U.K. Ex-Gay Ministry Quits Effort, Says Trying Changing Orientation Is Hopeless

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U.K. Ex-Gay Ministry Quits Effort, Says Trying Changing Orientation Is Hopeless

: Left Behind makes the front page of The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, the National Prayer Breakfast, and other stories from around the world.

Ted Olsen

[ posted 1/1/2001 12:00AM ]

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British ex-gay ministry gives up, saying conversion therapy efforts don't work
Jeremy Marks, director of the United Kingdom organization Courage, is taking "sabbatical leave" from parent organization Exodus International because Courage founder Jeremy Marks says Exodus's mission to help people out of homosexuality doesn't work. "We are definitely wanting to be separated from the 'ex-gay' label and be more focused on supporting Christians who are gay," Marks told Gay.com. "None of the people we've counseled have converted no matter how much effort and prayer they've put into it. There is much more benefit to the more honest view." Marks has been involved in conversion therapy for more than 14 years—and says it hasn't worked in his own life either. But he's not going to leave his wife of nine years. "This is because I believe in keeping the vows I made before God, and my wife deserves to be loved, not deserted," Marks says. "Having said that, in truth my orientation has not changed."

National Prayer Breakfast:

Hailing faith's influence | Bush urges end to bias against the religious (The Washington Post)
Transcript of Bush's remarks
Bush presents faith as driving force behind his presidency (CNN)
Bush: Religion can't replace government (Charles Babington, The Washington Post)

Left Behind: The Movie:

Entertainment that evangelizes | Churches join to promote big-screen action film (The Washington Post)
Christian movie gains a firm toehold on mainstream circuit | That the film is booked in more than 900 theaters testifies to a growing demand for evangelical fare (Los Angeles Times)
Winning with LeftBehind | The Left Behind series is, in many ways, nothing more than a gussied-up version of an old, old evangelistic strategy: swinging your arm around your friend's shoulders, looking earnestly into his eyes, and asking, "If you were hit by a bus tomorrow, would you go to heaven?" (Lauren F. Winner, The Hartford Courant)