Skip to main content

Marvin Testifies

In which Marvin reveals issues he has with the Love in Action program and highlights the different approach he will take in his fledgling ministry.

Marvin also shares his Pastor's Coming Out Day surprise.

He is still looking for an appropriate name for his ex-gay program. Suggestions?
this is an audio post - click to play

Comments

Anonymous said…
Yikes!

They made you testify/witness so soon after your LIA experience?

And then they asked you to testify without asking you first?

Not everyone who has struggles is called upon to share it in front of the congregation...
8:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Glad you are back from hiatus, Mr. M.
9:17 PM
Bruce Garrett said…
I'm a tad surprised to hear that Love In Action wasn't all that spiritual. I understood there were psychological aspects to it, but I'd always assumed they were leavened with a big does of religiosity. Certainly that was the impression I got reading the Refuge rule book that was posted online a while back. I've heard less biblical citations in Sunday sermons and I went to a Baptist church.
5:20 PM
Peterson Toscano said…
Bruce, well you'd be surprise by how little Bible and prayer we got at LIA. And from what I hear from recent participants, it is not much different.

They put lots of stock in the group sessions, the introductions, writing moral inventories, the 12-steps, but for folks coming from a strong church background like Marvin and others I've known, they find the experience strangely alienating spiritually.

They BASE what they teach on Bible principles, but they spend very little time in prayer, worship or Bible study.
1:16 PM
Liadan said…
Over the Rainbow Ministries?

As in "we are SO over the rainbow. It's totally last year."
3:23 AM
Peterson Toscano said…
liadan,
"Over the Rainbow Ministries"
Perfection, I love it!
9:33 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Puzzled

Last night I performed Transfigurations-Transgressing Gender in the Bible at Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church in Glen Mills, PA (about 15 miles outside of Philly). I had a diverse audience of about 45 people -- college students, Quakers, straight, bi, trans and lesbian, young and old. I took my time with the piece maintaining a gentle meditative pace. For the ending when I reveal the identity of the narrator, I had instructed the light tech to dim the lights. Then as the closing music swelled, I asked her to raise the lights to their brigthest intensity. With the music playing, I exited. Always (up until last night) at this point the audience applauds, I wait 5 seconds then come out to take a bow. Last night I exited and then nothing. No one clapped. They sat quietly as the music played. I stood back stage puzzled, baffled. Now what do I do? Wait? Go out anyway? And I wondered for a moment, Did they hate it? Did I confuse them? Offend them? Bore them into a coma? After what ...
18 comments
Read more

The False Image of LIA

John Smid and me-Graduation 1998 (above) & John Smid today (left) By now many have heard that Tennessee's Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities determined that the "ex-gay" program, Love in Action, is operating two “unlicensed mental health supportive living facilities”. LIA has until Friday, September 23 to respond. If LIA statements in Eartha Jane Melzer's article are indicative to how the "change" program might respond, we may see LIA change right before our eyes from a clinical mental health compound into a house of praise and worship. Gerard Wellman, business administrator for Love in Action, and a former Love in Action client, said Sept. 13 that the organization has been in contact with the state but would not comment further. “As a church, we operate under a different set of rules,” Wellman said. Curious, and what rules might these be? What is even more curious is that according to LIA's site only one staff member ...
158 comments
Read more

Marvin on the Airwaves

Since coming back out of the closet (ex-ex-gay) in April, Marvin Bloom, a devout Jew for Jesus, has been making the rounds at various podcasts. His gay-friendly rants have been heard on Spanking Bee Arthur , The Flatus Show and more than once on Joe G's Bored Beyond Belief . Currently you can hear Marvin on Episode 81 of Mila and Jayna's Trans-ponder . In fact, you will also get to hear me too since in his new segment, Moments with Marvin, he interviews me. In other news, I have a boyfriend, and he is not Marvin.
11 comments
Read more