Posted on 01/13/2015 2:34:48 PM PST by Gamecock
DENVER - Family and friends of a Denver woman who died Dec. 30 say they are outraged by a pastor's decision that forced the family to move their loved one's funeral from New Hope Ministries to a funeral home across the street, at the last minute, because the family refused to edit a video showing Vanessa Collier kissing her girlfriend.
A group of loved ones protested in front of the church on Tuesday afternoon, holding signs saying, "Dignity in Death Vanessa" and "You will not find Jesus at New Hope but you will find HYPOCRISY."
"I am a child of a lesbian mother and if my mom was to die, I would want "Dignity in her Death," said Collier's friend, Jose Silva. "I am against bigotry and stand with my friend Vanessa Collier's family in seeking an apology and refund from Pastor Ray Chavez and New Hope Ministries. The acts that took place at her funeral were wrong and no family should ever have to go through that."
The funeral was scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 10.
"People started taking their seats at 10 a.m.," said Silva. "At 10:15, the pastor said, 'Due to technical difficulties, the funeral is being moved.'"
Silva said Collier's family paid New Hope Ministries $400 to hold the service at the church and they want their money back.
7NEWS contacted New Hope Ministries and asked to talk to Pastor Ray Chavez.
The woman who answered the phone said Chavez wasn't available. She provided the phone number for Gary Rolando, the chaplain who conducted the service at Newcomer Funeral Home.
Rolando told 7NEWS that he is a friend of Collier's father.
"I love the family," Rolando said. "I knew the deceased and knew that she led an 'alternative' lifestyle."
The chaplain said the Colliers reached out to Newcomer when Vanessa died.
"Newcomer knew New Hope's policies very well," he said. "But the funeral director on that day came from a different funeral home in the chain, and wasn't familiar with New Hope's policies."
Rolando said Collier's family gave New Hope the video of Vanessa on Friday, Jan. 9, and that "New Hope dropped the ball."
"They lost the video and asked for another copy," he said. "When it was reviewed, they realized there was content that involved (same-sex) kissing."
"We don't want overt, open homosexuality in our sanctuary," Rolando explained.
The chaplain said they explained that policy to the family and asked if they'd be willing to edit out the kissing.
"The family graciously declined," Rolando said.
"They didn't want to edit her life," Silva told 7NEWS.
Rolando said the family asked New Hope to move the funeral to Newcomer.
"As a result, it was a very difficult day," Rolando said. "We had to call the pall bearers… it was a logistical nightmare, but was handled as professionally as I've ever seen."
Rolando said New Hope does a lot to reach out to people living an alternative lifestyle.
"I'm sorry this happened the way it did," he said.
When asked about the family's $400, Rolando said, New Hope walked it over to Newcomer on Monday.
"New Hope is very sorry," he said. "It's very sad that it happened the way that it did."
Nice. I stole your quote for twitter
The church opened themselves up to this by renting out their facility. Seems to me that if you are not a member, no funeral, wedding or ceremony.
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You’re right.
She died when her gun went off while she was cleaning it. Really.
Suicide, or egregious failure to follow the rules.
How is it hypocrisy to follow Biblical admonitions?
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