OneByOne is a Presbyterian "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...

" organization which was founded in 1995 in Rochester, New York

Rochester, New York

Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...

. The director is Kristin J. Tremba.

History

OneByOne originated as a result of a conference held in November 1994 by the Presbyterian Church (USA)

Presbyterian Church (USA)

The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...

 and the Presbyterian Renewal Ministries entitled, "The Path to Freedom: Exploring Healing For the Homosexual". In January 1995 the Presbyterian Renewal Network held a meeting to discuss what could be done, at which time they founded OneByOne. In July 2003, the organization joined with ten other organizations that serve people conflicted over unwanted homosexual attractions to form a coalition called Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality

Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality

Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality is a coalition of groups that want to help "people with unwanted same-sex attractions realize their personal goals for change -- whether by developing their innate heterosexual potential or by embracing a lifestyle as a single, non-sexually active man or...

.

The mission of OneByOne is both to minister to the "sexually broken" and serve as a source to those trying to support them, with an emphasis on homosexuality

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...

. The organization holds to the Biblical position that sex should only be engaged between a husband and a wife, the organization views homosexuality as a sin

Sin

In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...

and a type of sexual brokenness. OneByOne cites testimonials of participants who claim that OneByOne's program was effective in helping them abandon their homosexual orientation.

OneByOne has produced the Pastoral Care Guide, a guide that provides a basic overview of dealing with sexual conflict, and Touched by His Grace, a booklet in which seven former gay men and four former lesbians describe their experience of gaining heterosexual adaptation and spiritual freedom. Also, in combination with Presbyterians For Renewal, OneByOne created the film, Speaking a Mystery: God's Design for Human Sexuality.

Links to PCUSA

Within the PCUSA, interpretation of the Bible's stance on homosexuality has been sharply debated. In June 2008, The 218th General Assembly made steps toward allowing openly LGBT people to be ordained, while maintaining the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

Some presbyteries are supportive of OneByOne, saying that "persons who deal with same-sex attraction in a way that is faithful to Scripture are heroes of the church."