“I’m not trying to condemn anyone’s lifestyle…” –T. W. Jenkins, pastor at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, FL
Translation: “I don’t have to try, after so many decades of practice.”
Julion’s death was expected
He’d been dying a number of years
Still, the end will leave none unaffected
And his husband shed plenty of tears
But the church where he was to be buried
Then found out that the dead man was gay
Worse than that, was the fact he was married
So they turned the man’s husband away
In this church, by this cross, ‘neath this steeple?
It could never be done, can’t you see?
Lest parishioners learn—gays are people
And the church is as wrong as can be
This is a heart-wrenching story, with heroes and true love, and a villain serving an evil order.
Julie Atwood was standing at her son’s casket when the phone rang. The church where her son’s funeral was scheduled to be held the next day decided to abruptly cancel the service, after the pastor learned the deceased was gay and his obituary listed a surviving “husband.”
Atwood said she was told it would be “blasphemous” to hold the services at the church because her son, Julion Evans, 42, was gay.
“It was devastating,” she said. “I did feel like he was being denied the dignity of death.”
Evans’ husband, Kendall Capers, says the pair were partners for 17 years and married last year in Maryland. Evans died at home after a 4-year battle with a rare illness called Amyloidosis, which destroys organs in the body.
He says the obituary named him as “husband,” and that their marriage was no secret.
Julion had so many friends and family who wished to attend the service that a large church was needed. New Hope, a church where many of those family members attended and/or had been baptized, agreed… until congregation members saw the obituary:
T.W. Jenkins, pastor at New Hope says was not aware of that Evans had a husband or was gay until members of his congregation saw the obit and called to complain. They did not think it was right to have the funeral at their church.
Jenkins said his church preaches against gay marriage.
“Based on our preaching of the scripture, we would have been in error to allow the service in our church,” Jenkins said. “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 certainly wouldn’t do to have a walking, talking, loving refutation of your sermons right there in the sight of God and everybody.
Lifestyle?! I am sick of this word being used in this manner. These men loved each other, married, worked, paid taxes, etc. They were just two people living their lives and apparently, doing no harm to others. That church doesn’t deserve to handle this funeral.
I’m going to give a counterpoint to the outrage about what happened.
What is the difference between a church being able to not marry a same sex couple and the same church being able to deny the funeral to one of the two people in such marriage?
Granted that pastor is an ass, at a point like that you should care about the people still alive.
MaryL–right with you.
Who Cares–note that the widower agrees with you–it is absolutely the church’s right to refuse service. Saying “yes” for a couple of days, then “no” a day prior to the funeral is perfectly legal, yet reprehensible. “The people still alive” include all those who planned to attend the funeral of their friend or family member. Julion is beyond being insulted, but his husband certainly is not, nor is his mother, nor are his friends. Matthew 25:40-45 and all that. “I have to stand up for my principles” my ass.
Don’t have to convince me that it is reprehensible. Like I said the guy should have swallowed his pride and help the people still alive.
And if we start tossing bible verses in this case I personally prefer the parable of the good Samaritan, even though you have to explain to most people how despised the Samaritans were during the time the parable was formulated.
Oh, no worries, I don’t for a moment believe you were arguing on behalf of the church. Who behaved perfectly legally. Bastards.
Legally, yes. Lacking xian love, yes again. Don’t they follow that man who didn’t shun anybody? Their venerated book says he ate with the hated tax collectors and spent time with a prostitute? (Just piling on after the Samaritan example.)
Matthew 25:41-46 — They don’t even believe in their own savior’s words.
What fucking principles are those? Where does it say death is only for heterosexuals? What, does he review all of his patients and say “Nope, I see you cheated on your spouse. Away with you.” As if.
Seriously, can’t even give people the dignity of death? What the fuck does his sexual orientation have to do with anything?
Let it be known this guy is just fucking relentlessly evil and despicable.
Reading the comments of the article soothed me. Many voicing their disgust and anger at such actions.
There has been a social media backlash against the church:
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/church_that_canceled_funeral_because_deceased_was_gay_gets_hundreds_of_negative_reviews_in_24_hours