God's cure for gays lost in sin
Pastor Dale Morgan
*God's cure for gays lost in sin*
AUSTRALIA - When Australia's Mercy Ministries says it helps young women
with "life-controlling issues", it means in part that it aims to teach
them not to be lesbians.
In line with the Hillsong Church's strict doctrines teaching that
homosexuality is an affliction that can be cured, Mercy Ministries is
keen to ensure there is no lesbianism under its roof.
It issues "separation contracts" to young women who make friends with
each other and prevents any form of physical contact between residents.
"While I was there, we received much teaching on the evils of gay and
lesbian lifestyles," said Naomi Johnson, who spent nine months in the
ministry's Sydney house.
As someone with no issues about her sexuality, she was perplexed by the
ministry's continuing focus on the issue.
"In particular, there was an ongoing teaching video series by Sy Rogers
an 'ex-gay' - now reformed - married Christian," she said.
Rogers - an American who conducts speaking tours on Christianity and
sexuality - spoke at Hillsong Church's Sense and Sexuality Workshop in
Sydney last September and is due to address its Colour Your World
Conference next year.
"Sy will bless you with his insights into identity and the heart," the
Hillsong website says.
"Happily, homosexuality can be turned around," Mr Rogers says in a clip
of his show, Turnaround, on youtube.com. "Homosexuality is out of tune
with religion; it is not what God planned for human sexuality."
On its application form, Mercy Ministries used to ask young women if
they had been involved in lesbianism, next to the question on whether
they had been involved in prostitution. They changed that in 2006 to ask
"have you ever been involved in any form of same-sex relationships?".
Another former resident, who did not wish to be identified, said: "Girls
were asked on the application form, as well as in a telephone interview,
if they have ever had lesbian or bisexual relationships. They asked if I
had been involved in drug abuse, witchcraft, or lesbianism. They bunched
them in together like that."
In the house, residents were prevented from having any form of physical
contact - no comforting hugs, no shoulder to cry on - and even though
there were three young women to each bedroom, they were not allowed to
change clothes if another person was in the room, she said.
Mercy Ministries denies it runs an "ex-gay" program, and Hillsong has
stopped running its "ex-gay" program, called Living Waters, although
both organisations remain staunchly conservative - anti-abortion and
anti-gay.
The Sydney Morning Herald asked Hillsong to explain its teachings on
homosexuality. No response had been received last night.
One former member of Hillsong, who held several "leadership positions"
in the church, revealed that he was shunned when he disclosed his
homosexuality.
"The ostracising that occurred by fellow worshippers was severe," said
the man, who asked not to be identified. "As soon as I came out my
entire social network decided the best way to deal with the situation
was to stop all communication with me.
"The only hope I had was my family and friends who were extremely
supportive as they were not Hillsong members."
Hillsong Church taught that the devil inspired people to act on
homosexual desires, he said.
"Hillsong believes that homosexuality is not normal and not a part of
God's design for mankind - their belief is that it should be fixed and
it's something that can be removed from someone's life."
One option presented to the man was to force himself into a heterosexual
relationship. In the meantime, he was removed from his leadership role
in the church and isolated.