Next week I will be traveling to Belfast, Northern Ireland to speak at an event for a group called Core Issues headed by Dr. Mike Davidson. I have been asked to share insights from my latest book, Leaving Homosexuality (Harvest House, 2009). Core Issues has recently had other Exodus leaders, like Christine Sneeringer, in to speak for what looks like a series on the complexities related to same-sex attraction and faith.
The speaker that kicked off this series for Core Issues and has some official connection to that organization is a man that I do not know named Dr. Paul Miller. Dr. Miller is facing an inquest for his work in the U.K. Because medical doctors and clinicians face these inquests routinely as a follow up to complaints, Exodus and I are not inclined to make a statement or pass judgment on issues for which we have insufficient information. It has been reported that Dr. Miller is an associate of Mr. Richard Cohen of the International Healing Foundation. Upon inquiry we found that, like many good and reputable therapists and laymen alike, Dr. Miller did host a training for Mr. Cohen a few years ago which Dr. Mike Davidson attended. Both have since broken ties with Mr. Cohen and neither utilize or endorse his practices. (BLOGMASTER NOTE: Dr. Mike Davidson simply attended a conference by Cohen thus had no affiliation. Dr. Miller did endorse Mr. Cohen's book several years back, which is still on the IHF website.)
In addition, the idea of "gay-to-straight" therapy is not something that Exodus subscribes to. The mission of Exodus is to help those affected by same-sex attractions grow deeper in their relationship with Christ as they embrace God’s true intent for their identity and sexuality. While many have experienced change in attractions and orientation, that isn't the focus of Exodus nor is it through any technique or tool that Exodus uses to get such a result. As such, I felt it necessary to, once again, clearly denounce unethical techniques like "holding therapy" and the over focus on gay-to-straight conversion therapies. Exodus International upholds the truth of scripture concerning human sexual expression but realizes that the point of this life far transcends attraction. No change or freedom can be attained by focusing solely on such issues.
The speaker that kicked off this series for Core Issues and has some official connection to that organization is a man that I do not know named Dr. Paul Miller. Dr. Miller is facing an inquest for his work in the U.K. Because medical doctors and clinicians face these inquests routinely as a follow up to complaints, Exodus and I are not inclined to make a statement or pass judgment on issues for which we have insufficient information. It has been reported that Dr. Miller is an associate of Mr. Richard Cohen of the International Healing Foundation. Upon inquiry we found that, like many good and reputable therapists and laymen alike, Dr. Miller did host a training for Mr. Cohen a few years ago which Dr. Mike Davidson attended. Both have since broken ties with Mr. Cohen and neither utilize or endorse his practices. (BLOGMASTER NOTE: Dr. Mike Davidson simply attended a conference by Cohen thus had no affiliation. Dr. Miller did endorse Mr. Cohen's book several years back, which is still on the IHF website.)
In addition, the idea of "gay-to-straight" therapy is not something that Exodus subscribes to. The mission of Exodus is to help those affected by same-sex attractions grow deeper in their relationship with Christ as they embrace God’s true intent for their identity and sexuality. While many have experienced change in attractions and orientation, that isn't the focus of Exodus nor is it through any technique or tool that Exodus uses to get such a result. As such, I felt it necessary to, once again, clearly denounce unethical techniques like "holding therapy" and the over focus on gay-to-straight conversion therapies. Exodus International upholds the truth of scripture concerning human sexual expression but realizes that the point of this life far transcends attraction. No change or freedom can be attained by focusing solely on such issues.
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