First, there was Randy’s comment last year about how he would go to Uganda and personally plead for gay people’s release from prison “if he only had the opportunity.” Guess what, Randy — you do have the opportunity. If Exodus can send you to London so that you can attend an ex-gay conference and then see a West End show, then they can send you to Uganda. It’s really that simple.

And now we have Alan Chambers saying that he’d love nothing more than to officially apologize for Exodus’ involvement in the Ugandan anti-gay conference “if he only had the opportunity.” Alan is the PRESIDENT of a massive organization, and yet acts as though he has to wait around for a call from Diane Sawyer! If he truly wanted to make an apology, you’d think he would at the very least write something on his blog. But unfortunately, the last time he posted anything there was to promote his book. Go figure.

” I hope that I NEVER have a spiritual awakening that leaves me void of any care or concern about the physical well being of people who I consider today to be my friends. I hope I NEVER find my religious faith to be so inwardly focused that I cannon condemn evil without caveats and judgment of the people being mistreated.

In other words, if “walking away from a homosexual lifestyle and pursuing an identity in Christ” requires me to stop being a decent person, I have no need or desire for that journey. I’d rather be moral than straight.”

True words, Timothy.

http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/03/7710/

not sure if this qualifies as “better than nothing”.

If a society becomes completely accepting of gays, Exodus becomes obsolete.

But if a society becomes too oppressive toward gays, the potential customers are afraid to talk to anyone, including Exodus. So Exodus needs to walk a middle ground.

I think penguinsaur and Stefano A both said essentially the same thing, but arrived there in a different way.

It says nothing whatsoever about gay Ugandans. In fact, it doesn’t address gay people.

This is, instead, a statement about those who:

* remain committed to sharing … Jesus Christ

* the Christian church

* church and ministry leaders

* hurting men, women, and children who… seek help

* those who personally struggled with same-sex attractions… but found a new identity

As for gay people, Exodus frankly couldn’t care less about them. Read it carefully; other than a vague “deprive of life and dignity” statement, there is not a single word about gay people.

I am saddened that Exodus has become so callous. I hope that I NEVER have a spiritual awakening that leaves me void of any care or concern about the physical well being of people who I consider today to be my friends. I hope I NEVER find my religious faith to be so inwardly focused that I cannon condemn evil without caveats and judgment of the people being mistreated.

In other words, if “walking away from a homosexual lifestyle and pursuing an identity in Christ” requires me to stop being a decent person, I have no need or desire for that journey. I’d rather be moral than straight.

We hosted a gathering of other prayer groups. That’s it. I did not create Exodus. We thought God would bless us with “straightness”. What the hell did we know?

There was no political intent, agenda or involvement. Just a small bunch of Jesus Freaks in our early twenties giving our testimonies and praying God would take the gay away.

It was naive of us to think so. I take no credit for what Exodus did or became once I left. They did that entirely on their own.

Warren’s not exactly known for his modesty, and yet he realized that this is not all about him. If he could stop gazing at his own navel long enough to condemn the bill without dithering, hemming and hawing, and wringing his hands about his ministry, so can the Exodus crew — even at this very late date.

I’ll even help draft it for them:

“We, the undersigned, oppose the passage of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill. We also oppose the criminalization of homosexuality and homosexual acts.”

There now. Wasn’t that easy?