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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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To: wardaddy

Good Point.

King Vanity is slowing down after 28 yrs but he still has “fantasies” (sic) about going out (he does not have money, travel ect) with Air Force Amy.

All men are human it is there life of divinity that prepares them for the next life.

I am betting big on the money he will never meet Air Force Aimee. Cha CHING. LOL


41 posted on 08/10/2007 12:27:13 AM PDT by Global2010 ( I feel the Earth Move under my feet. Carol King)
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To: texas booster

This is something I’ve never understood. A “church” is a gathering of like minded people who believe in mostly the same thing. They agree on what is a sin and what is not. If you don’t agree then you don’t believe then you aren’t part of that church no matter what pew you sit in.

I tolerate the homosexual lifestyle. I don’t agree with it, I don’t approve of it. I can be friends with someone who is involved in that kind of lifestyle in the same manner I can be friends with a heterosexual adulterer. I don’t forgive them, they haven’t sinned against me. I don’t condemn them to hell, I don’t have that authority. I do warn them, and sometimes, by my example, convict them. If their behavior is such that it brings problems into my life I remove them from my life. I understand that I just as sinful in my own way, and that is between God, the person I have harmed, and me. You don’t have to agree with me or approve of me. You don’t have to forgive me or condemn me. You can warn me and sometimes you might inspire me to take a good look at myself and make the changes I need to.


42 posted on 08/10/2007 2:49:03 AM PDT by mithglin
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To: texas booster

The corpse don’t care at all. If he can complain, then lets re-visit the quesiton but I don’t think we’ll hear from him.


43 posted on 08/10/2007 2:56:15 AM PDT by BamaAndy (Heart & Iron; ISBN 1-4137-5397-3.)
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To: bboop

I read the entire article and I think the church handled the situation extremely well. I give them a lot of credit for their approach to a very difficult situation.


44 posted on 08/10/2007 3:06:17 AM PDT by GraceCoolidge
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To: texas booster
However, there were certain docs and pictures that were just too corrupt to recover, IYKWIM.

Are you saying you deliberately "lost" documents and/or photos belonging to someone else because you found them offensive?
45 posted on 08/10/2007 3:18:27 AM PDT by visualops (artlife.us)
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To: Tall_Texan

No, I think they become asexual at that point.


46 posted on 08/10/2007 3:19:53 AM PDT by Stegall Tx (Duck & Run.)
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Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: texas booster
Funerals for Christians are easy. We know where they are going. Funerals for perverts are bad. We also know where they are going... and don’t like that direction one bit.

Problem is figuring who is which

48 posted on 08/10/2007 3:58:28 AM PDT by don-o (Do the RIGHT thing. Become a monthly donor. End Freepathons forever)
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To: texas booster
"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."

Within limits.

49 posted on 08/10/2007 4:11:19 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
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To: texas booster
Even so, the church sent over food and the video – minus the images church officials found to be offensive.

Had I been Mr. Sinclair's family, the food would have gone to the nearest homeless shelter and the video would have gone directly into the dumpster.

50 posted on 08/10/2007 4:12:39 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
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To: Wills Powers
Just askin’ but maybe the Rev. Phelps would be agreeable to hosting and presiding over this one.....

In this case most of the folks here would be rooting for Fred.

51 posted on 08/10/2007 4:17:27 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
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To: texas booster
Funerals for perverts are bad. We also know where they are going...

So...no Christian church of any kind should hold a funeral for a homosexual since you've already decided which direction they're headed?

52 posted on 08/10/2007 4:19:12 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
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To: DoughtyOne
"This church has no obligation to this man."

Seems to me the only times you'll find homosexuals in church is when they get "married" or when they die.

In between, they have nothing but contempt for the church and and it's teachings.

(Probably could say the same of many heterosexuals, also.)

53 posted on 08/10/2007 4:48:28 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: texas booster
Our church has guidelines for weddings that the couple must agree to when they reserve the church for the wedding. In addition to that, we provide directors that will direct the wedding. Even if they have their own director, one of ours must be present as well. The couples are welcome to use the church fellowship hall for the reception, but many elect not to because of the no alcohol policy.

As far as this particular situation, I think the church handled it in the most generous and loving way possible, but the gay and lesbian lobby is trying to make political "hay" out of the situation.
54 posted on 08/10/2007 5:53:04 AM PDT by srmorton (Choose Life!)
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To: texas booster

Amen!!


55 posted on 08/10/2007 5:53:20 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek
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To: texas booster
Maybe they would get sued in CA, MA and VT?
Probably get sued "up the wazoo" too.
56 posted on 08/10/2007 5:58:59 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: Choose Ye This Day; VeniVidiVici
He was a fine hereto.

here to do what?

"He was a dyslexic hereto. He loved owmen."

57 posted on 08/10/2007 6:01:09 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Hunter 2008)
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To: don-o
LOL. Some Christians are awaiting the shock of a lifetime.
58 posted on 08/10/2007 6:05:51 AM PDT by Sue Perkick (And I hope that what I’ve done here today doesn’t force you to have a negative opinion of me….)
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To: Larry Lucido
He was a dyslexic hereto. He loved owmen." Now THAT was funny!
59 posted on 08/10/2007 6:05:56 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (No buy China!!)
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To: texas booster

I agree that a funeral shouldn’t celebrate the sin, so I go along with the Church. But, that said:

1) All funerals are for sinners, period.

2) We do NOT know where each individual person goes (there are no advance copies of the Book of Life, to my knowledge). We can assume dear Aunt Edna went to Heaven, and can assume limp-wristed cousin Eddie went to the other place, but in reality we don’t know what God did in the last moments of anyone’s life.


60 posted on 08/10/2007 6:06:01 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Hunter 2008)
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