Exodus International, the 37-year-old ministry devoted to helping people deal with unwanted same-sex attraction, plans to shut down, the Christian Post reports. According to a press release, the Exodus board of directors unanimously voted to shut down the ministry after a year of prayer and dialogue. Local groups that were affiliated with the ministry will continue, though they will no longer be under the umbrella of Exodus. "We're not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change -- and they want to be heard," Exodus board member Tony Moore said. "Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we've ceased to be a living, breathing organism," said Alan Chambers, the ministry's president. "For quite some time we've been imprisoned in a worldview that's neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical. ... From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we're all prodigal sons and daughters. Exodus International is the prodigal's older brother, trying to impose its will on God's promises, and make judgments on who's worthy of His Kingdom. God is calling us to be the Father -- to welcome everyone, to love unhindered." The announcement was made just one day after Chambers issued an apology to the gay community for the "trauma" he and the organization might have caused them. Exodus formerly promoted the idea that same-sex attraction could be reduced or eliminated through reparative therapy, a type of therapy that involves prayer and counseling. For years, many have decried reparative therapy as harmful, and last year Exodus disassociated itself with the practice in order to focus on a discipleship model of ministry.
