E-mail
Print
RSS
G-bookmarks
Live
TechnoratiOne of the most heated debates this year was over gay-to-straight conversions.
The American Psychological Association (APA), which is currently reviewing its 10-year-old policy on counseling homosexuals, commenced discussion in July on whether therapists should be allowed to offer counseling to persons wanting to rid their same-sex desires.
Pro-gay groups are pushing for a complete ban of any type of reparative therapy while evangelical Christians urge respect for religious diversity.
"There are many men and women who have unwanted same-sex attractions. Those persons should have the option to get a form of treatment or counseling that parallels their value system, their faith beliefs, their religious convictions, particularly Christians who hold to a view that homosexuality is outside God's created divine," argued Tim Wilkins, a former homosexual who heads Cross Ministry and speaks at more than 120 events each year, telling Christians how to deal with the issue of homosexuality.
Notable gay-to-straight “converts” this year included Charlene E. Cothran – formerly a prominent black homosexual activist who ran a quarterly magazine that has targeted black gays and lesbians for the past 13 years – and Michael Glatze, former editor of Young Gay America (YGA) magazine.
According to researchers of a study released in September, change for homosexuals is difficult, but still possible.
The study, conducted by longtime Wheaton College professor of psychology and provost Stanton L. Jones and Regent University professor Mark Yarhouse, followed about 100 people entering ex-gay programs under the umbrella of Exodus International – the nation's largest Christian organization dealing with homosexuality issues – for over four years.
Results showed that 15 percent of the sample claimed to have successfully changed their sexual orientation, reporting substantial reduction in homosexual desire and addition of heterosexual attraction.
Researchers did not hasten to conclude that anyone can change their sexual orientation or that no one has ever been harmed from the attempt to change. But Jones said the study results suggested that "the forceful way in which the secular mental-health community is saying change is impossible and harmful is just not well-advised."
"My response is that even some change with little evidence of harm is of great importance to people who are seeking great congruence with their values and beliefs," commented Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a noted expert in sexuality counseling.
Meanwhile, church bodies continued to be bogged by the issue of homosexuality. Most notably, The Episcopal Church witnessed for the first time in its history the departure of an entire diocese. Despite warning from the head of the national church, delegates of the Diocese of San Joaquin voted 173-22 to secede and realign with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The break came after years of conflict over what the diocese and other conservatives contend is The Episcopal Church's departure from Scripture and traditional Anglicanism. While dozens of congregations have already disaffiliated from the national church, the Dec. 9 vote marked the first time an entire diocese has chosen to secede. The Episcopal Church – U.S. arm of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion – had widened rifts when it consecrated openly gay bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003. Continue »
apex1 »
Agree: 
Disagree: 
