January 7 2002

ARTICLE TOOLS

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When Bob Davies announced his intention to step down as North American director of Exodus International, a coalition of gay-transformation ministries, he offered an unusual assurance. "There are no hidden scandals about to be revealed about my life," he said. "I believe in Exodus just as strongly as when I began in ex-gay ministry back in 1979."

Since leaving Exodus in October 2001, Davies has joined the music staff of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. He and his wife, Pam, have been members of that church's choir for four years. Davies is the coauthor of Portraits of Freedom: 14 People Who Came Out of Homosexuality (InterVarsity, 2001).

Associate editor Douglas LeBlanc interviewed Davies as he was preparing for the transition. Davies reflected on what he has learned in his years with Exodus and where ex-gay ministries may be heading.

Why are you retiring from Exodus?

After 22 years, I've been aware for a while that I was ready for a change. I loved it, and this has been the most exciting, fulfilling time in my life.

But as I prayed about it, I got an impression or a message from the Lord, and it was a message of two words: "Finish well." I thought, Okay, what does that mean? Am I going to be dying of cancer in the next couple of years? I hope not.

Over the years I have seen some people leave Exodus for bad reasons—because they're struggling sexually, because they've fallen into immorality. I wanted to leave Exodus as a positive role model for other leaders.

I believe a shift is happening in the Exodus movement: God is raising up a new generation of leadership. In November [2000] we launched a new department called Exodus Youth, and we're moving into more intervention with youth. We have people as young as 11 contacting ...