I learned about this story at MSNBC how megachurch High Point in Arlington, Texas denied a funeral service it offered to a Gulf War veteran (Cecil Howard Sinclair) when they found out the man (whose Brother was a church janitor according to AP & Houston Chronicle but Dallas News says he was actually a member) was openly gay.
You can read the local story from the Dallas Morning News and get a bit more info and, I think, an insight into the workings of where these "non-denominational" Megachurches are going and how ugly this entire thing is. If you follow the link to High Point's site you see their actual web address is "Church Unusual" and I must say the only unusual thing here is now Unchristian this behavior is of denying the dignity of this man's death (Well that or how tidy Pastor Gary Simons' goatee is). (((Rev. Simons is also the brother-in-law to charismatic prosperity televangelist Joel Osteen.)))
If 'miracles happen', such as the apparent miracle for this Vet's family -- that I am sure High Point hoped would be manifested in positive press (pardon my cynicism) -- of giving Mr. Sinclair a funeral, then perhaps this church should have thought different. If you follow the DMN story
Nobody from the church called her or Mr. Sinclair's partner, Paul Wagner, to discuss possible changes to the service, Ms. Bowers said.
"We could have reached a compromise," she said. "That was never attempted."
In other words, the ideology outwieghed what appeared as generosity. For me, the most damning aspect of this is Simon's own quote:
"Can you hold the event and condone the sin and compromise our principles?" he said. "We can't."
and yet more quotes of compassion from the Houston Chronicle:
"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."
Now, I've been in some non-denominational churches before and normally before the altar call they give you this spiel about everyone being sinners. It's normally this Cliff's Notes version of Paul's theology that derives from Romans 5. Even more importantly, if all fall short and all are sinners, this should illuminate how out of touch with those pesky other principles of Christianity this church is, such as the one of the Beatitudes: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted
There is a lot here to be angry and cynical about. I keep reading the headline and think that this has to be wrong somehow. When did the Megachurch movement in its interpretation of 'comforted' go the way of Westboro? Did they run out of parking spaces or small group time? One of the jumbotrons go down? No one show up for praise band practice?
There are more sinister implications here. Amongst them are how willingly a church will strive to align themselves not with practicing their faith but with the issues of nationalism. And even that nationalism falls short when it appears that this vet was not worthy enough. Sure a soldier can protect their freedom of religion but that soldier's family cannot expect that religion to provide any comfort if they fall outside of their ideology.
Perhaps the only solace I can offer is a peak into the Greek origin behind the aforementioned Beatitude and point out that the origin of 'comforted' (paraklesontai) not only means a consolation but also implies strengthening.
UPDATE: More info from Tim Seelig's Hope for Peace and Justice Blog, apparently Tim was the officiant at the service for Cecil.