While Exodus International maintains a don’t-support-don’t-oppose policy, some ex-gay activists have spoken out against the ex-gay exorcist church in Bridgeport, Conn.
The Fairfield Weekly reported June 18:
Rev. D.L. Foster, who heads Gay Christian Movement Watch, an Atlanta-based “ministry” that opposes the acceptance of homosexuality in the church, posted [the video] on his Web site.
“I thought what I saw in the video was bizarre and I don’t think [the practice depicted] is biblical,” Foster says. “There is a sense of spiritual coercion. You have a young man on the floor being stepped on, being videotaped.” He says he has seen incidents like this (he doesn’t condone them), but “this is extreme.”
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DL should notify the rest of Exodus.
Exodus promotes “spiritual warfare,” believing that, in some cases, homosexuality is demonic. One of Exodus International’s most celebrated leaders is Andy Comiskey of Desert Stream ministries. In his book “Pursuing Sexual Wholeness,” he calls homosexuality “spiritual disfigurement” and believes that “Satan delights in homosexual perversion because it not only exists outside of marriage, but it also defiles God’s very image reflected as male and female…Another related source of demonization is the homosexual relationship itself…That attachment and communion are indeed inspired, but their source is demonic.”
Exodus also sells Jeanette Howard’s book, “Out of Egypt: One Woman’s Journey Out of Lesbianism.” In her book she writes, “Choosing to leave the lesbian life brings us into direct conflict with the satanic realm….only when we understand and implement spiritual warfare can our walk into wholeness be successful.”
Exodus leader, Alan Chambers, has also promoted spiritual warfare saying in a 2005 Exodus Newsletter, “One of the many evils this world has to offer is the sin of homosexuality. Satan, the enemy, is using people to further his agenda to destroy the Kingdom of God and as many souls as he can.”
At the “Family Impact Summit,” a right wing conference in Brandon, Florida held on Sept. 21, 2007, Chambers told the crowd of social conservatives, “We have to stand up against an evil agenda. It is an evil agenda and it will take anyone captive that is willing, or that is standing idly by.”
It seems to me that Exodus is completely comfortable with “spiritual warfare” including exorcisms. If not, then why do they sell such books and make such statements? And why are there Exodus victims who claim to have undergone such techniques?
This reminds me of Exodus’ handling of Richard Cohen, the quack therapist kicked out of the American Counseling Association. They very clearly supported his “touch therapy” methods until he humiliated himself on TV. Yet, the truth was (and is) some Exodus counselors DO take part in touch therapy – where some clients report being abused.
Exodus can’t keep its ever-mutating story straight. It really is a disreputable, truth challenged operation.
Comment by Wayne Besen — June 27, 2009 @ 9:31 am
Will wonders ever cease? I’m actually agreeing with Foster on something.
Comment by a. mcewen — June 27, 2009 @ 1:00 pm