Gender identity issues in pastoral reparative therapy in the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK), South Africa

Abstract

The study explored pastoral reparative therapy by gay men in the Nederduitse Gereformeerder Kerk (NGK) in Pretoria, South Africa. The sample consisted of five white Christian males (age range 24-41 years), who responded to a semi-structured interview on pastoral reparative sexual orientation therapy. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used for the thematic analysis. Findings indicated that significant sources of societal stress for the Christian Gay males in this study were fear of God, divine retribution and going to hell were the reasons they wanted to change their sexuality in order to be accepted by their church. The participants reported determination and at times desperation during pastoral reparative therapy, but the realisation of immutability of their sexual orientation was the ultimate turning point in leaving the NGK and eventual acceptance in another Christian church which accepted them.

Keywords: Gay; homosexual; sexual reorientation therapy; NGK