First off; someone is probably say this is not the right place for this; but, it is in my opinion the VERY place to put this.

ARLINGTON, Texas - The High Point Church in Arlington,
Texas 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 the first Gulf War, 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."

'It's not that we didn't love the family'

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.

PLEASE CONTACT THE HIGH-POINT "CHURCH" AND LET THEM
KNOW YOU THINK THEIR DECISION TO DENY SERVICES FOR A
FELLOW BEING BECAUSE HE WAS GAY WAS CERTAINLY NOT
CHRIST-LIKE AND JUST PLAIN WRONG!

Now...this is just plain wrong! I don't give a crap what religion one is. To give this short of notice for ANY reason is just soooo wrong.

Where is the sin here?
Where is the love here?
Where is the "love thy neighbor" here?
Where is the tolerance of the differences of people here?
This is a church; a non denominational church no less.
What message is this giving?
Keep up the biggotry?
The Gays are lower than any one else?
That you better tell the church that one is gay to see if they bear ill feeling towards gay people?
Because if you are: You do not deserve to be given rites in a church? To have and be blessed by all before we are put in the ground forever?
Or that you better not tell the church and some of it's congregation that you are gay.(Don't ask, don't tell)
Is not life to be cherished? Then in death are we not to also be cherished?

This church pastor WILL be hearing from me. I have their email address.
This is not LOVE! This is NOT Christian. This is not what God is about. This is not right!

Kat

Uh oh...sorry. I did not mean to post that mail address, and some other info.

Kat

the man served his country proudly and bravely.so whats the big deal?

oh right a bunch of close minded ****ers who cant think for themselves

even the worst of sinners deserves to be memorialized.

everyone is loved by someone.

of course, i don't believe homosexuality to be a sin.

POST the ADDRESS HERE>..
maybe we can all write to the church..
THIS IS soooooo WRONG what they did to the family.

Well, bigbay; I tried to send you the addresses, but I am not the right criteria. Soooooo

I do not think I can post it here. Can I??
Kat

i think there's enough info there to google it.

THE PASTOR HAS JUST COMMETT THE BIGEST SIN OF ALL>>>HE JUST JUDGE, SOME ONE

I have 6 addresses to many people.
Kat

http://www.churchunusual.com/address.html

General church E-mail here: ChurchEmail

http://www.churchun usual.com/ general-email. html

Other email addresses for the "church":

Abel Pena abel.pena@highpoint church.com <Abel.pena%40highpoi ntchurch. com>

Glenda Simons
glenda.simons@ highpointchurch. com<glenda.simons% 40highpointchurc h.com>

Joseph Davis joseph.davis@ highpointchurch. com<joseph.davis% 40highpointchurc h.com>

Bobby Yanick bobby.yanick@ highpointchurch. com<bobby.yanick% 40highpointchurc h.com>

Robert Baxter
robert.baxter@ highpointchurch. com<robert.baxter% 40highpointchurc h.com>

Get a man to believe implausible things and you can get him to commit unspeakable acts. -- Voltaire
==================
What matters now, as always, is not what we can’t do: it is what we can and must do.-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Kat

i'd like to commit an unspeakable act!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



on that church!!!

okkkk kat.. i ll change the preference.. was getting all kinds of PERVETED emails from the youngins so thats why i changed it.. now im ready to WRESTLE with em. before i didnt have time.. llol

Thankyou Kat, I have no idea how much weight an email from an Australian will carry, perhaps it may give them a jolt to know internationally their actions were no less than scandalous...for the family who are grieving.

i read this and i was outraged.What ever happened to Christian charity or just plain human dignity..

The Sad part id the Young man Died defending this A**holes right to be a Biggot

M'kay, devil's advocate for a sec.

They have the right to their own personal beliefs, no matter how bigoted they may be... I mean, they didn't seek out the funeral and picket it; they simply refused the facilities that they own for a service dedicated to someone whose lifestyle they disagree with. Are they not a lifestyle-centered organization?

Then again one might argue that the sermon on the mount included, "love your enemies," and going back on an agreement leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth and any possible positive outreach stifled... especially if they lied about the pictures.

Humanity aside, it's a bad move, IMHO.

well this is a bit hypocritical on the part of the church

no one is without sin (a common sermon topic)

yer supposed to hate the sin not the sinner (another sermon topic)

this action may hurt there growth potential and may not

but they do have the option to do what they did

and others have the right to show their disapproval

if we were all perfect it would be a much better world

but like i say

organized religion ====is the root of all evil

What surprsed me is that this is a non denominational church. They are most of the time so openminded and love all and welcome all. No matter what or who you are.

Yes, they do have a right to say yes or no. but; one day before the service? That to me sets presidence on who these people really are. How they really think and the trust issue goes out the door. Where is the love? I asked them: "where is the Christ like behavior in this move? Would He have done this? I think not. Not if He is as we read.
This is a huge church with a huge following. I wonder when word gets around to the congregation, how many will stay a part of this one?

This man was not only gay, he was a man that layed down his life for them. This is how he gets paid back??
Kat