Ex-gay Summer Camp: I should go
by Matt | November 24th, 2006 |
Nah… not really. Just joking there.
BUT… you do have to wonder what they were thinking when they sent the invite to go (pictured right, click to enlarge) to me.
Why in the world would I sign up to go to a summer camp put on by a group who has the anti-gay, ex-gay Exodus Youth International as an affiliate and which has the Exodus International president, Alan Chambers and the Executive Director of Exodus Youth, Scott Davis, speaking at the summer camp?
While the group’s website doesn’t mention anything about being “ex-gay,” I think the mission of the group and the camp is quite clear once you read between all the lines and all the talk about “life changing” experiences and “transformation.” It kind of reminds me of the ex-gay, “leadership program” trick played out in the fictional story of Luke Snyder in CBS’ As the World Turns.
Ignite Student Outreach is the name of the group. Its only affiliate group is Exodus Youth. One of its big-time summer camp speakers is Alan Chambers.
Its ministry theme verse (one of the “life changing” and “transformation” stuffs) is Romans 12:1-2 NIV:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For a parent of a newly out gay teen, the camp probably sounds like a gift from God. I’m sure the teen would have a different experience though. Although their website features testimonials (one from Chambers) about how great the program is, you have to wonder why there is no testimonial from one of the ex-gay movement’s “success stories” of youth turned straight (a.k.a. godly, holy and pure).
Seriously, what were these folks thinking? Do they think I’d actually go?
The summer camp, which will be held in four locations in the South (go figure), isn’t cheap. If you want your kid to “turn straight” you’ll be paying for it:
Really… is it any surprise that the camps are located in the South? With one in North Carolina? Not really.
Here is what I propose. The youth of NC Advocacy should plan some sort of public action for the camp scheduled to hit Ridgecrest, NC, from July 16th to July 20th. I’ll be thinking about it some more and chatting about it with a few folks.
The camp in North Carolina, Ridgecrest, is operated by Lifeway Christian Resources (which also runs the Lifeway Christian Bookstores) and is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). The ACA partners with numerous groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has publicly stated their opposition to ex-gay (reparative) therapies for LGBT adolescents. The ACA, however, also partners with group such as the Boy Scouts of America (which has an anti-gay discriminatory membership policy for youth) and the Christian Camp and Conference Association.
Maybe a larger campaign for truth is needed? I wonder how the ACA and its partner organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, would feel knowing that one of its accredited camps is hosting an ex-gay camp?
These ex-gay folks say they have “the truth.” I’d beg to differ. The students sucked into these camps deserve to know the real truth: That God loves them just as they are. That they are beautiful creations of God and that being gay is no obstacle to God’s love and salvation.
I think the Ignite ex-gay folks definitely made a huge mistake in inviting me to their camp. I think they’ll regret it come July.
By the way… The other speaker at the camp is Justin Lookadoo. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee (where gay teen Zach Stark had to face off with an Exodus-affiliated ex-gay camp called Refuge) and he has written a couple books on teen dating and sexuality, of course, condemning of gay youth.
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Technorati Tags: Ignite student outreach, ex-gay, exodus, exodus youth, alan chambers, scott davis, justin lookadoo
20 Responses to “Ex-gay Summer Camp: I should go”
This seems like a brilliant idea.
Think your kid might be gay? Catch him making out with another guy?
Send him to a camp FULL of kids who are questioning their sexuality or already experimenting!
In the woods, in the summer, where they can get sweaty and take swims together, where their bodies will glisten by firelight as they…
Oh, wait….maybe they’re not going about this in the best possible way…
By Joe Killian on Nov 24, 2006
Hahahahahahahahaha
Great Joe… Just awesome.
I have a friend whose parents are forcing him to go to an ex-gay camp. He still depends on them financially, so he really has no choice. His parents think it is “turn their son straight” camp and he says it’s a perfect chance for (numerous) hookups. LOL.
By Matt on Nov 24, 2006
I assume you know that Lifeway is THE publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is one of entities or agencies supported by Cooperative Program dollars. A certain percentage of each dollar given through the BSCNC by a SBC-affiliated Church supports Lifeway. For decades Lifeway was known as the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board. The name was changed since the Fundy Takeover to appeal to a larger audience (non-baptists, etc.)
The Ridgecrest affiliation with ACA merely means that Ridgecrest is considered a quality retreat center. My grandma still goes on WMU (senior women) retreats at Ridgecrest and I think my dad attended sports camp there.
If ACA was consistent, they would not partner with Ridgecrest. But money talks…
Why were you invited to their camp? Almost sounds like they have a list of gay college kids in your area. Obviously, you were targeted on purpose. Wonder how many straight kids get those invitations? My dad had a student who he mentored - one summer during college his Assemblies of God Church more or less brainwashed him and forced him into attending an ex-gay camp. He came back a different person - extremely screwed up. It took nearly two dark years before the guy was able to breakaway from his childhood church and accept who he was. Now, he’s living in a committed relationship and works as a college minister in Atlanta.
By Big Daddy Weave on Nov 25, 2006
It is very clear that Matt has not researched the camp he is talking about or even contacted them to see what there views are. After reading every word on there website only one thing is clear, this camp wants to help teens grow deeper in there relationship with Christ. On top of that for Matt to even put on his page that his religion is “Christian” is a smack in the face to those who do truly choose to live there lives like Christ. I hope through all this that Matt takes the focus off himself and truly focuses on what the camp is realy about and looks at his own faith in God.
By Bill on Nov 27, 2006
Hey Matt and all other readers of this rediculous website. I’m so glad you have this disclaimer on your website. “Note: The opinions expressed by me within the Q-Triad Blog (www.matthillnc.com) are mine alone and do not represent the official views, opinions, stances or positions of any group or organization with which I am affiliated and/or involved.” PRAISE JESUS that no one in their right mind, or of Christ, shares your viewpoints. Find something else to do with your time other than bash people that are doing something constructive. IS THERE NOTHING ELSE to do in your area? Read a book or something. Go feed the homeless or volunteer at the Red Cross.
Wanna know what the “truth” really is Matt? Jesus Christ died to pay for YOUR sins and MY sins and if you don’t accept that, you wouldn’t be able to comprehend much else in this life.
By L on Nov 27, 2006
“There are those who like to say that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. Various verses are cited (out of context) and the verses that people use to show that homosexuality is wrong are explained away. The world wants to change God’s words and meanings into something more suitable to its sinful desires. Nevertheless, the truth stands: The Bible condemns homosexuality as a sin. Let’s look at what it says.
Lev. 18:22, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”
Lev. 20:13, “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them”
1 Cor. 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Rom. 1:26-28, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”
Homosexuality is clearly condemned by the Bible. It goes against the created order of God. He created Adam and then made a woman. This is what God has ordained and it is what is right. Unlike other sins, homosexuality has a severe judgment administered by God Himself. This judgment is simple: They are given over to their passions. That means that their hearts are allowed to be hardened by their sins (Romans 1:18ff). As a result, they can no longer see the error of what they are doing. Without an awareness of their sinfulness, there will be no repentance and trusting in Jesus. Without Jesus, they will have no forgiveness. Without forgiveness, there is no salvation.
What should be the Christian’s Response to the Homosexual?
Just because someone is a homosexual does not mean that we cannot love him (or her) or pray for him (her). Homosexuality is a sin and like any other sin, it needs to be dealt with in the only way possible. It needs to be laid at the cross, repented of, and never done again.
As a Christian, you should pray for the salvation of the homosexual the same you would any other person in sin. The homosexual is still made in the image of God — even though he is in grave sin. Therefore, you should show him same dignity as anyone else you come in contact with. However, this does not mean that you are to approve of their sin. Don’t compromise your witness for a socially acceptable opinion that is void of godliness.”
By L on Nov 27, 2006
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Leviticus blah blah blah.
Hey L - ever eat a nice shrimp scampi? Wear wool pants with a linen shirt? Drive your car on Saturday? Yes? Then shut the fuck up.
I am eagerly awaiting your very long list of quotes of Jesus inveighing against teh gay. You can no doubt cite us chapter and verse on that, right? No? Then shut the fuck up.
By Anonymouse Coweird on Nov 27, 2006
Anonymous Cowierd, thanks for the defense, although I would have used less profanity, but that’s just me.
Bill and L: I have no problem with my faith in God or in Christ. I resent and am offended by your insinuations (and right out statements) that I do not have an already existent relationship with the one I call “Saviour.”
Bill… It is quite clear what this camp and program is. It is, in fact, related to the maliscious and harmful ex-gay movement. You say you read every word on the group’s website. I guess you missed the speaker’s profiles, which clearly state what the ex-gay speakers will be speaking on? Also… many ex-gay programs hide the true intent of their programming and many use language such as that found on this group’s website; language of “transformation” and such.
L: You have mis-read the intent and mis-understand the purpose of the disclaimer you quote. Read it again. It does not say that no one shares my viewpoints. It simply says that what I write here is not the official viewpoint, position or stance of any group or organization with which I am involved, groups such as the UNCG Student Government Association or the NC Advocacy Coalition. The disclaimer is meant to delineate the difference between my personal opinion and the stances and positions of organizations.
Again, to Bill and L: You both speak of God and “what the Bible says” yet you are so judgmental and condescending. If you are going to preach on behalf of God, maybe you should do it in such a way that God would want it done, through love and compassion, something certainly not found in your smart-alec, condescending tones.
Also… this is more to L: Here is a great segment of a recent column written by Baptist minister, the Reverend Oliver “Buzz” Thomas:
As a former “the Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it” kind of guy, I am sympathetic with any Christian who accepts the Bible at face value. But here’s the catch. Leviticus is filled with laws imposing the death penalty for everything from eating catfish to sassing your parents. If you accept one as the absolute, unequivocal word of God, you must accept them all.
For many of gay America’s loudest critics, the results are unthinkable. First, no more football. At least not without gloves. Handling a pig skin is an abomination. Second, no more Saturday games even if you can get a new ball. Violating the Sabbath is a capital offense according to Leviticus. For the over-40 crowd, approaching the altar of God with a defect in your sight is taboo, but you’ll have plenty of company because those menstruating or with disabilities are also barred.
The truth is that mainstream religion has moved beyond animal sacrifice, slavery and the host of primitive rituals described in Leviticus centuries ago. Selectively hanging onto these ancient proscriptions for gays and lesbians exclusively is unfair according to anybody’s standard of ethics. We lawyers call it “selective enforcement,” and in civil affairs it’s illegal.
A better reading of Scripture starts with the book of Genesis and the grand pronouncement about the world God created and all those who dwelled in it. “And, the Lord saw that it was good.” If God created us and if everything he created is good, how can a gay person be guilty of being anything more than what God created him or her to be?
Turning to the New Testament, the writings of the Apostle Paul at first lend credence to the notion that homosexuality is a sin, until you consider that Paul most likely is referring to the Roman practice of pederasty, a form of pedophilia common in the ancient world. Successful older men often took boys into their homes as concubines, lovers or sexual slaves. Today, such sexual exploitation of minors is no longer tolerated. The point is that the sort of long-term, committed, same-sex relationships that are being debated today are not addressed in the New Testament. It distorts the biblical witness to apply verses written in one historical context (i.e. sexual exploitation of children) to contemporary situations between two monogamous partners of the same sex. Sexual promiscuity is condemned by the Bible whether it’s between gays or straights. Sexual fidelity is not.
By Matt on Nov 27, 2006
Oh and another thing… Why is it that the people who most often attack me on my blog do so anonymously?
Who is “Bill”? Who is “L”? If you are so sure you are right, why are you so afraid to sign your name to your statements? Ha… You didn’t even provide real email addresses when you made the comments.
When I have something to say I always put my name on it. If I have no reason to be afraid (which is a lie really, because there are plenty of reasons for me to be afraid of reprisals and repercussions), why are people who are supposedly preaching the “truth” of God’s Word so afraid to put their names on what they say?
By Matt on Nov 27, 2006
First to Anonymouse Coweird - I didn’t remember talking to you, but thank you so much for your comments.
To Matt - I apologize if I offended you. I’m being serious. My intent was not to bash your lifestyle, I was simply responding to your comments about a southern baptist camp that is being put on. I have sin in my life just as any other human and have to repeatly ask for my forgiveness. I didn’t come on here to “bash Gays” or anything like that. So with this last comment I’ll end: As a Christian I’m going to pray for you. As I’ll hope you’ll do the same for the thorns I have in my life. I’m really not on here to bash.
Looking through the web it sounds like this camp is getting alot of exposure. Matt, I hope you take me seriously and not as if I making fun of anything. Lastly, the reason I don’t use my real name is because I get the label of all the other Christian that are saying stupid stuff about homosexuality and would probably find me and want to hurt me.
Bottom line is Jesus loves us all and hates the sin in all of our lives. Thanks for respectfully responding.
God Bless
By Bill on Nov 27, 2006
Thank you for posting the high res image. I’ve added it to our archives so we can reference it in future discussions of Exodus targeting youth.
By Daniel on Nov 27, 2006
Matt,
I’m probably older than you are - or perhaps I just have a shorter fuse. Either way, I’ve been listening to this nonsense - this obsessive focus on one obscure Levitical prohibition when hundreds of others which are much more clear are disregarded - for far too many years, and I’ve long since lost patience with it.
Guys: If you don’t know the original Hebrew, if you don’t know in what other contexts “to’evah” appears in the Hebrew scriptures, if you haven’t chewed over and thought about what act or acts the equivocal language usually translated as “…lie with a man as a woman” might actually be describing - then you literally do not know what you’re talking about.
And even after you’ve done all that, you still haven’t explained why this particular prohibition should be observed, while the laws of kashrut, Sabbath observance, ritual purity, etc. etc. can be ignored, or why you do this in the name of a man who - so far as we know - said NOT ONE WORD on the subject.
I’d be interested - really I would - if Bill or L or anyone who feels as they do would care to address these issues. In twenty years of asking these questions, I’ve never gotten an answer that didn’t in the end boil down to “I think gays are icky”.
By Anonymouse Coweird on Nov 28, 2006
Anonymouse… Just wondering, since you mention reading the texts in the original Greek. Are you a member of the clergy of some church or are you a student at a seminary or theological school? I have to admit, I don’t know many people who can read the Scriptures in their original languages.
By Matt on Nov 28, 2006
Anonymouse Coweird Says,
Looking at your latest comment, I have to say that I can’t read Hebrew or Greek, I can barely read english. Looking at the old testament laws doesn’t do us much good, because if we just look at one of the laws and say “we must keep this one” at that point we would have to keep all of them. Personally I’m not one to have a very long beard and I enjoy my tatoos. We have to look into the new testament to see the things that are repeated in scripture. As I look at the new testament the same verse that L put stands out, “1 Cor. 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Please don’t get me wrong, as I posted last night, I’m not here to debate about homosexuals and all that. I personally was trying to defend this camp that is being put on. I have sin in my life just as we all do. At the end of the day I’m another sinner saved by Grace.
By Bill on Nov 28, 2006
Matt,
Nope, not clergy or divinity student, just an averagely-educated secular Jew (which is why I mentioned reading in the Hebrew, not Greek) who has some interest in this.
I don’t claim to be an expert in Biblical Hebrew, far from it. And that’s not a prerequisite to speak to this subject - but if you’re going to speak to this subject, you have to at least realize that the Bible is not written “in plain English just like Jesus spoke”. If you believe that Scripture is the inspired word of God, then you have to understand that this bit of Leviticus is challenging and ambiguous in its wording, and the most common English renderings are just plain wrong.
This is not especially abstruse or hidden knowledge - or at least it ought not to be, but one of the things that frequently astonishes me is how poorly the actual words of the Bible are taught in many fundamentalist-leaning seminaries. When I know more Hebrew than people who have supposedly dedicated their lives to the Author of the book - well, that’s pretty sad.
By Anonymouse Coweird on Nov 28, 2006
Bill… the Scriptural reference you quote is one in which the words of the Bible have been mistranslated and used against gay people. I’ll refer you to the comment I made to L above, quoting a portion of a text from Baptist minister Oliver Thomas. Paul isn’t condemning homosexuality as we know it today or gay people who, just like straight people, enter into long-term, life committed relationships; he is condemning the Greek practice of pederasty.
Also… as to your comments about the camp… See my latest post on the issue. The connections between Ignite Student Outreach, ex-gay groups like Exodus and Exodus Youth and anti-gay speakers like Brent Crowe are very, very clear. The evidence weighing against Ingite Student Outreach as nothing but a secret arm of Exodus and the ex-gay movement is pretty strong.
By Matt on Nov 28, 2006