Florida church cancels mans funeral when they find out he was gay
77 replies, posted
[QUOTE][B]A CHURCH in Florida, USA recently refused to hold a funeral for a man solely because he was gay.[/B]
The New Hope Missionary Baptist Church cancelled the service meant to honour Julion Evans’ memory after the pastor found out that Evans had been married to another man.
The pastor’s name is T.W. Jenkins, and he provoked the ire of the deceased man’s mother, Julie Atwood, and other members of the community when he called off the service the day before it was scheduled.
In fact, Atwood received the news during her son’s wake. She says:
It was devastating. I did feel like he was being denied the dignity of death.
When pressed about his exclusionary decision, pastor Jenkins said:
Based on our preaching of the scripture, we would have been in error to allow the service in our church. I’m not trying to condemn anyone’s lifestyle, but at the same time, I am a man of God, and I have to stand up for my principles.
It would seem that denying someone his basic funeral rites due to his sexual orientation is about as strong a condemnation of a given lifestyle that one could make.
It’s unfortunate that such discrimination is still taking place today, especially when it’s perpetrated by an organisation that claims to stand for love, peace and acceptance for all.
Luckily, Atwood was able to find a place to hold the funeral service in time, but obviously, the whole experience was scarring for the grieving mother.[/QUOTE]
[URL="http://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/florida-church-cancels-mans-funeral-when-they-find-out-he-was-gay/story-fnh81jut-1227018849627"]http://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/florida-church-cancels-mans-funeral-when-they-find-out-he-was-gay/story-fnh81jut-1227018849627[/URL]
[quote]When pressed about his exclusionary decision, pastor Jenkins said:
Based on our preaching of the scripture, we would have been in error to allow the service in our church. I’m not trying to condemn anyone’s lifestyle, but at the same time, I am a man of God, and I have to stand up for my principles.[/quote]
"i'm not trying to condemn anyone's lifestyle" says pastor jenkins as he is condemning someone else's lifestyle
[I]"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."[/I]
[B]Galatians 3:28 [ESV][/B]
The only disrespect I can think of that would've been worse is if he'd cancelled it as it was happening. How can you do this, look at yourself and think "yup, I'm a righteous man".
I'm sure that this pastor would also have cancelled the funeral had the deceased eaten prawns, or worn clothes woven of two cloths.
Fucking bible belts..
Land of the free!*
*(unless you're gay black or female)
[quote]I’m not trying to condemn anyone’s lifestyle, but at the same time, I am a man of God, and I have to stand up for my principles.[/quote]
That's like Hitler saying 'I'm not racist but' while there's another group of jews being sent to the gas chambers right behind him.
Oh for fucks sake. It's shit like this that makes me embarrassed to call myself a christian.
[QUOTE=JgcxCub;45638399]Land of the free!*
(unless you're gay black or female)[/QUOTE]
Or latino.
Then it turns out ol' Jenkins likes to touch little boys and the irony is complete.
[QUOTE=Aide;45638428]Or latino.[/QUOTE]
Might be better as:
Land of the free!*
*(as long as you're rich white straight and male)
I really wonder how the world will be when our generation grows in to power in comparison to these older men that were taught that a different skin color, gender or sexual orientation mattered so much while today there's far more equality and justice.
Hopefully for the better.
[QUOTE=Gwoodman;45638446]I really wonder how the world will be when our generation grows in to power in comparison to these older men that were taught that a different skin color, gender or sexual orientation mattered so much while today there's far more equality and justice.
Hopefully for the better.[/QUOTE]
Probably exactly the same, there's still tons of biggots and sexists and racists in the current young generation. Half of those fighters in the middle east are probably 20 somethings
Just another day in my state.
This place is absolutely crazy. It thinks it's its own country
[QUOTE=JgcxCub;45638434][QUOTE=JgcxCub;45638399]Land of the free!*
*(unless you're gay black or female)[/QUOTE]
Might be better as:
Land of the free!*
*(as long as you're rich white straight and male)[/QUOTE]
Might be better leaving that tired, shitty joke out of the thread tbh
[QUOTE=usaokay;45638511]In about 200-400 years, humanity would be racist against those Xandar douchefuckers on Planet SG152P[/QUOTE]
Xandar? if anything it would be the Kree who are racist against them
[QUOTE=JgcxCub;45638399]Land of the free!*
*(unless you're gay black or female)[/QUOTE]
I'm sure that you, as a Brit, have an accurate grasp on life in America.
This is precisely why a church should not hold funerals outside of the congregation or for anyone that the parish leader does not know. For those who don't know, a Christian funeral service is not about the person who died so much as their salvation through Christ's justification. If the person in question was not even Christian, what is there to preach about? There's no good news to give in the situation, just the solemn recognition of mans sinfulness and his condemnation, that is not what funeral services are about (and I doubt most friends and family would want to hear it at a loved one's funeral).
While it's a shame the pastor had to cancel on such short notice, there's really nothing else that could have been done, the alternative would have been worse and probably more offensive to the friends and family.
[QUOTE=Bradyns;45638299][I]"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."[/I]
[B]Galatians 3:28 [ESV][/B][/QUOTE]
Doesn't mention gays in there so it's fair game.
Checkmate you homosex agenda scum
[QUOTE=bIgFaTwOrM12;45638736]This is precisely why a church should not hold funerals outside of the congregation or for anyone that the parish leader does not know. For those who don't know, a Christian funeral service is not about the person who died so much as their salvation through Christ's justification. If the person in question was not even Christian, what is there to preach about? There's no good news to give in the situation, just the solemn recognition of mans sinfulness and his condemnation, that is not what funeral services are about (and I doubt most friends and family would want to hear it at a loved one's funeral).
While it's a shame the pastor had to cancel on such short notice, there's really nothing that else that could have been done, the alternative would have been worse and probably more offensive to the friends and family.[/QUOTE]
Christianity at its core is supposed to be about acceptance and forgiveness. He should have had the guts to stand up for himself and he should have gone ahead with it, no matter the consequences. I can understand if he was unable to do it because of fear of persecution by the other churchgoers or his superiors in the church order, though. Some people just don't have the courage and it's difficult to expect it of them. Societal acceptance especially in local communities often plays a big role in whether or not you take certain decisions like this one.
[QUOTE=Zonesylvania;45638979]Christianity at its core is supposed to be about acceptance and forgiveness. He should have had the guts to stand up for himself and he should have gone ahead with it, no matter the consequences. I can understand if he was unable to do it because of fear of persecution by the other churchgoers or his superiors in the church order, though. Some people just don't have the courage and it's difficult to expect it of them. Societal acceptance especially in local communities often plays a big role in whether or not you take certain decisions like this one.[/QUOTE]
I'm just making note of what the purpose of the Christian funerary service is. If you don't want to hear what Christianity dictates as being in store for a loved one who is not saved, then don't seek out the services of a Christian leader for their funeral. Of course most church leaders are polite enough to turn such requests away, as was done in this case.
[QUOTE=Bradyns;45638299][I]"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."[/I]
[B]Galatians 3:28 [ESV][/B][/QUOTE]
Yeah but that part of the bible doesn't count.
Shit like this makes me embarrassed to be a Floridian.
On behalf of all Floridians, that aren't religious fanatics or racist or bat-shit insane or prejudiced or anti-gay, sorry.
[QUOTE=bIgFaTwOrM12;45638736]This is precisely why a church should not hold funerals outside of the congregation or for anyone that the parish leader does not know. For those who don't know, a Christian funeral service is not about the person who died so much as their salvation through Christ's justification. If the person in question was not even Christian, what is there to preach about? There's no good news to give in the situation, just the solemn recognition of mans sinfulness and his condemnation, that is not what funeral services are about (and I doubt most friends and family would want to hear it at a loved one's funeral).
While it's a shame the pastor had to cancel on such short notice, there's really nothing else that could have been done, the alternative would have been worse and probably more offensive to the friends and family.[/QUOTE]
Where is it said that funerals are strictly about religion, and not comfort for the family and honor for the deceased?
Perhaps the man here was a faithful Christian who happened to be gay, and having the service at his church and reading some comforting quotes from the Bible would've sufficed?
[QUOTE=JgcxCub;45638434]Might be better as:
Land of the free!*
*(as long as you're rich white straight and male)[/QUOTE]'
isnt that what he said though
This man brings shame to my own last name... Ugh. What a fuckin' disgrace.
[QUOTE=BlueChihuahua;45639719]Where is it said that funerals are strictly about religion, and not comfort for the family and honor for the deceased?
Perhaps the man here was a faithful Christian who happened to be gay, and having the service at his church and reading some comforting quotes from the Bible would've sufficed?[/QUOTE]
The purpose of the pastor is to relay Christ's sanctification of the Church and his redemption for each of us, that is why the Christian funeral service is centered on how the deceased has been redeemed just as the rest of the laity (since the traditional Christian funeral service is only open to those who have died as Christians). It is through the teaching of this redemption that we as Christians are comforted and that is why from our perspective there is no comfort to be had in the funerary service of someone who is not Christian.
The funerary service is a great honour to have after one's death, it's not a simple service given out in exchange for money. It is the result of a life of devotion to the Church through offerings, fellowship, worship, but most of all grace. While I don't regard Baptists as very orthodox, it is definitely in our tradition to only hold funerary services for the members of our respective churches so that we do not lie to those present in comforting them or sharpen their grief by revealing the truth.
And this is why religion is stupid most of the time. Why should it matter if he's gay or not? He's still our fellow man and he deserves a decent ceremony like anyone else. What's the point?
[QUOTE=BuffaloBill;45638303]The only disrespect I can think of that would've been worse is if he'd cancelled it as it was happening. How can you do this, look at yourself and think "yup, I'm a righteous man".[/QUOTE]
That's the definition of the worst kind of evil. When evil itself thinks it can do no wrong.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.