Church Nixes Memorial For Gay Veteran

(AP)  A megachurch canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay.

Officials at the nondenominational High Point Church knew that Cecil Howard Sinclair was gay when they offered to host his service, said his sister, Kathleen Wright. But after his obituary listed his life partner as one of his survivors, she said, it was called off.

"It's a slap in the face. It's like, `Oh, we're sorry he died, but he's gay so we can't help you,"' she said Friday.

Wright said High Point offered to hold the service for Sinclair because their brother is a janitor there. Sinclair, who served in Desert Storm, died Monday at age 46 from an infection after surgery to prepare him for a heart transplant.

The church's pastor, the Rev. Gary Simons, said no one knew Sinclair, who was not a church member, was gay until the day before the Thursday service, when staff members putting together his video tribute saw pictures of men "engaging in clear affection, kissing and embracing."

Simons said the church believes homosexuality is a sin, and it would have appeared to endorse that lifestyle if the service had been held there.

"We did decline to host the service — not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle," Simons told The Associated Press. "Had we known it on the day they first spoke about it, — yes, we would have declined then. It's not that we didn't love the family."

Simons said the decision had nothing to do with the obituary. He said the church offered to pay for another site for the service, made the video and provided food for more than 100 relatives and friends.

"Even though we could not condone that lifestyle, we went above and beyond for the family through many acts of love and kindness," Simons said.

Wright called the church's claim about the pictures "a bold-faced lie." She said she provided numerous family pictures of Sinclair, including some with his partner, but said none showed men kissing or hugging.

The 5,000-member High Point Church was founded in 2000 by Simons and his wife, April, whose brother is Joel Osteen, well-known pastor of the 38,000-member Lakewood Church in Houston. Now High Point meets in a 432,000-square-foot facility in Arlington, near Dallas.

Wright said relatives declined the church's offer to hold the service at a community center because they felt it was an inappropriate venue. It ultimately was held at a funeral home, but the cancellation still lingered in some minds, she said.

[mopheadad]

Tho the circumstances are questionable, it seems the church's final posistion is correct. The guy
died, how could the church help him? The church
is not to and should not support the gay lifestyle
The foundation of America is christianity and is what makes one an American. Christianity is a way
not a religeon, as some would have you think. Many
in this country are Americans and some are merely
U S born, and yes, atheism is a religon, worshipers of money. No true atheist ever died broke. Give the church a break and let the dead bury the dead, not that I think the fellow deserved to die, he did'nt. Funeral homes are the place to have a service for the dead. Churchs are the place to celebrate life, and being gay is nothing to celebrate, its too bad the church did'nt have the oppertunity to help the fellow change his mind about being gay, but it was a choice he made. Whats next, condemn the church for
not holding a memorial for a pedophile or murderer?

[gunnerv1]

Hey was a "peter-puffer', the Church can do as they please, It's not a Gov't Org.

[nishaboston]

[e-mail]

I just wrote an email to this director at High Point Church. This whole story made me sick.

[nishaboston]

I bet the pastor of that church is gay too!!! Hypocrites. This gives me all the right reason not to follow religion.

[tbweb]

This is right up there with an ad I saw in a local Newspaper once that read; if you have AIDS don't join our Church! Some Churches even turn down members if they don't dress well. Only those who can offer their 10% Tiding need apply! So much for Saving Souls, the real business Churches are suppose to be about!

[sian9]

This so called "church" is akin to the KKK or 1930's Nazi Germany. They were cruel to the greiving family by cancelling the funeral only 24 hours before it was to take place. This church should not have tax exempt status under any circumstance. Every member of this church should be ashamed because they are all part of this despicable action.

[sgtrds]

Jesus, save me from your followers.

Posted by Keithle1 at 08:56 AM : Aug 12, 2007

Thank god I'm an atheist.

[kalansnanuh]

Let me be clear,,I am not attacking this Church. However,when the sister states "bold faced lie",I can relate to that as I was shocked Cecil would lie to my apt mgr that "she didnt call back". This is 1 person in this Church. High Point began inside a Jr High Auditorium off Arbrook. I attended/tithed from the humble beginnings,therefore being hurt deeply I was denied assistance the first time I ask.

Being a partner with Bro John Osteen,after his passing I was pleased to see Joel take the reins. April came to Arlington with Gary,,however Gary is not Joel. I supported this Church out of reverance for Bro John.

Perhaps because my tithes were 'anonymous' as the Holy Bible states to do,,I was denied because they found no record of me at the new J&J building?

Either way, the Holy Bible says to go to the elders of the Church in need,,I did so and was denied. And then Cecil lied. I was forced t have a garage sale inside my apartment,,raised enough for a storage unit,,the maintence men moved my items from Palos Verde on Thanksgiving.

What has this world come to when the Church is not there in time of need? A wealthy townhome unit like Palos Verde evicts a disabled grandmother on Thanksgiving? I dont understand anymore.

[hereticzero-2009]

jankebenz thank you for your kind remarks typical of christianity. to be slapped in the face, jezus would have to be alive, which ain't the case unless he is working in amerika as an illegal alien. santa claus, easter bunny, and the tooth fairy are also out of work. christianity is an evil and perverted religion just like all other organized religions.

[trumpetstuff]

I've followed this comment stream with much interest. Some of it is painful - especially the attack-type pieces. Our country is divided and hurting big-time. A simple fact of life is that differences in people exist. No one has the power to change that. We need reconciliation, healing and tolerance for ALL. My special thanks to those whose postings have called for that.