New York Presbytery would ban therapy for homosexuals
The Layman Online, April 13, 1999
Taking its marching orders from the American Psychological Association instead of Scripture, the New York Presbytery has approved a radical overture that would require repentance by people who believe homosexual activity is a sin.
Furthermore, the overture would direct “all agencies of the General Assembly … to refrain from supporting, implementing or sponsoring therapies of ministries which attempt to alter a person’s sexual orientation.”
A non-biblical authority
If approved by the General Assembly during its meeting in Fort Worth this June, Overture 99-36 would in effect establish the American Psychological Association as the authority for the denomination’s view on homosexuality. That would be a sea change from the Presbyterian Church’s historic view that Scripture is authoritative and that homosexual activity is sin.
The New York overture quotes repeatedly from the American Psychological Association, including a highly disputed assertion that “no scientific evidence exists to support the effectiveness of any conversion therapies that try to change orientation.”
It also quotes from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which said that “therapy directed specifically at changing sexual orientation is contraindicated … since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving change in orientation.”
There are other views
There are, however, numerous psychologists, psychiatrists and pediatricians whose views on homosexuality are contrary to the official pronouncements of the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Furthermore, the leading journal of the American Psychological Association recently published an article that said sex between children and adults is not harmful and, in fact, can be a positive experience for the child.
It proposes that the General Assembly back away entirely from encouraging any kind of restorative therapy that would change a homosexual person’s sexual orientation. By continuing to label homosexual activity a sin, the overture infers, the church is committing “violence” against homosexuals.
The overture calls upon the denomination “to repent of the sins of homophobia, and of all violence – physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual, based on perceptions of sexual orientation.” [Homophobia is a word invented by the homosexual community a few years ago that is intended to mean hatred of homosexuals; literally, it is a combined word using Greek for fear (phobia) and either Latin for man (homo) or Greek for same (homo). Its etymology is about as hazy as the call for repentance – repentance from causing psychological, emotional or spiritual “violence” by calling people to turn away from what the Bible declares sin?]
‘Other forms of violence’
The Presbytery’s overture also cited “other forms of violence, such as electro-shock treatment, castration and aversion therapy” as being used in attempts to change the sexual orientation of homosexuals.
In fact, however, groups that are prominent – and they say successful – in their therapy provided for homosexuals say they use none of those methods.
One such group is OneByOne, an independent Presbyterian ministry which says it has been the target of attacks by the Presbyteries of Detroit and Genesee Valley – and now the New York Presbytery.
‘Blatant distortion’
In a response posted on its web page, OneByOne said that “overtures which link ex-gay ministries and reparative therapy with homophobia and violence against gays and castration and electro-convulsive shock therapy” are “an inflammatory and blatant distortion of current therapeutic methods used for individuals seeking change in their sexual orientation. The leading ex-gay ministries and conversion therapists – i.e. Exodus International, The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), Transforming Congregations, OneByOne – do not advocate or use such techniques as castration, electro-convulsive shock therapy, or aversion therapy.
“While supporting conversion therapy for individuals in conflict with their sexuality and seeking change, OneByOne warns against coercing into therapy individuals who celebrate their homosexuality. OneByOne recognizes the prejudice and discrimination directed at homosexuals within the church and simultaneously calls upon the church to repent of such injustice. To equate the presence of ex-gay therapy with violent acts, such as the brutal death of Matthew Shepard, is not only ill-informed but unjustified invective,” the OneByOne response continued.
Many support therapy
The OneByOne statement also challenged the official statements of professional psychological organizations in the United States and said a multitude of professional therapists does support reparative therapy for homosexuals.
“For example, a 1997 survey of over 200 professional therapists offering reparative therapy for 860 individuals indicates ‘a documented shift in respondents’ sexual orientation, as well as the frequency and intensity of their homosexual thoughts and actions. Dr. Warren Throckmorton, mental health counselor and psychology professor at Grove City College, Grove City, Pa. writes, ‘I have assisted clients who were, in the beginning of mental health counseling, primarily attracted to those of the same gender who declare they are now primarily attracted to the opposite gender. I fear that resolutions such as passed by APA and ACA will prevent such outcomes which are viewed quite positively by the clients who have experienced them.’
“Finally, to say the least, these overtures blatantly disregard the fact that ‘Christ alone is Lord of the conscience.’ They in effect deny the God-given right of Presbyterians to seek transformation of their sexual identity, behavior and desires and thereby violate the principles of pastoral care listed in our Book of Order.”