Restored Hope Network (US Christian conversion-therapy ministries)
Coalition of conservative US Christian conversion-therapy ministries that re-formed in 2012 after Exodus International dissolved and apologised. Continues 'sexual-orientation change' counselling in jurisdictions where it is still legal.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
+2 for documented psychological-harm pattern and post-Exodus continuation despite founder apologies.
Profile facts
In context
Exodus International, the umbrella ex-gay ministry founded in 1976, dissolved in 2013 after president Alan Chambers publicly apologised and conceded that 99.9 per cent of participants did not change orientation. Restored Hope Network was organised in 2012 by ministries that rejected that apology and continues to operate residential and counselling programmes — Andrew Comiskey's Desert Stream / Living Waters, Joe Dallas's Genesis Counseling, and others. Multiple US states and several other countries have since banned conversion therapy for minors; Restored Hope ministries continue to operate where it remains legal.
Recovery resources
- Trevor Project — LGBTQ+ youth crisis line
- Beyond Ex-Gay (BXG) — Survivor network for former conversion-therapy participants
See the full curated list at /resources.
Evidence by BITE axis
- Discredited 'sexual-orientation change' premise
- Documented depression, suicidality, and self-harm among participants
- Theological framing of LGBTQ+ identity as demonic / pathological
- Operates in legal grey zones to evade conversion-therapy bans
- +2 for documented psychological-harm pattern and post-Exodus continuation despite founder apologies
Lifton's 8 criteria of thought reform
Robert Jay Lifton's 1961 framework, complementary to BITE. Criteria this group exhibits according to the cited sources.
- Mystical ManipulationEngineering experiences that appear spontaneous but are designed to demonstrate the group's higher purpose.
- Demand for PuritySharp world split into pure vs impure; relentless pressure to conform to an absolute standard.
- ConfessionRequired disclosure of past sins, doubts, or 'wrong' thoughts; later weaponised as leverage.
- Loaded LanguageThought-terminating clichés and in-group jargon that compress complex ideas into shorthand.
- Doctrine Over PersonPersonal experience or memory is overridden when it conflicts with the group's narrative.
Timeline
- 1976Exodus International founded
- 2012Restored Hope Network organises
- 2013Exodus International dissolves and Alan Chambers apologises
Sources
- Alicia Crosby, 'Exodus' apology (2013) search ↗
- American Psychological Association, 'Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress' (2009) search ↗
- Trevor Project survey data on conversion therapy and youth suicide search ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
You may also want to explore
Found something wrong on this profile?
We accept correction requests from anyone — current and former members, researchers, journalists, family members, and the listed organisation. Submissions are reviewed by an editor; we do not auto-publish.