By Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is at risk of leading one of its “most vulnerable populations into deception” if it votes to denounce gay conversion therapy at their General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, later this month, says one conversion therapy practitioner.
All mainstream professional organizations hold positions against sexual orientation change efforts; over the years since, that consensus has only been strengthened. It is time for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to be more clear and vigorous in protecting LGBTQ individuals and their families from the harm inflicted by these discredited programs, and to take positive steps to minister compassionately to families by providing them with accurate information.
The resolution will first go to the PCUSA’s Social Justice Issues Committee during the the 222nd General Assembly on June 18-25.
Christopher Doyle, head of Equality And Justice For All and a conversion therapy practitioner, told The Christian Post that he believes PCUSA leadership is “in danger of leading one of its most vulnerable populations into deception and alienation from biblical sexuality.”
“Unfortunately, it is not surprising that once gay marriage was blessed by PCUSA last year, that activists within the Church would be intolerant toward any other perspective for those who struggle with their sexuality but to embrace an LGBT identity,” said Doyle.
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Just another issue much like Wendy’s that the pcusa has no business getting into, I have no opinion on “gay conversion” as I have gay family members, but I will not stand back and keep quiet while a bunch of left wing busy bodies take my Church into oblivion all the while these same people rape departing churches and treat anyone who disagrees with them with as pariah’s.
They like our money as long as they get to control and direct it to whatever is the cause du’jour, all the while they act they speak for majority of us in the pcusa. I have no doubt that this GA will be one for the record books, but with great membership numbers we have I’m sure that some of the commissioners will be ringing their hands worring if someone eating at Wendy’s.
The American Psychological Association puts out information on this topic and has stressed the client’s right to self determination.
The denomination should not take away the opportunity for any one to self determine which direction they want to go including making a change from sexual behavior and work through internal struggles that might be troubling to them. The right to remain gay is also a personal choice which can only be imade by the client. All transformation works best from the inside of a person at the level of their will not from extreme outside pressure; therefore it is important to listen to the client and proceed from that point of view. The denomination should not close any doors to allow the Holy Spirit to work in transforming people even in the face of sexual struggles.
“Mental health professional organizations call on their members to respect a person’s (client’s) right to self-determination; be sensitive to the client’s race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, language and disability status when working with that client; and eliminate biases based on these factors.”
http://Www.apa.org
God bless the PCUSA, they have discovered yet another right in the Constitution. The right to never be exposed or have to listen to another point of view or reference that they do not agree with. Or that which would offend their sensitivities. Such a fragile and weak people, those PCUSAers.
“Conversion therapy” is just a smoke screen for the PCUSA. They only seek to limit, chill, dissuade free speech, free thought, and further impose their own authoritarian orthodoxy on clergy, mental health practitioners. Memo to the PCUSA: You are in systemic collapse and a death spiral. You may wish to address your own institutional rot and filth.
Most of the New Testament is ‘conversion therapy.’
So would this mean that a pastor could no longer counsel a person with same-sex attraction but who wants to live a Christian life?
Great post and I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Our is currently in a period of discernment and are anxious to leave the political and pop culture of PCUSA and a Presbytery that knows little to nothing of what is happening at PCUSA and at the GA. It’s appalling.
Well said.
A good number of the ministers, elders, deacons, and regular membership of the Church ARE gay and lesbian, and DO live good Christian lives.
this quack “therapy” just hurts people, and allows the prejudiced to falsely wrap themselves in the idea that gay people are ‘damaged’ and need ‘repair’
both are false.
If you feel otherwise, you need a better education, and better theology
Gene – I’m not very well informed on these matters. What % of PCUSA officers and membership do you think are gay? I’ve met only a few over the years. Thanks.
Note that Mr. Doyle calls himself a “conversion therapy practitioner.” Whatever that is. There is no academic rigor or program behind this. It is made up, phony meddling in people’s minds and it can be harmful and that is the reason behind the overture.
James H – “my Church” – the PC(USA) is your church now? when did that happen?
Interesting how L.Lee picks and chooses what the APA has to say on so-called conversion therapies. Here’s that they say:
“The terms reparative therapy and sexual orientation conversion therapy refer to counseling and psychotherapy aimed at eliminating or suppressing homosexuality. The most important fact about these “therapies” is that they are based on a view of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major mental health professions. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, six published by the American Psychiatric Association, which defines the standards of the field, does not include homosexuality. All other major health professional organizations have supported the American Psychiatric Association in its declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973. Thus, the idea that homosexuality is a mental disorder or that the emergence of same-sex attraction and orientation among some adolescents is in any way abnormal or mentally unhealthy has no support among any mainstream health and mental health professional organizations.”
Sorry, Gene….but gay behavior is in fact wrong and abnormal…and there is something just not quite right about someone with those desires. That is in no way prejudiced or hateful….there are things not quite right about most people in this world. That does not mean we embrace and indulge those wrong things….rather we love and try or offer to try to help. By the way, where do YOU draw the line as to what is normal and what is not quite right….do we indulge a sixty something year old athlete who thinks he is a twenty year old woman by calling him a “her” or whatever….or do we see that obviously this dude needs a lot of help? Lots of bizarro things being accepted in this world today, Gene. Does not mean it is right.
Tom, if you are trying to say that same sex attraction and orientation among adolescents is in no way “abnormal”, then you have completely corrupted the actual meaning of words….you no longer know what “normal” means. And Yes, I know that is a goal of some people…to distort meanings.
Gene, your words here – “If you feel otherwise, you need a better education, and better theology”.
Gene, speaking of needs, you forgot to mention Jesus. I’m sure it was an oversight.