It won’t change Exodus International’s habit of conflicting messaging, but the departure this week of executive vice president Jeff Buchanan (pictured here) is likely to bolster the hardline rival group, Restored Hope Ministries.
Buchanan’s public statements about homosexuality have been exceptionally negative, prejudicial, and judgmental, even for Exodus International. We agree with Ex-Gay Watch that he is likely to emerge among the leadership circle of RHM in the near future. His support for certain unbiblical and professionally discredited tenets of reparative therapy will fit in well there.
The return of Randy Thomas as executive vice president — Buchanan had replaced him just last year — might have greatly confused Exodus’ softer approach to antigay activism, were it not for the promotion of Chris Stump (pictured at lower right) to Director of Communications.
Given some of Thomas’ illogical and egocentric statements during his previous nine-year tenure at Exodus HQ, putting him back in charge of public relations would not have been a good idea. Thomas had been responsible for Exodus’ most convoluted efforts, via identity politics, to sidestep the essential nature of sexual orientation. Thomas also reacted less-than-diplomatically to a number of brewing crises. So the assignment of Stump to external communications may signal a move toward clearer messaging.
Thomas’ strengths are in web consulting and art, not non-profit management or religious counseling. Amid the staff changes of recent years, I remain puzzled as to why none of Exodus staff — for all their godtalk — has a robust and balanced background in either theology or the mental-health sciences.
I’m happy for Thomas, but a hire from mainstream psychology or mainline Christian academia would have done more to improve Exodus’ credibility.
As has been said many times, “criminals always return to the scene of the crime.”
Here in Mexico, an arm of Exoudus International called “Exodus Latinoamerica” is about to launch a 2 days seminary with the theme: “Sexual brokeness” with a price of $800.00 pesos (about U$80.00 Dollars). In their web page is the information about that conference. Apparentely, the E.L. section totally ignored the recent claims of Alan Chambers about that “99.09999 %” of gay men who tried to convert in hetero, never succeed, and that “gay christian men go to heaven too”, words more, words less. But they have claimed that they will not obey Chambers. In Mexico “ex gay” groups like Courage Latino and Exodus Latinoamerica are starting operations in the recent years.
Thank you. Saludos to Wayne(Sorry for my english).
Why are supposed to be happy for Thomas? For returning to work at an Ex-gay group that has done much damage over the years? Hooray for him I guess. Not so much for us.
We are happy for Thomas because it did not appear his art was taking off. And in the few videos he posted of himself, he looked rather lost and disheveled.
It is our tiny hope, now Chambers has told the truth, that Thomas will be liberated from pushing the tired lies of the past. This is an opportunity for him to start fresh and be a decent human being, not a dishonest hack and an angry culture warrior, who lied for the Lord with remarkable ease.
We hope that Thomas will use his new position to ensure Exodus ministries, like the one Rodrigo mentioned in Mexico, don’t deceive their clients, but tell them that they have no chance of converting from gay to straight. That Exodus is basically a support group for fundamentalist gays who want to live desperate and depressing lives of loneliness and sexual frustration. Exodus is basically a contract where adherents decide that they will live a life of hell on earth so they can go to heaven when they die. Or at least their fundie version of it.
So, yes, we wish Thomas well, as a formality. And as a small expression of hope, that he had time to reflect on his misleading words of yesteryear, and will start anew in this Fall season of turning over a new, more honest and forthright leaf.
What Rodrigo said is the reason why any alleged “change” in the American Exodus are completely pointless. They have metastasized all over the world and the local operations bought up their s**t and are now independent.
It would not surprise me too much, if the hardline Restored Hope Ministries takes a stronger leadership role in Exodus Global Alliance than Exodus’ Orlando office has had.
Rodrigo’s post inspires the thought that it might be a good idea to have a web site or a page here to serve as a “hatewatch” where all anti-gay groups worldwide are listed, their activities and plans tracked, who funds them, connections to churches and other radical groups, etc. I have seen similar pages on other sites but not covering all continents. I thought I saw a list like this on TWO a few years ago but my memory is failing with age, and I do not recall where I saw it. If anyone knows of such a site please post it. Thanks
Hi Michael,
Just to say I remember being ‘introduced’ to you via a chat with our mutual friend Rob in Calif, years ago. I’m still working for GLBT equality and won’t stop till it’s here.
Keep up your good work!
Straight ally, totally FOR equality,
Lois