Former Exodus Int’l Leader Arrested on Child Solicitation Charges
Alan Chambers was recognized as WORLD’s ‘Daniel of the Year’ in 2011 before changing his stance on homosexuality.
Alan Chambers, who led a ministry that worked to help people overcome struggles with same-sex attraction, was arrested in Florida this week and charged with solicitation of a minor.
Alan Chambers / Photo courtesy of Orange County Sheriff’s Department
Chambers, 54, was taken as part of an Orange County Sheriff’s Department sting operation.
In an arrest affidavit, an undercover officer alleged that Chambers exchanged sexual messages for several months with someone he thought was a teenager.
“Alan Chambers has been arrested after he attempted to meet someone he thought was a 14-year-old boy — but it was actually an undercover detective,” the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on X on Tuesday (May 19).
According to the sheriff’s office, Chambers has been charged with solicitation of a minor and transmission of harmful material to minors, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Chambers also allegedly paid for sexual favors from male prostitutes, according to the affidavit.
An undercover officer alleged he first made contact with Chambers on Snapchat in February. At the time, the officer identified himself as a 14-year-old boy. Chambers then allegedly began to send sexual messages about their “forbidden love” for months.
The officer obtained a warrant for a Snapchat account allegedly belonging to Chambers and later got warrants for Chambers’ Google account and cellphone. On Tuesday, the officer pulled Chambers over for a traffic stop and arrested him.
The arresting officer said Chambers admitted communicating with a 14-year-old who Chambers said he’d met on Snapchat.
“When I asked him what they discussed, he told me that they discussed meeting but would not specify to do what,” the officer wrote in an arrest affidavit.
Chambers was ordered to pay $15,000 in bond in order to be released. He is to have no contact with children and is to be online only for business purposes, according to WESH.
Solicitation of a minor is a third-degree felony in Florida that carries a possible prison term of up to five years.
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In 2001, Chambers became president of the now-defunct Exodus International, a Christian ministry that helped people struggling with homosexuality. He was praised by many evangelical leaders—including WORLD Magazine, who recognized Chambers with its “Daniel of the Year” award in 2011.
In 2012, Chambers began to raise doubts about whether change is possible for people who identify themselves as homosexuals. He announced that Exodus International would change its strategy — no longer endorsing “reparative therapy” aimed at helping a person change his or her sexual orientation.
He expressed doubts that “reparative therapy” can really “cure” a person of same-sex attraction, instead saying a person could battle homosexual temptation for the rest of his or her life.
After Chambers made the announcement, 12 groups left the Exodus network.
Controversy also arose over comments Chambers made to the Gay Christian Network in January 2012 where he told the gathering that “we’re Christians, all of us” and “we all love Jesus.”
In an interview with WORLD, Chambers said he believed persistent, unrepentant sin is incompatible with Christianity, but that Christians may struggle with all kinds of sin without losing their salvation.
On June 19, 2013, Exodus International announced it would cease operations after nearly 40 years. “We’re not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change — and they want to be heard,” Exodus Board Member Tony Moore said.
The ministry announced its decision to close just a day after issuing an apology to the “gay community” for undue judgment.
Chambers said, “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical. From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we’re all prodigal sons and daughters…God is calling us to be the Father — to welcome everyone, to love unhindered.”
As Chambers publicly changed stance on homosexuality, financial support for Exodus began to dwindle. In 2010, the group had 20 full-time staff members. By the time it closed, it had dropped to three.
In 2015, Chambers wrote “My Exodus: From Fear to Grace,” in which he admitted to having same-sex attraction while married to his wife Leslie.
Bob Smietana contributed to this report.
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