newChurch Worldwide s Exodus International Shuts Down, President Apologizes Exodus International, a group that bills itself as “the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality,” announced in June that it’s shutting its doors. The announcement came just after Exodus president Alan Chambers released a statement apologiz- ing to the gay community for many actions, including the organization’s promotion of efforts to change ch a el Mouw a person’s sexual orientation. Ra Exodus functioned as a support group for men and women who were struggling with their sexual Natalie Mouw (8) plants an apple orientation, and early on embraced the idea that gays and lesbians could become straight through tree to commemorate her bap- prayer and counseling. tism with help from elder Lance But the belief in “reparative therapy was one of the things that led to the downfall of this organiza- Kraai. tion,” Chambers said in an interview, noting that Exodus in recent years had redirected its focus to Tree Planting helping men and women work through their sexual identity. “I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual Commemorates orientation that stigmatized parents,” Chambers said in the apology. “I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand up to people publicly ‘on my side’ who called you names like sodomite—or worse.” Baptism Promises On a chilly Sunday morning, the Chambers had already disavowed reparative therapy at the annual Gay Christian Network conference congregation of Creston Christian in January 2012, and his apology “is the acknowledgement many of us have been waiting to hear for Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, a long, long time,” said GCN executive director Justin Lee. Mich., moved outside at the con- —Religion News Service clusion of their worship service to Modern Hymn Writers Revive a Lost Musical Art plant two small apple trees. The Most songwriters in Nashville want to get their songs on the radio. Keith and Kristyn Getty hope their saplings were to commemorate songs end up in dusty old hymnbooks. the baptisms that had occurred The Gettys hope to revive the art of hymn writing at a time when most popular new church songs earlier that morning. are written for rock bands rather than choirs. They’ve had surprising success. Gary and Rachael Mouw were One of the first songs that Keith cowrote, called “In Christ Alone,” has been among the top 20 songs among several new members sung in newer churches in the United States for the past five years, according to Christian Copyright welcomed at Creston that morn- Licensing International. ing. Three of their children were Keith Getty wrote the tune for “In Christ Alone” on the back of an electric bill and sent it to his friend, baptized as part of the service. Stuart Townend, another modern hymn writer. Townend wrote the lyrics and began playing it in churches Trees symbolize that things do in England, where people would line up to get the sheet music afterward. grow and get better, elder Lance Today it’s often sung in churches where young people congregate, including Axis Church in Nash- Kraai said. Planting trees for 10 to ville. 100 or even 300 years out is a clear Rev. Jeremy Rose of Axis, who is in his 30s, said most new songs focus on how worshipers feel about demonstration of hope in God’s God but don’t contain much theology. Older hymns often have good theology but lack a personal promise. touch. “In Christ Alone” has both. “Right now these trees are not It’s a lost art, said Mark Hosny, artistic director of the National Praise and Worship Institute at Trevecca very impressive, but we believe Nazarene University in Nashville. that they will one day produce Newer Christian music often makes the band or lead singer sound good but doesn’t engage the apples that can be made into cider congregation. That’s missing the point, Hosny said. and shared with our neighbors,” “A lot of today’s melodies are not singable. That’s why they don’t stick,” he said. Kraai said at the tree planting. “We learn our faith through what we sing,” said Keith Getty. Likewise, he said, we claimed —USA Today God’s promises to your children, For more on these stories, please visit thebanner.org. and we believe that one day you will produce fruit that will be a blessing to your neighbors. —Noah Kruis

16 THE BANNER | August 2013 | www.thebanner.org