain and I shared our stories and taught seminars for thousands of students and faculty. I'm not surprised that the result was a greater outpouring of love. When will they realize that hate doesn't come from us?

It doesn't always go so smoothly, though. At North Central University, the school prohibited Riders from entering school buildings.

Richard Lindsay [of Equality Ride] got the confrontation   going. At the school’s cafeteria, he was denied permission to enter. Lindsay   turned to a small crowd that had gathered, reading from Matthew 10:14-15, “If   anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your   feet when you leave that home or town.” Lindsay then announced, “Soulforce   Equality Riders will go the Gospel one better.” And he sat, blocking the   door. When asked what he meant by the statement, Lindsay said “Doing the   Gospel one better simply meant sometimes love dictates that you must go beyond   the limitations of the literal text, a message we have been trying to bring   to all of these schools.”

Several other Riders followed suit and, as a result, were forcibly (not always gently) removed by security guards and students who wanted to get by. I don't think NCU handled the Riders as best they could, but I certainly don't agree with Reitan when he later said, "This is the meaning of redemptive suffering."

As Christians, we are not encouraged to "go beyond the limitations" of Scripture. Sometimes that means going without things we want, and other times giving up things we've learned to depend greatly upon. But that's what making Jesus Lord is really about; He let us know by using language like "take up your cross" and "let him deny himself and follow me." This is redemptive suffering, to give up who and what we think we are for the sake of knowing God. And if we stick with it, we come to realize that the idea we initially had about ourselves was misinformed.

"The full acting out of the self's surrender to God therefore demands pain: this action, to be perfect, must be done from the pure will to obey, in the absence, or in the teeth, of inclination." - C.S. Lewis

 

Christian Colleges: Sexual Ethics = Discrimination?

Earlier this month, University of the Cumberlands dismissed a student who, on his MySpace  webpage, identified as gay. Homosexual advocacy groups were quick to respond.

The Kentucky Fairness Alliance yesterday presented Gov. Ernie Fletcher's office with nearly 400 letters from Kentuckians, calling on him to veto sections of the budget that would provide the school with $10 million in public funds for a pharmacy school building and $1 million for a scholarship fund...

Christina Gilgor, the fairness alliance's executive director, said that, if Fletcher does not take out the public dollars for the school, he should press for administrative regulations requiring equal opportunity practices at all institutions receiving state funds.

The school should receive no state funding, even money for scholarships or tuition, she said in a news conference at the Capitol.

"The Commonwealth of Kentucky has no business financially rewarding discrimination," Gilgor said. "Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Kentuckians pay taxes to this state. We're appalled that our dollars will subsidize prejudice against us."

Legal action might be necessary "if the discrimination continues," Gilgor said.

Fletcher, in a statement, said: "My administration does not condone discrimination of any kind. I was elected to defend the constitution as well as move Kentucky forward for every resident of the commonwealth. I will stand behind my oath to continue to do so."

Scott Davis, Director of Exodus Youth, has been working closely with many Christian colleges and universities in recent months to address similar issues. This cooperation has been catalyzed by recent challenges to the schools' Scripture-based standards. Most notably, a Soulforce-backed group that calls itself "Equality Ride" has been touring the country, protesting on Christian and military campuses who have policies prohibiting homosexual behavior. Equality Ride's position is that such policies amount to "religion-based oppression," and force students into "closets of fear and self-hate."

Such groups thrive on misinformation, claiming the schools "deny equal education" to people based on their orientation. Scott Davis has found, however, that many of these Christian campuses do allow gay-identified people to enroll, provided they agree to the terms of conduct. Students are aware of the policies when they choose to enroll. Homosexual behavior is not singled out, either; all sexual activity outside of marriage--including involvement with pornography--are prohibited by these same policies. The charge of 'discrimination' is entirely invalid.

But there is still a legitimate flaw that this crisis is forcing Christian colleges and universities to address. Their policies on sex are Scriptural and just, but what  do they offer the student struggling with homosexuality other than behavioral restrictions? After hearing our personal testimonies and information on the topic of healing, many students have come up to Scott, David Fountain and I and said they had never heard this information before. For several, we were the first people they ever confided in about their own personal struggles.

These Christian campuses--and the Church as a whole--need to recognize and embrace the real solution of grace. We need to talk about, celebrate and really believe in the transforming power of Jesus Christ for hurting people. We need to become more than preachers; we need to be real, relational people who create an environment where it is safe to come clean with your issues, struggles and failures, and find healing.

Most young Christians who are confused in their sexuality are too scared to confide in us because they've never heard a redemptive word from the church. After years of isolation and frustration, they are wooed by a homosexual community that is willing to do what we often are not--pursue them and care for their needs.

If we can't do that, they will choose the gay life. And who can blame them?

"My Roommate Struggles with Homosexuality..."

Our recent outreach to colleges and universities has been an incredible encouragement to us. We've met so many young people who have exactly the right heart for this issue. In a way, these first years of our youth and student division are a lot like the inception of Exodus itself back in the 70's. It wasn't just one person's idea that started it, but rather God bringing together many strangers who He had already been teaching and guiding. It's truly amazing.

After one of our speakers gave a talk at a Christian university, we received an email from a student.

I recently heard you speak at a conference here. I found out the Monday after the conference that my roommate struggles with homosexuality. The news concerning my roommate  wasn't entirely a surprise, as I had my suspicions for a little while.

The reason I tell you all this is because I am unsure of how to respond to my roommate's struggles. How to I show my care for him without condoning the sin? Also, what can I do to get around the "weirdness factor" myself? Sometimes it makes feel a little weird having a roommate who struggles with homosexuality and I don't want that to get in the way of ministering to him.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

It's important to see him not as 'a homosexual,' but to understand that his true destiny is to find genuine manhood in Christ (now, I am answering under the assumption that 'he struggles' means he is desiring change).  Have assurance that God created him to be a man, and see that potential. As a struggler, I know it is hard for us to learn to look at ourselves the way God intended. It helps to have loving friends who intentionally see those qualities and affirm them.

As for the "weirdness factor," I would encourage you to read a book about the journey to freedom. You Don't Have to be Gay by Jeff Konrad or 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality by Mike Haley are great resources for people who want to take part in someone's healing process. A little knowledge goes a long way in alleviating fear. Also, contact one of our member ministries and see if you can set up a face-to-face with someone who's overcome homosexuality. They know the common pitfalls, and they are experts at answering those tricky questions!

Depending on the depth of his struggle, an Exodus ministry might be right for your roommate, as well.

Once you're both comfortable talking about the subject openly, let your roommate know that you want to offer help and encouragement, and he can let you know how to. Keep open communication because you both have a lot to offer each other. Have faith that God has put you two together for a reason--for each of your benefit.

Most of all, It's a good thing to just treat him like any other guy. Relax and be casual. Sometimes people think it's comparable to sharing a room/apartment with someone of the opposite sex. It's not. Help him accept the fact of his masculinity by accepting it yourself. As trust builds between you, the 'mystery' of men will lose its power over him, and that makes this struggle so much easier.

Thanks for your desire and willingness to minister to someone with this issue in their life. It seems that, even within the Body of Christ, there is a shortage of men who will pursue and care for relationships with other men. The irony is, that is the answer to homosexuality!

Christian University Treats Gay Protestors with Kindness

On March 13th and 14th, Scott Davis, David Fountain and I visited Lee University, one of many Christian campuses targeted by a gay rights protest known as 'Equality Ride.' Lee was expecting a visit from the riders later that week.

It was an exciting visit, especially for David who is a Lee University alumnus. David shared his story Tuesday morning before a packed-out chapel (about 1,000 students) and the response was overwhelming. Scott and David also hosted two great seminars for the student leadership, focusing on how to minister to those who struggle with same-sex attractions and how to respond lovingly to those who embrace it.

Many students spoke with each of us afterward, some with friends or family who struggle, and a few who were battling with homosexuality themselves. It was good to see that our message had brought some hope.

One day after we left, the protestors showed up. We have been so encourged to hear all reports say that Lee University received their visitors with a gracious display of true tolerance. While this group has created a disturbance on other campuses by intentionally disobeying the schools' guidelines, the Lee protest was largely uneventful.

Unfortunately, some ignorant soul did try to stir up trouble by spray-painting hateful words on the protestors' bus. Soulforce (the group behind the protest) blamed religion, despite the kindness shown by the Christian students. In a true showing of grace, Lee students volunteered to help clean the graffiti off the bus.

This perfect response by the students was the goal of our visit. I think it's so crucial that those of us who are most directly targeted by homosexual activism give the most gracious and loving response. My prayer is that the people on that bus will encounter the Savior on their journey.