Günter Baum
Encyclopedia
Günter Baum is an openly gay
man, who founded two Christian ministries
in Germany
.
The first organization which Baum founded was Wüstenstrom, which is part of the ex-gay
movement. The organization's program was originally based on the U.S. program Desert Stream Ministries, though the group has since changed its philosophy. Eventually, Baum left "Wüstenstrom".
Baum later founded an organization called Zwischenraum. Zwischenraum is not part of the ex-gay movement, and associates do not attempt to change the sexual orientation of anyone. Instead, Zwischenraum accepts LGBT people as they are, and helps LGBT people who hold evangelical
theological beliefs to reconcile these two potentially conflicting parts of their identities.
After a few years, Günter Baum left "Wüstenstrom". Today, Baum lives as an openly gay
man, with a male partner in Basel
, Switzerland
.
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
man, who founded two Christian ministries
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The first organization which Baum founded was Wüstenstrom, which is part of the ex-gay
Ex-gay
The ex-gay movement consists of people and organizations that seek to get people to refrain from entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, or to enter into a heterosexual relationship...
movement. The organization's program was originally based on the U.S. program Desert Stream Ministries, though the group has since changed its philosophy. Eventually, Baum left "Wüstenstrom".
Baum later founded an organization called Zwischenraum. Zwischenraum is not part of the ex-gay movement, and associates do not attempt to change the sexual orientation of anyone. Instead, Zwischenraum accepts LGBT people as they are, and helps LGBT people who hold evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
theological beliefs to reconcile these two potentially conflicting parts of their identities.
After a few years, Günter Baum left "Wüstenstrom". Today, Baum lives as an openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
man, with a male partner in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
External links
- Zwischenraum Ministry for gay and lesbian Christians
- Wuestenstrom Ex-gay ministry