美性傾向治療機構停止運作指性傾向不一定能變向同志致歉（6月21日消息）

美性傾向治療機構停止運作
指性傾向不一定能變向同志致歉
（6月21日消息）

時代論壇 / 2013年6月21日

【時代論壇訊】主張以禱告和心理輔導改變性傾向的美國基督教機構Exodus International宣佈結束運作，並收回「性傾向能夠改變」的說法，同時向曾被他們傷害的同志致歉。

Exodus International主席章伯斯（Alan Chambers），在六月十九日於該機構網頁刊登一段節錄自他去年寫給同性戀者的信件內容︰「我為經歷了無數傷痛的你們感到難過，你們有人多年來處理羞恥和罪疚，但同性間的吸引未有改變，為此我感到抱歉。我為我們宣揚性向修復治療和要致力改變性傾向致歉，我們為家長帶來了很多傷痕。」

曾是一名同性戀者、現已跟太太結婚多年的章伯斯去年表示不再相信能夠治癒同性戀，自此該機構得到的奉獻支持日漸減少，一些有緊密聯繫的事工和教會也與他們劃清界線。他於今年六月二十日於美國協和大學接受傳媒訪問時表示，他相信Exodus International幫助了很多有同性戀傾向的基督徒，包括他自己，但無數令人感到羞恥和傷害的見證掩蓋了任何治療帶來的好處，「所以我們決定停止這一切，我們不能單單改變名字或使命。」

美國一些調查顯示，美國人對同性戀和同性婚姻的接受程度都增加了，而一些專業組織也指出性向修復治療不單無成效，更帶有潛在的危險。然而，仍有一些基督教團體認為同性戀並非天生而是一個不道德的抉擇。

二○一一年，加州禁制了性向治療，這個裁決正待司法覆核。原告畢哲薩（Aaron Bitzer）指Exodus International結束運作沒有影響他對性向治療有成效的信心，因為治療在他身上很有成效。他指出有同性戀傾向的男基督徒仍會希望跟一位女性結婚，「我不認為任何機構能百份百保證能改變性傾向，但我察覺到自己的改變，我對性向修復治療感到十分滿意。」

Exodus International未公佈何時正式關閉，但章伯斯指董事會成員正在籌劃一個新事工，將會向每個人開放門戶，包括公開承認同性戀傾向的人，他們正在開設一個網頁（reducefear.org）。
　　
Exodus International成立於上世紀七十年代，一直支持和宣揚性向治療，認為同性戀傾向不正常，也並非天生，可以經過心理治療和祈禱改變。

（綜合報道）

（www.christiantimes.org.hk，時代論壇每日快拍，2013.06.21，2013.06.25修訂）

舊回應5則

信仰探索組 / 2013-06-22 15:51:48

我對這個”出埃及”人的誠信有保留!

我對這個”出埃及”人的誠信有保留!

如果有一天, 在政府公佈2017的選舉方案前, 載耀挺出來為”提出佔中”道歉, 說一堆”維穩”話, 你會如何想?

如果有一天, 政府公佈在未來的9月會再推國民教育,而在八月尾國民教育家長關注組發言人出來向政府道歉,向中共道歉, 並解散家長關注組, 你會如何想?

關於這個”出埃及”的人的變節, 我並不容易相信此人真是真誠信念改變! 如果他現在是真誠的, 會不會這許多年他一直是臥底?

一個人的信念, 若有180度改變, 必定會有一些特別的經歷, 如保羅由一位逼迫信徒的人, 突變成為信耶穌的人, 他有他的大馬色路上的經歷! 這人為何會從一個支持改變, 帶領改變的領袖, 改變成現在的境況, 他在道歉中沒有交待!

道歉中沒有一些新的理據, 說為何要道歉! 都是一些老套的同運口頭禪。

道歉選擇在一公開的組織的大會中, 傷害無數的會員及家長 (與他所說的為傷害而道歉, 背道而馳), 是什麼原因?

道歉中提出的傷害, 沒有被害人出來的指證, 似同運人士一向的無的放矢! 如果真有如此這麼多的傷害, 是不難找幾個人出來現身說法吧? (尤其是, 他是組織的高層, 一切資料他也可以得到)

道歉中提出的傷害, 沒有提到具體如何傷害的細節,也沒有說自己作為組織領導人, 為何沒有嘗試改變, 而選擇一舉把組織消滅!

反而有資料顯示, 在這之前, 他已部署了一段時間更換了董事, 最後把整個事工停止! 一個人如果只是自己的想法改變, 到一地步不認同組織的使命, 正常都只會是自己離開, 為何要密謀推翻這個組織?

他的行動時間, 與最高法院對有關幾個與同性戀的判決時間十分配合! 當中有沒有什麼暗中的交易, 天曉得了! 或更有可能由始至終, 會不會他可能是臥底, 有沒有這可能?

試想, 若果一個牧師不想再信基督教, 若果是真誠的信念改變, 會不會在主日祟拜時公開宣佈自己不再信教? 會不會部署更換執事? 然後一舉把教會結束?

這裡有一外國的一篇文章, 給大家參考.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/exodus-international-founder-apologizes-to-homosexuals-on-oprah-network-org

節錄一部份如下:
“The announcement came just days before the Supreme Court is expected to rule on a number of homosexual rights cases that could make same-sex “marriage” legal nationwide, give sweeping new federal benefits to homosexual couples, and potentially lead to bans on reparative therapy, which has already been targeted by lawmakers in California and New Jersey. President Obama has also condemned the treatment.”
…
“Regina Griggs, Executive Director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), told LifeSiteNews.com she found the timing of Chambers’s announcement suspicious.”
…
“I think it’s deliberate,” said Griggs. “Why couldn’t you wait until the first of July? Why couldn’t you wait a week or two?” Added Griggs, “If Alan’s unhappy, if he thinks reparative therapy is dangerous, and he chose not to do it, that’s fine. But there are thousands of people out there who do go to therapists, who do want to change. Why would you release a statement that could impact a ruling out of our Supreme Court?”
…
“Why would you have people showing up for a conference, parents, strugglers, showing up now for a conference seeking hope, wanting to believe that change is possible, and he’s apologizing to the gay community. How must these parents feel? How would you feel as a struggler? Where is the compassion for the people who’ve sought help there? There isn’t any.”
…
“Griggs said that if Chambers disagreed with reparative therapy, then he should have left the organization. Instead, she said, he drove away the group’s original board of directors over a period of a little over a year and replaced them with people who shared his views. Thus began the transformation that ultimately led to the group’s closing.”
…
““Here you have a director who decided, and a brand new board that he appointed … who made a decision to apologize to the gay community for hurt that Exodus may have imposed,” said Griggs, who was herself a member of Exodus until four years ago.
“Exodus International is a Christian ministry,” Griggs added. “They offer support and hope to people struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction. I see that as God’s mission, not something to apologize for.”
Griggs said she personally knows “literally thousands of people” Exodus helped to leave the gay lifestyle through reparative therapy. She disagrees that the therapy is in and of itself damaging, but emphasizes that it should only be offered to people who sincerely want to change their sexual preference.””

橄欖 / 2013-06-22 15:10:34

分享袁幼軒(Christopher Yuan)對此事的回應

分享袁幼軒(Christopher Yuan)對此事的回應：

==========

My Response to the
Closing of Exodus International (full) 在 2013年6月22日 3:19 由 Christopher Yuan（網誌）──

http://www.facebook.com/notes/christopher-yuan/my-response-to-the-closing-of-exodus-international-full/557204404323303

I have mixed feelings about Alan Chambers’ announcement that Exodus
International has closed. I have never experienced reparative therapy,
re-orientation counseling or Exodus support groups. I cannot speak personally
about the effectiveness or harm of such methodologies. However, I do know of
Christ’s atoning love that radically changed my life. I do know of a changed
life living not according to my proclivities, but according to His standard. I
do know of a changed life from a drug addict to someone who has been sober for
over a decade. I do know of a changed life from living as an openly gay man, to
one who is living a life of celibacy. I do know of a life changed from one who
disrespected and dishonored my parents to one who now ministers together with
my parents. Christ’s atoning love has changed my life.

This was not a gay-to-straight change. This was not a pray-away-the-gay
change. And therefore, I do appreciate that Exodus no longer promotes
orientation change. Although God does not bless homosexual sex or same-sex
romantic relations, heterosexuality should not be the goal. As Pastor Tim
Keller says, heterosexuality will not get you into heaven. Holiness is our
standard and we all are called to be holy whether we have heterosexual or
homosexual feelings. Holiness with reference to our sexuality means one of two
things. If you are married, complete faithfulness to your spouse of the
opposite sex. Or if you are single, complete faithfulness through abstinence.

I think one weakness of Exodus (whether intentional or unintentional) had
been a lack of emphasis upon biblical singleness, resulting in an over emphasis
upon heterosexual marriage. In today’s culture, singleness is viewed as a curse.
And if singleness is a curse, then it’s no surprise that marriage has become a
right! Pastor John Piper has stated that unfortunately, many Christians have
made marriage an idol. We’ve elevated marriage to be something more than it
should be, equating it to happiness. However, marriage or even another person
should never be our ultimate contentment. Christ should be.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7 that singleness is not only good,
but it is a gift (in the original Greek, a charisma). But a gift often
comes with difficulties as well as blessings. Therefore, singles without any
family of their own, need the body of Christ even more to be
their family. Singles should not be projects to be fixed. Singles should not be
pitied. Singles are not second-class citizens. Singles can give glory to God
through their singleness as much as those who are married. If Christians do not
reclaim biblical singleness, we are not yet ready to minister on the issue of
sexuality. As people of the new covenant, the emphasis is no longer on
procreation and family, but upon regeneration and the Church.

Whether Christians agree or disagree with Chambers’ statements and
apologies, it is true many Christians view homosexual sex and same-sex romantic
relationships to be worse than any other sin and treat LGBT people with
disdain. This is truth at the expense of grace and does not reflect
Gospel-centered living. We must repent of this hypocrisy. Churches
encourage compassion toward unreached people groups (Muslims, ethnic minorities
in Asia, tribes in South America), the poor (homeless, Dalit), and the needy
(those sexually exploited, those living with HIV/AIDS), but do little to reach
out to one of the most unreached people groups in America—LGBT people. Is not
the Gospel to be proclaimed to all people?

We also must distinguish that temptation toward the same sex (some may say
orientation) in itself is not sin. Experiencing a temptation or an attraction
toward the same sex can lead to sin (lust or sexual behavior), but is not sin
by itself. Hebrews 4:15 states that Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we
are—yet he did not sin.” So it is not the “being” that is condemned, but one’s
actions. Instead of making a broad statement that “homosexuality is a sin,” it
would be more accurate to say that homosexual sex and same-sex romantic
relationships are sins and not blessed by God.

Just as some err by emphasizing truth at the expense of compassion, some
err by emphasizing grace at the expense of truth. There is a growing
misconception that love means “don’t judge,” falsely juxtaposing loving someone
with confronting someone. Certainly it may not be best to start with this or to
confront repeatedly, but Christians are called to help their sisters and brothers
see their shortcomings. Love does mean to compassionately and graciously
point out their fault (Matthew 18:15). We all know that the second commandment
is to love our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27)
which comes from Leviticus 19:18. However, few know that the verse preceding
states, “Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.”
The Bible does not disassociate love from a loving rebuke. Therefore,
love is not truth at the expense of grace, nor is it grace at the expense of
truth. But like Christ, love must be full or grace and full of truth (cf. John
1:14).

With Alan Chambers’ announcement that Exodus International has closed down,
some are rejoicing and some are grieving. What can we learn from this?
Ministries will come and go. Local churches will come and go. People will come
and go. But our hope should never be in any of these things. Our hope must be
in the Rock, Jesus Christ. Something that will never change is the Good News of
Jesus Christ. And it is this Good News which radically transforms death to
life, darkness to light. It is this Good News that has and continues to
transform me. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old
has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

橄欖 / 2013-06-22 04:14:01

（回應二）筆者會認為《時代論壇》這篇報導的標題和內容有欠準確

(一)前言

先細看 (a) Exodus International 關閉機構的官方網頁宣布http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/exodus-international-to-shut-down/ ；(b) Exodus
Int’l President to the Gay Community: “We’re Sorry” http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/exodus-intl-president-to-the-gay-community-were-sorry/；(c) I Am Sorry http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry/。

再細看〈康貴華醫生：「拗直治療」與我何干？〉http://www.gospelherald.com.hk/news/soc-2136/，及〈康貴華醫生：教會關懷同性戀肢體六項原則〉http://www.gospelherald.com.hk/news/gen-2289/。

若筆者的理解沒錯的話（參下面「筆者會認為這篇報導的標題和內容有欠準確」），其實Alan Chambers 現時所反對的做法 (approach)，一直是康醫所反對的做法 (approach)，康醫就這方面的輔導心得，可說比Exodus International 主席Alan Chambers 早起碼十多年。

(二) 筆者會認為這篇報導的標題和內容有欠準確

筆者認為《時代論壇》這報導標題和內容有欠準確，原因如下。

《時代論壇》把 I Am Sorry http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry/
中的 (a) “I am sorry for the pain and hurt that many of you have experienced.
I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you
felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted
sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual
orientation that stigmatized parents.” (b) “I cannot
apologize for my deeply held biblical beliefs about the boundaries I see in
scripture surrounding sex, but I will exercise my beliefs with great
care and respect for those who do not share them.” (c) 把Exodus Int’l President to the Gay
Community: “We’re Sorry” http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/exodus-intl-president-to-the-gay-community-were-sorry/
中的 “Exodus
International, the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and
homosexuality, issued an apology to the
gay community for years of undue
suffering and judgment at the hands of the organization and the Church as a
whole” 等，寫為 (1) 「我為經歷了無數傷痛的你們感到難過，因為性傾向不能改變，你們多年來活在羞恥和罪疚中。我為我們宣揚性向修復治療和要致力改變性傾向致歉，我們為家長帶來了很多傷痕」；(2)「Exodus
International宣佈結束運作，並收回「性傾向能夠改變」的說法，同時向曾被他們傷害的同志致歉」，以及 (3) 把標題寫為「美性傾向治療機構停止運作指性傾向不能變向同志致歉」，是不準確的報導內容和標題，因為
(A) 原文帶有的意思，只是在指同性性傾向不一定能改變，而不是在斷言同性性傾向絕對不能改變；(B) 原文帶有的意思，只是在指當同性吸引不能改變時，不需自責及不該受責備，而不是在指當性傾向不能改變時，便不宜不作同性性行為，(C)原文帶有的意思，只是在指我們並不該把「同性性傾向」也說成為是罪，而不是在指我們該把「同性性行為」理解為是可合乎聖經及神的心意，因此，筆者認為《時代論壇》這篇報導標的標題和內容並不能正確反映原文那些道歉說話及其上下文本來的意思，及會帶來誤解。

當然，倘若筆者對Alan Chamber的道歉說話之理解是不準確的話（這點可從他將來之新事工的輔導做法是否與「新造的人協會」等的輔導做法** 相似而可得知），筆者並不會介意先為此向《時代論壇》致歉，始終這都只是筆者個人地對Alan Chamber的道歉說話之全文有的整合理解而矣，仍可以是有錯的。 ** 關於「新造的人協會」的輔導做法，我們大概應可從〈康貴華醫生：教會關懷同性戀肢體六項原則〉http://www.gospelherald.com.hk/news/gen-2289/
一文瞭解知道。

橄欖 / 2013-06-22 03:34:35

筆者會認為這篇報導的標題和內容有欠準確

(二)
筆者認會為這篇報導的標題和內容有欠準確

筆者會認為《時代論壇》這篇報導的標題和內容有欠準確，原因如下。

《時代論壇》把 I Am Sorry http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry/ 中的 (a) “I am sorry for the
pain and hurt that many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent
years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t
change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative
theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents.” (b) “I cannot apologize for my deeply held biblical beliefs
about the boundaries I see in scripture surrounding sex, but I will
exercise my beliefs with great care and respect for those who do not share them.”
(c) 把
Exodus Int’l President to the Gay
Community: “We’re Sorry” http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/exodus-intl-president-to-the-gay-community-were-sorry/
中的 “Exodus International, the oldest
and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality, issued an
apology to the gay community for
years of undue suffering and judgment
at the hands of the organization and the Church as a whole” 等，寫為 (1) 「我為經歷了無數傷痛的你們感到難過，因為性傾向不能改變，你們多年來活在羞恥和罪疚中。我為我們宣揚性向修復治療和要致力改變性傾向致歉，我們為家長帶來了很多傷痕」；(2)「Exodus
International宣佈結束運作，並收回「性傾向能夠改變」的說法，同時向曾被他們傷害的同志致歉」，以及 (3) 把標題寫為「美性傾向治療機構停止運作指性傾向不能變向同志致歉」，是不準確的報導內容和標題，因為 (A) 原文帶有的意思，只是在指同性性傾向不一定能改變，而不是在斷言同性性傾向絕對不能改變；(B)
原文帶有的意思，只是在指當同性吸引不能改變時，不需自責及不該受責備，而不是在指當性傾向不能改變時，便不宜不作同性性行為，(C)
原文帶有的意思，只是在指我們並不該把「同性性傾向」也說成為是罪，而不是在指我們該把「同性性行為」理解為可合乎聖經及神的心意，因此，筆者認為《時代論壇》這篇報導標的標題及內容並不能正確反映原文那些道歉說話及其上下文本來的意思，及會帶來誤解。

橄欖 / 2013-06-22 02:31:40

（回應一）一些資料及文章分享

一些資料及文章分享：

1. 〈康貴華醫生：「拗直治療」與我何干？〉http://www.gospelherald.com.hk/news/soc-2136/、〈康貴華醫生：教會關懷同性戀肢體六項原則〉http://www.gospelherald.com.hk/news/gen-2289/ 。看過這兩文章，再看(a) Exodus International 關閉機構的官方網頁宣布http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/exodus-international-to-shut-down/ ；(b) Exodus Int’l Presidentto the Gay
Community: “We’re Sorry” http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/exodus-intl-president-to-the-gay-community-were-sorry/；(c)I
Am Sorry
http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry/，可發現原來康貴華醫生就這些方面的心得，原來早已比Exodus
International 的Alan Chambers 先見起碼十多年 （參回應（二））。

2.
同運人士或媒體使用「拗直治療」或 “Conversion
Therapy” 的用詞來強屈所有後同性戀者輔導者及受助者所受的輔導，其實是明顯有欠持平，故意歪曲，和別有居心的。可參例如「新造的人協會」的「本協會的聲明」、「我們是小眾中的小眾：請聽聽我們的心聲」、「組員心聲」http://www.newcreationhk.org/。

3.
正如我們總不可（譬如說）因為自己或有人放棄繼續戒煙，就指戒煙是不能的事，並且中傷抹黑可幫那些主動求助者戒煙的輔導工作（又或以「道歉」的包裝來作這種抹黑），同樣地，每種輔導均有中途放棄的人，各放棄的人亦總不可因而就中傷和抹黑各種輔導的工作（又或以「道歉」的包裝來作這種抹黑）。

4.
事實上，就各種輔導的範疇來說，對於不想改變又或偏要行己路的人，任何輔導都會是無效的，然而，反之卻並不是。

5. 同性戀過來人或後同性戀者可有兩類：【一】仍間或有受同性性吸引的感覺，但不願或不再願過有同性性行為的生活，及願與同性建立健康的友情，而不是發展可會包含有性成份的「戀情」。【二】已甚少有受同性性吸引的感覺，以及不願或不再願過有同性性行為的生活，及願與同性建立健康的友情，而不是發展可會包含有性成份的「戀情」。參「前美國心理學會會長宣誓作證：性傾向可以成功改變」── [ DR Nicholas Cummings 宣誓證詞 PDF全文]：http://www.consciencedefense.org/contents/media/Nicholas_Cummings_Declaration.pdf；也參〈康貴華醫生：「拗直治療」與我何干？〉http://www.gospelherald.com.hk/news/soc-2136/，當中有提及在香港約有11%的求助者能改變性傾向——衝破障礙與異性拍拖或結婚生子。

6. 若有人要說所有同性戀者過來人或後同性戀者都是欺騙者，這明顯是務要強說，及箇中原因，亦不言而喻。也參例如〈從同志到後同志的生命歷程 –

Hansen 後同志暨前同運人士〉 http://wakeup-edu.blogspot.tw/search/label/%E5%BE%8C%E5%90%8C%E5%BF%97；〈女同性戀教授著書詳述由反基督到歸信經歷〉http://www.gospelherald.com.hk/news/wor-3247/；〈我曾是同性戀，但神拯救了我！| 袁幼軒見證〉http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHu8ko6ByyQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player；Exodus Global
Alliance testimonies http://www.exodusglobalalliance.org/firstpersonc7.php

7. 〈我算否同性戀者？──「交心之友或死黨」跟「愛人」如何分界？〉

8.
〈為何「同性性行為」並非一種有利於身心健康的行為？〉

9. 〈「同性性行為傾向」是否天生，而「同性性行為」又是否不宜不作或不能不作？〉

推薦：〈真愛同行牧養約章〉聯署http://www.scs.org.hk/scs09/cosign/

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