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Church won't hold funeral for gay man
The Dallas Morning News ^ | August 9 2007 | JEFFREY WEISS

Posted on 08/09/2007 9:41:18 PM PDT by texas booster

An Arlington church volunteered to host a funeral Thursday, then reneged on the invitation when it became clear the dead man's homosexuality would be identified in the service.

The event placed High Point Church in the cross hairs of an issue many conservative Christian organizations are discussing: how to take a hard-line theological position on homosexuality while showing compassion toward gay people and their families.

Mr. Sinclair, 46, died Monday. He was a native of Fort Worth, a Navy veteran who served in Desert Storm helping rescuers find downed pilots, and a singer in the Turtle Creek Chorale, said his mother, Eva Bowers. He did not belong to a church.

His brother, Lee, is an employee and member of High Point, a nondenominational mega-congregation led by the Rev. Gary Simons. Mr. Simons is the brother-in-law of Joel Osteen, nationally known pastor of Houston's Lakewood Church.

When Cecil Sinclair became ill with a heart condition six years ago, church members started praying for him out of love for his brother, Mr. Simons said Thursday. And when Mr. Sinclair died of an infection, a side effect of surgery intended to keep him alive long enough for a heart transplant, a member of the church staff was immediately sent to minister to the family, he said.

Click above to continue ...

(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: highpointchurch; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; megachurch; morals; religion; sin
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This is a situation that is becoming more prevalent in America. If a church reached out to street people, and then the funeral highlighted the deeds of the deceased in a very positive way, we can all understand why a church would object.

The church did not object to donating a large facility, food and a tribute video so he could have a better funeral. They objected to the glorification of the deeds of the man.

1 posted on 08/09/2007 9:41:20 PM PDT by texas booster
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To: texas booster
I think that the church could have been sued in all of Europe, certainly Britain, and Canada.

I don’t know about here in the USA. Maybe they would get sued in CA, MA and VT?

2 posted on 08/09/2007 9:43:09 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster
From the article, for those who post without reading:

"After the church decided it would not host the funeral service, it offered to pay for another facility, Mr. Simons said. The family declined and found a local funeral home to hold the event Thursday night.Even so, the church sent over food and the video – minus the images church officials found to be offensive.

"Some of our people will be there at the memorial service," Mr. Simons said. "We tried to do the very best of our ability to express the love of Christ."

3 posted on 08/09/2007 9:46:21 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster

Some of his fellow singers would have been members at the Cathedral of Hope. Why didn’t they have the funeral there?


4 posted on 08/09/2007 9:51:00 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: texas booster

Why do they feel it is necessary to announce his homosexuality at his funeral?

I can’t imagine anyone at my funeral making some sort of announcement about my heretoness.

“And he loved women. He was a fine hereto.”

See? Just doesn’t cut it.


5 posted on 08/09/2007 9:52:20 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (No buy China!!)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: dagoofyfoot

Bill O’Reilly’s gonna love that one.


7 posted on 08/09/2007 9:56:47 PM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Ask not what you can expect from life; ask what life expects from you. -- Viktor Frankl)
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To: VeniVidiVici
He was a fine hereto.

here to do what?

8 posted on 08/09/2007 9:57:32 PM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Ask not what you can expect from life; ask what life expects from you. -- Viktor Frankl)
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To: VeniVidiVici

That’s it exactly. They wanted it THEIR way, but the church stands for something else. They had every right to say no. I thought it was handled appropriately. Too bad the guy/ guy’s family demanded their way.


9 posted on 08/09/2007 10:00:47 PM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: PAR35
Cathedral of Hope is a shell of its former self. I do not know if they even have the building anymore.

The reason for the church has died (to be able to thumb their noses at the Baptists). Now that they have to make payments on the building, stop embezzling quite so much, actually minister to folks that may not be gay, etc., the church has dwindled to just a few hundred.

Oh, and COH did not offer their facilities for the funeral. Too expensive to clean up afterward.

10 posted on 08/09/2007 10:06:27 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster

They simply picked the wrong church. There are plenty that most likely would not have had a problem with it. United Church of Christ, for example.


11 posted on 08/09/2007 10:06:53 PM PDT by RepublitarianRoger
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To: bboop
I couldn’t care less what a persons sexual preference is, but when they try to degrade what others believe in that is crossing the line.
Regardless of the PC view of homosexuality and the church,the Bible says that its an abomination. Since when did being a Christian allow you to pick only the tenets that you like and cast aside the rest?
Its about time that Christian ministers started defending their religion.
12 posted on 08/09/2007 10:12:13 PM PDT by mazza
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To: texas booster
Cathedral of Hope is a shell of its former self.

I didn't know that. I didn't think they ever got around to building the new Phillip Johnson designed facility, but I didn't know that they had imploded. Must have happend when they switched from MCC to Barak Obama's denomination.

13 posted on 08/09/2007 10:14:32 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: VeniVidiVici
At my funeral I hope that my wife is included with me in pictures. We are one.

But pictures of two guys lip-locking is out-of-bounds. It would be like showing pictures of aborted fetuses at a Planned parenthood convention. It would make the attendees very uncomfortable.

**********

Many years ago I used to do volunteer work at an AIDS hospice. I did my specialty, treated everyone with respect and was showed much appreciation for my time and efforts.

Today there is a political element attached to almost every act of charity, and the MSM just can’t leave well enough alone.

14 posted on 08/09/2007 10:14:53 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: RepublitarianRoger

“They simply picked the wrong church. There are plenty that most likely would not have had a problem with it. United Church of Christ, for example.”

Unitarians actually have some atheists in their ranks. They could’ve tried the UU’s, anything goes there.


15 posted on 08/09/2007 10:15:12 PM PDT by DesScorp
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To: PAR35
They caught an “L” minister in an affair and embezzling funds. Not pretty wherever It happens.
16 posted on 08/09/2007 10:16:41 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster

Just askin’ but maybe the Rev. Phelps would be agreeable to hosting and presiding over this one.....

maybe not.


17 posted on 08/09/2007 10:18:30 PM PDT by Wills Powers
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To: RepublitarianRoger

I think that the church picked them to help. The deceased had walked away from church long ago. His brother works at the church and the leaders thought that it would be a fine tribute and loving assistance.

Until the video shows up ...


18 posted on 08/09/2007 10:19:17 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster

Good to mention. I have to admit, I *almost* posted without reading the full article, and completely changed my opinion after having read. It’s also worth noting to drive-by readers (myself one of them) that this church only became objected to the service when they were faced with hosting the event while having zero control over the services, and that the images that were to be presented were basically a glorification of the homosexuality of the deceased.


19 posted on 08/09/2007 10:19:28 PM PDT by Proud2BAmerican
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To: Wills Powers

You’re bad!

But it would be fun to watch. Might even make UFC Pay per view.


20 posted on 08/09/2007 10:20:22 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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