Baptists reach out to gays, to make them 'ex-gays'

[spanone]

This story was FRONT PAGE ABOVE THE FOLD IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER!!!!

Darlene Bogle is a born-again Christian and a lesbian.

For half her life, she struggled to reconcile her evangelical beliefs with a lifestyle her church viewed as sinful. Unwilling to give up her faith, she set out to change her sexual orientation instead.

She prayed. She sought counseling. And then she joined one of a growing number of ministries that seek to turn gays into "ex-gays."

One such ministry is the mission of Bob Stith, the Texas pastor who this summer became the Southern Baptist Convention's first national strategist for gender issues. Rather than condemn those who "struggle with same-sex attraction," Stith wants churches to welcome gays in and then work with them to change their sexual orientation.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070811/NEWS01/708110335/1001/NEWS

[ck4829]

1. Why does Miss Bogle think she has a problem?

Maybe it's the Southern Baptist Convention that has the problem, you know, with it's pointless homophobia and all.

[Occulus]

2. How typically christian of them. n/t

[spanone]

4. they should have a program to create ex-baptists

[knitter4democracy]

3. It won't work.

I had friends at our evangelical college who went to counselling to "change" themselves straight. It didn't work. They did everything they were told to do, and all it did was mess them up more.

Our college even had a group that does this sort of thing come and give a talk during (required) chapel once. Students booed the speaker and were livid, even kids I didn't think were okay with our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers. I talked with a few after that, and they thought that "fixing" them was a crock of s***. These were born-again, raised in the church types, and and they thought people are born with their sexuality and that there's no "curing" it.

Just wait: the younger generations aren't so stupid. It'll take awhile for them to have power in the churches, though.

[Maven]

5. What a feeble voice this writer has

10 years ago, I might have been OK with newspaper writers trying to present an artificially "balanced" view of this issue while subtly showing how this brainwashing "therapy" doesn't work. But it's 2007, and it's unacceptable. The story here is not that both sides have basically good intentions, and, well shucks, we just don't know who's right. The story is, that one side is trying to live their lives according to their nature, and another side is trying to force their superstitions on others. Not to mention the numerous times she refers to the "gay lifestyle." :eyes:

[msongs]

6. fear is the core value of this crowd

fear = you will go to hell when you die

and let's not forget that damning gays brings in lots of $$ from members.

and did I mention that many of these ex-gay ministries charge lots of money to be saved and reformed? Where in the bible does it say jesus took payment upfront?


msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[spanone]

7. the bible must mention money...as a reformed catholic that's all the church talked about

as a kid growing up in the catholic church, the pulpit was constantly used as a fund raiser.

i dropped out. god still likes me.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. Well, this guy Stith just retired, so I guess he wants to make a li'l money on the side

What an asshole! Plus he himself looks like he could use some anti-gay training LOL! These Baptists - whackos all. Seriously.

http://www.sbclife.org/Articles/2007/08/SLA9.asp

[salin]

9. Stith preys over these folks...

as in predator/prey... give more money to me... so I can heal you... you must give even more money... and more... and more...

just so you can remain repressed, guilt ridden and under my (Stith's) control.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. Yep! He's evangelical trash. nt

[NV Whino]

10. Alternate title:

Gays Reach out to Baptists to Make Them Ex-babtists

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. Life imitates art: B.A.S.H.

Baptists Are Saving Homosexuals
http://www.bettybowers.com/bash.html

[NMMNG]

12. "Ex -gays": Repressed homosexuals for Jesus

:puke: The power of hate compels you to fake being straight.


Such vile, loathsome creatures these SBC things are.