Anglican Mainstream

Unpublished letter to the Church Times in response to earlier published letters here.

Sir

Concerns from gay Christian groups about religion promising to “turn gay people straight” are valid, especially considering the high failure rate of religious groups in the past. However, it is equally of the greatest concern to those of us who heard Dr Joseph Nicolosi at the recent “Sex & The City” conference hosted by Anglican Mainstream and CARE that we should be criticised for our openness to learn more about the scientific methodology, namely reparative therapy, that Dr Nicolosi and many other clinicians internationally offer which is backed up by substantial evidence that shows homosexuality is changeable.

Among those attending the conference were men and women who, like myself, have at times received from the well-meaning gay affirmative Christian ministries such as LGCM, Courage, and Quest but who, in our soul’s search, know at a deeper level that there has to exist a richer life beyond gay. Having made the courageous journey publicly to accept, embrace and be reconciled to the truth that we are same-sex attracted, we have decided to journey further, at whatever cost, and are finding many of our answers in gender-affirming science, which in turn enhances our, and confirms history’s, core religious beliefs.

We refuse to be restricted or categorised by sexual orientation, and therefore reject the ultimately harmful and limiting ideal of gay affirmation. What we are certain of, and therefore embrace, is this: we are God’s work in progress, are either male or female, created in His image and likeness, and so find greater and true wholeness through gender affirmation than through gay affirmation.

Dr Nicolosi offers unique therapy relative to every individual’s life-journey while recognising similar strands that may exist in his clients’ histories. Not all histories are the same and he never claims this is so. To write off what he does therefore without ever either having attended any of his conferences, or more particularly never having engaged in the uniquely life-changing therapy that he and many other clinicians offer, is to dismiss the very real and empowering healing work being experienced by many through science and not solely through religion.

Those of us who make the challenging, exciting journey beyond the limitations we have previously lived out in gay theology and gay affirmation are now ridiculed and have our marriages and children judged because we have dared to leave eroticised same-sex attraction behind. We, on the other hand, refuse to judge and are pro-choice, respecting – often painfully – individuals’ decisions to remain within a gay caucus. However, we ask that gay-affirming organisations also respect the choices we and others believe to be wise through our engagement with reparative therapy and its life-changing consequences.

(Name and address supplied)
 

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.