Quick Takeaways

• Pastors, theologians, and former ministry leaders who once supported conversion therapy now warn families against it after witnessing its impact firsthand.

• The director of the largest conversion therapy organization in history shut it down after acknowledging it caused harm to tens of thousands.

• Christian parents who have counseled thousands of families report never encountering a single parent with a positive view of sending their child to conversion therapy.

When Pastor Stan Mitchell reflects on the families he once sent to conversion therapy, he struggles with what he witnessed. Mitchell, who led a megachurch in Nashville, has been speaking out against these practices since 2015.

"I was a pastor in a megachurch, and I was party to destroying these people," Mitchell has said publicly. When asked how many young people he recommended for conversion therapy, his answer reveals the weight he carries: "I've tried to forget."

But forgetting has proven impossible. Mitchell has conducted funerals for people who took their own lives because of this issue. He lost two-thirds of his congregation for speaking out. Yet his only regret? "That I didn't do it sooner. People died while I was trying to find courage."

The Warnings Are Coming From Inside the Church

Mitchell is far from alone. Across denominations, Christian leaders who once believed conversion therapy offered hope are now among its vocal critics.

Brandan Robertson, a theologian and pastor, testified before Colorado's General Assembly about his experience at Chicago's Moody Bible Institute. He met weekly with a professor who studied conversion therapy techniques.

"I would come to my professor's office and be asked to confess my 'sinful' attractions, looking deep into my past to find the periods of abuse that made me gay," Robertson recalled. The sessions involved holy water, crucifixes, and intense prayer.

What saved Robertson was perspective from outside that environment. He found a supportive community that helped him realize what he was experiencing was "not only scientifically unfounded but psychologically harmful."

When the Largest Organization Closed Its Doors

Perhaps no story illustrates the shift among Christian experts more clearly than the 2013 closure of Exodus International. For decades, Exodus stood as the leading organization promoting conversion therapy within evangelical communities.

Alan Chambers, the organization's director, who once refused to even use the word "gay," ultimately shut down the organization. Even Chambers admitted the therapy never made him straight despite decades of involvement: "It didn't make me straight. That hasn't gone away. And it won't."

What Families Who've Been There Have Learned

Robert Cottrell spent more than 20 years as an evangelical pastor before dedicating himself to supporting families navigating these challenges. Through his ministry, the Cottrells have counseled thousands of Christian parents.

Their conclusion is striking: "In our years of outreach to tens of thousands of Christian parents, we have never encountered a single parent with a positive view of sending their child to conversion therapy."

Cottrell points to a teaching familiar to most Christians: examine the fruit. "The fruits of conversion therapy are unequivocally bad: destroyed individuals, fractured families, and damaged faith."

Why This Matters for Your Family

Christian parents searching for answers deserve to hear from people who understand their faith and fears. The experts warning against conversion therapy are pastors who have conducted funerals, theologians who experienced these practices firsthand, and ministry leaders who have walked with thousands of families.

Their message is consistent: A solution that divides families is not a solution at all.

For parents navigating these waters, faith-based alternatives to conversion therapy exist that honor both faith and family. Many Christian families have found that keeping their child close protects both the relationship and the child.

FAQs

Why are Christian pastors speaking out against conversion therapy? 

Pastors like Stan Mitchell have witnessed the damage firsthand, including conducting funerals for people who took their lives after these experiences. They understand Christian parents' concerns but warn that conversion therapy creates worse outcomes.

Did the largest conversion therapy organization really shut down? 

Yes. Exodus International closed in 2013 after director Alan Chambers acknowledged the harm it caused. Chambers admitted the therapy never changed his own attractions despite decades of involvement.

What do Christian counselors say about outcomes? 

Robert Cottrell, who has counseled thousands of Christian families, reports never encountering a single parent with a positive view of conversion therapy. Common results include damaged family relationships and a crisis of faith.

Are there faith-based alternatives? 

Yes. Approaches focusing on family connection and maintaining a relationship with your child produce better outcomes than programs promising to change identity.