By Dr. Earle Fox
President, Regeneration Ministry

On Thursday, September 30, 2000, three Exodus ministries met with two primates and three bishops representing their primates from the third world. Exodus is the world-wide network of local Christian ex-homosexual ministries which assist persons who wish to exit the homosexual lifestyle to be restored to their God-given manhood or womanhood.

Present were Presiding Bishop Maurice Sinclair from Argentina, Primate of the Southern Cone of South America, Archbishop Harry Goodhew from Sydney, Australia, Bishop John Rucyahana representing Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Bishop Simon Makundi representing Archbishop Donald Mtetemela of Tanzania, and Bishop Peter Njenga representing Archbishop David Gitari of Kenya. Canon Carlton Gerdeau represented Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold.

The bishops said they had all been instrumental in producing the resolution at last year's Lambeth Conference which so overwhelmingly approved of the Biblical standard for sexual behavior and condemned homosexual behavior as contrary to the will of God. They said they had felt an obligation to follow up on the results of the vote, and were concerned at reports that the Episcopal Church in America was in many areas moving in opposition to the resolution. As a result, they contacted Frank Griswold, Presiding Bishop, asking him to arrange visits around the Episcopal Church so that they could observe the situation. Bishop Griswold apparently replied that the bishops needed to come and meet with those who were homosexual in order to understand that such a lifestyle was in fact acceptable, and that he would have Canon Gerdeau arrange a series of local visits. The bishops replied that they would be happy to have the Presiding Bishop arrange a schedule of meetings, but that they wanted "their canon" in on the plans as well.

As a result, "their canon", the Rev. Canon Bill Atwood, General Secretary of the Ekklesia Society, called me, whom he knew to be director of Transformation Christian Ministries in Washington, DC, asking if the bishops would be able to meet with persons who had come out of homosexuality. I contacted persons in my own ministry and two neighboring ministries, Regeneration in Baltimore, Maryland, and Regeneration in Falls Church, Virginia.

The meeting took place at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, an Episcopal seminary which allows the cohabitation of homosexual couples if their own bishop allows such behavior. The seminary bookstore was observed to have about three feet of shelf space devoted to books promoting the homosexual lifestyle, with one book observed to suggest that homosexual persons could return to normal,healthy behavior. The meeting with the bishops was informal and extremely cordial. The bishops wanted to hear in particular from those who had successfully come out of homosexuality. Five of the seven from the ministries had successfully been restored to Godly manhood or womanhood. The other two had not struggled with homosexuality. Three of those who came out were married, one being accompanied by his wife. The testimonies were powerful and well received by the bishops, noting that this was the first time in America they had heard this side of the story. It was clear that if Canon Atwood had not contacted Transformation, they might never have.

The bishops said that they had been told so far in their visit to America that those who claimed to be healed either were not homosexual in the first place, or were not really healed and would either revert back or live an unhappy life as a pretend heterosexual. That is, of course, the message the Presiding Bishop wishes them to hear.

Several responded, pointing out that there is no evidence whatsoever for such claims, other than the obvious fact that, as with any thereapy, some who try to come out of homosexuality do not make it. It was noted that prior to about 1990, every single therapist, including all those who supported homosexuality, had said that a person who desired to change could do so. It was not a debated subject until the 1990's when homosexuality became politically charged, and studies were promoted alleging that homosexuality was genetically or biologically caused. None of the studies alleging a biological or genetic cause to homosexuality have survived peer review, and even the studies themselves, it was noted, when read carefully, did not claim any direct causal relationship.

The claim for a biological or genetic cause was in fact a political production, which never at any time had substantial scientific evidence. It was, in the words of one commentator, garbage science. And given the lives at stake, that makes it criminally irresponsible.

Works have come out recently by biologists and geneticists refuting the possibility of a genetic or biological cause for a behavior, most recently, "My Genes Made Me Do It" by Neil and Briar Whitehead.

Alan Medinger, who had founded Regeneration in Baltimore about twenty years ago, described himself as the most prominent and vocal ex-homosexual in the Episcopal Church, yet, he said, he was never invited by Church officials to tell his story or to witness to the work of those ministries helping persons out fo homosexuality. The claim that the Episcopal Church wants honest dialogue is, he said, a lie.

I agreed, pointing out how the so-called "dialogue" promoted by the Episcopal Church prior to the 1994 General Convention was a staged affair, manipulated to result in a "pro-gay" conclusion.

I also related how a question from Bishop William Wantland, Joseph Cockrell, MD, and myself had been directed by letter three times last spring to Presiding Bishop Griswold. Bishop Griswold had reportedly said that there was scientific evidence showing that homosexuality was inborn. We three challenged the Presiding Bishop to produce the evidence or to recant his statement. The letters remain unanswered. Copies of the letters were given to the bishops-with the hope expressed that they might remind him that we are still waiting.

The evidence shows that the Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, his counterpart in Scotland, Bishop Holloway, and many others do not want dialogue, they wants to promote the homosexual position regardless of the cost to truth, to the health of the Church, or to the health of homosexual persons themselves. Everything else is fodder for their own illusions.

I have no doubt that this is a very winnable battle, despite homosexualist successes and the heavy layer of malaise and despair on both sides of the Atlantic -- because the empirical evidence overwhelmingly supports the Biblical position on every front: medical, psychological, sociological, etc.

Jim Hanes, a healthy and active graduate of Transformation Christian Ministries, recently married and now on the TCM governing board, pointed out, for example, that the average lifespan of the homosexual person, both men and women, is in the low to middle forties, amounting to an appalling 40% loss of lifespan. The loss of life comes not only from AIDS and other diseases rampant among the homosexual community, but from a close association with drugs, alcohol, in-house violence, and other self-destructive behaviors. There is nothing natural, normal, or Godly about homosexualty. It is a compulsive and lethal addiction.

Our biggest problem, however, is not the homosexual advocates, it is cowardice and ignorance on the part of those who say they support Biblical standards. Christians are ignorant of the nature and causes of homosexuality, ignorant of the devastating effects on individuals and on society, and ignorant of how to stand up in public and force an honest debate. But worst of all, unable or unwilling to reach out and love those caught in a terrible trap.

The ex-homosexual ministries in America, nevertheless, are beginning to be more proactive in responding publicly to the homosexual manipulation of truth. God is giving us a stability and confidance which will not sound retreat. The thing homosexual advocates fear most, because it will mean the end of their dishonest and destuctive program, is open discussion based on fact and logic, in other words, genuine truth-telling compassion. The homosexual program will not survive such an open, public discussion.

God is raising an army of those who are willing to speak the truth in love at any cost to themselves, in the words of Alan Keyes, an army which will fight with few, or many, or if necessary, alone. There is nothing the forces of evil can do against such an army.

I quote below part of a letter issued in March of this year to the primates from our own presiding bishop inviting them to "come and see".

Colorful Fall Blessings,
Earle
Email: emmfox@juno.com
Transformation Christian Ministries - 202 371-5550 - 1017 12th St NW, WDC 20005
Emmaus Ministries - 703 765-7862 - POB 7203, Alexandria, VA 22307

Therefore, in answer to your concerns, and in the interest of fostering conversation and "moral discourse" and an even greater relationship of affection and understanding, we invite each of you to visit those parts of our church which cause you concern so that you may inquire and learn directly what has animated certain responses to the above mentioned resolutions. Such visits will afford you the opportunity not only to query some of our bishops and representatives of their dioceses but also to listen to the experience of homosexual persons, which is mandated by the Lambeth resolution on human sexuality. I will be hoping to hear from each of you in order that we might plan visits for you such as I describe.

It is our fervent prayer and earnest hope that occasions of concern become opportunities for us to learn from one another to our mutual enrichment, in the name of the risen Christ, and in the power of the Spirit of Truth who alone can guide us into all truth. With the love of God in our hearts and the upbuilding of the body of Christ as our hope, we invite you, in the words of Jesus to, "Come and see." END

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p.s. from Ed+: Our good friend Marjorie Hopper, the former Director of Another Chance Ministries http://www.anotherchance.org/ in Vancouver BC, is now working with Dr. Earl Fox as Director of Women's Ministries.