How Sydney C3 church conversion therapy ‘scarred’ gay member

A former member of multi-million dollar Sydney megachurch C3 attempted suicide twice after undergoing two years of ‘extremely traumatic’ conversion therapy to turn him straight.

Former C3 churchgoer Andrew Barnard attempted suicide twice after undergoing what he maintains were two years of “extremely traumatic” conversion therapy to turn him straight.

The 33-year-old had been a devout worshipper at the Oxford Falls branch for four years when his family discovered he was gay at the age of 14. They ordered him to undergo therapy while at Oxford Falls Grammar school.

Andrew Barnard, 33, tried to commit suicide on two separate occasions after undergoing what he says was conversion therapy at C3 Church when it was discovered he was gay.

Mr Barnard said a C3 staff therapist told him he needed to play more sport, watch lesbian porn and wear a rubber band on his wrist that he needed to flick whenever he entertained homosexual desires.

“When I still felt attracted to men despite the therapy two years on, I tried to take my life again,” he said.

The 33-year-old had been a devout worshipper at the Oxford Falls branch for four years when his family discovered he was gay at the age of 14.

“My therapist told me I needed to watch lesbian porn which didn’t feature any men, that I didn’t love God enough and that he himself was a converted homosexual and happily married with children and I, too, could be happily married to a woman.”

The church maintains the treatment of Mr Barnard was “completely at odds” with the treatment he outlines.

The C3 Church in Oxford Falls. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Mr Barnard said the C3 college dean encouraged him to leave when he learned he had a boyfriend because it he was breaking guidelines that only pre-existing college relationships were permitted to continue.

His father Scott Barnard — who earned just $42,000 a year as a C3 pastor raising three children — mother, and younger brother have since left the church and are supportive of his sexuality.

A C3 spokesman said the church was “loving” of all sexual orientations.