This is a good topic. I’ve thought of this before and here’s what I think. I would ultimately let him go, because it is his choice and his faith, but I would first give him my opinion and tell him about my beliefs. I’d make sure that he is aware of the alternatives and aware of the different views of the Bible. In short, I’d have a long talk with him about it to make sure his heart is in the right place and then I’d let him go. I can’t make decisions for him.

Edited to add this…

They have this quote on their website… I think their agreement with this quote shows where they stand.

“There is no such thing, strictly speaking, as a homosexual or a lesbian. There are only people who need healing of old rejections and deprivations…”

Leanne Payne

The idea that gay people are gay because they were rejected or deprived is not only moronic and ignorant, but also extremely dangerous. How can you say you love someone, but call a key element of his or her being depraved?

Hmm. I don’t know how much people know about homosexual ministries these days but they can differ greatly. The two biggest in Sydney are Liberty and Living Waters and they are totally different in their approaches in the sense that LW offers therapy programs and personal counselling sessions. It’s very hands on. LCM is more general giving seminars and working in a capacity to refer people on to more personalised services. I don’t think I’d bother saying much if someone was to go to LCM because its only a seminar and that person has as much right to explore the conservative options as the more progressive ones. Yet, if someone was to partake in a three-week LW retreat where you lived, breathed and ate “homosexuality is sin” more caution may be required.

As far as I am aware LCM works as a referal agency. It holds seminars in order to attract interested parties and preach generalised conservative theology. It then works to refer people out to other organisations including counseling. It doesn’t actually offer any personalised help or “cure” itself I don’t think, or at least that isn’t my experience.

When you compare it to LW, which is kind of cult-like in a sense: having its own therapy groups, leadership training, social networks and resources all branded with the LW “cure” they are quite different in approach if not in goal. For someone looking into ex-gay programs I know which one I’d be steering them towards. At least with LCM the onus is on you to call and the attend whatever specialised help you seek. With LW I imagine it’s all too easy to get caught in the flow. Coffee with a LW rep leads to attendance at a therapy group whereby you have to complete a certain number of sessions to even hope to be cured, which may lead on to private counseling from another LW rep because the group counseling doesn’t work, after a set period of time you’re a candidate for leadership training and so on.

I’m not saying the goal of the organisations are different, they are ex-gay after all. I’m just saying one approach is slightly less horrifying than the other.

Actually I think ex-gay ministries shy away from teaching that heterosexuality is the goal. Its not very PC anymore. The goal is to be in right relationship with God and you don’t need to be heterosexual for that, you just need to be fighting against your homosexuality and praying for deliverance. That’s my take anyway.

Madness but that what they do, trying to change people. I was part of exodus movement, I have tried to change my self but I failed. From my failure I learned, if someone willingly walks that path it is just a matter of time for them to realise.

I will just say to the person, the truth well set you free.

I’d definitely allow them to visit – I’ve met Simon; Liberty is better off than some of the others.

In fact, I’d encourage attending a seminar after my obligatory cautions. Sure, I can present my opinions and sources about sexuality and relationships – but I think he can divulge the information himself.

A substantial part of this stance is for personal reasons.