Yes there are many ways to create change. Some activists are quick to name call and attack. Some protest and march. Some extreme activists have been violent and destroyed property in order to make get their message across. Personally, I have chosen to create change by overcoming ignorance with education, challenge misinformation with facts and where possible, dialogue with those you might be perceived by some as the enemy. I’ve been told more than once the latter is a waste of time. If you were wanting instant results that might be the case but I’m in this for the long haul. In this newsletter I talk about the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY side of engagement with ex-gay leaders. You can make up your own mind if dialogue is a waste of time or not. |
The Bad |
Recently I was a guest in the Sydney ABC studios on Sunday night (Sunday, October 7, 2012) to give my perspectives on reparative/conversion therapy. In the studio was also the pastoral worker, Haydn Sennitt, from Liberty Christian Ministries, who works with people who have ‘unwanted same sex attraction’. You can read about the program and listen to the podcast here. Haydn shared the story of his promiscuous and unhappy gay life, his disillusionment and his desire to be straight. Then presenter, Noel Debien, asked me to respond. My first response was that listening to Haydn story was in many ways exactly like mine ……‘déjà vu’ I said. After the Sunday night program Haydn responded on the organisations website. An extract is below.
Considering that certain false assumptions had been made about my comments as well as other comments Haydn had made I thought it would be good to email him. I carefully constructed a 1500 word gracious, respectful but honest response. Part of that email is below.
……and then it got a little ugly. |
The Ugly |
I didn’t get a personal response to my email but the next day this was posted on his blog. |
The Good |
Recently I was searching the internet for some information and came across this podcast of a national Christian radio show aired on 1 October 2006. The topic was Homosexuality and Christianity. John Meteyard was at that time the chairman of Australia/Asia Exodus. After hearing the tragic stories with no hope I called in. If you listen or download the podcast you will hear my call in on the 49th minute. I was on air for till the end of the show (15 minutes). At the end I asked John if he would be willing to talk further and followed up with an email. Over the next few months we emailed back and forth spoke on the phone and finally met up face to face when I was in Brisbane. The final outcome of that dialogue and relationship was this statement for which John was severely criticised in the Christian and ex-gay worlds. As an Australian leader of Exodus John Meteyard was doing something in 2007 that the global leader Alan Chambers has only done this year by opposing the message of conservative Christians and saying you can be Christian and gay. Former Ex-gay Leader – John Meteyard I was involved with Exodus ministries for nearly 20 years until my recent ‘retirement’ at the end of 2006. I have also seen many of my brothers and sisters show great courage in their choices as they seek to respond to the profoundly difficult challenge of reconciling their faith and sexuality. Many of these have managed to live a life of integrity and morality as same sex oriented individuals. During the last two decades my views concerning the issue of Christian faith and homosexuality have undergone considerable growth and change. This has been the result of many things: my own journey, my developing understanding of God and, as I have shared above, the experiences of friends and other courageous brothers and sisters I have met on the way. In the past I have been ardent in my opinion that homosexual orientation was unquestioningly a result of the ‘fall’ and God’s intention was therefore always to heal the same-sex attracted believer and help them to be ‘whole’. In the past I have frequently spoken publicly in support of these views. However, my position is now somewhat different. I now believe that it is crucially important that we all learn to respect the rights and choices of gay and lesbian believers as they work through the complexities of their unique situation with God in their own way and in their own time. |
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