Exodus International

This article is about the former ex-gay organization. For the former prisoner rehabilitation program, see Exodus Ministries.
Exodus International
Founded1976 (1976)
Founder
  • Frank Worthen
  • Michael Bussee
  • Gary Cooper
  • Ron Dennis
  • Greg Reid
Dissolved2013
TypeNonprofit
Registration no.52-1413470 (EIN)
Location
OriginsSan Rafael, California
Members
9
Key people
Alan Chambers, former president
Revenue
$1,118,268 (2010)[1]
Employees
23 (2010)[2]
Websiteexodusinternational.org (defunct)

Exodus International was a non-profit, interdenominational ex-gay Christian umbrella organization connecting organizations that sought to "help people who wished to limit their homosexual desires". Founded in 1976, Exodus International originally asserted that conversion therapy, the reorientation of same-sex attraction, was possible.[3] In 2006, Exodus International had over 250 local ministries in the United States and Canada and over 150 ministries in 17 other countries.[4] Although Exodus was formally an interdenominational Christian entity, it was most closely associated with Protestant and evangelical denominations.[5]

In 2012, then president Alan Chambers renounced conversion therapy, saying it did not work and was harmful. The following year, Chambers closed the organization and apologized for the "pain and hurt" participants of their programs had experienced.[6] Several other prominent former members, including John Paulk, have made similar apologies. While Exodus International no longer operates, many of its member ministries continue to do so, either forming new networks, joining existing ones such as the Exodus Global Alliance, or operating independently.[7]

  1. ^ "Nonprofit Report for Exodus International North America, Inc". GlobeStar. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "2010 IRS Form 990 Nonprofit Federal Tax Return". Foundation Center. Retrieved October 14, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Help Dennis Jernigan Visit The Troops In Iraq — Exodus International
  4. ^ "Exodus International". Retrieved 2006-05-04.
  5. ^ Johnson, Greg (2021). Still Time to Care: What We Can Learn from the Church's Failed Attempt to Cure Homosexuality, Zondervan.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference shut was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Kaleem, Jaweed; Shapiro, Lisa (21 June 2013). "Ex-Gay Christian Groups Will Continue After Exodus As Religious LGBT Support Grows". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 December 2014.