To: Rev. T.W. Jenkins, Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Tell Florida pastor: Apologize for canceling gay man's funeral
There is nothing Christian about canceling a man's funeral because he was gay. Your actions have hurt a grieving family and are an embarrassment to Christians everywhere. Please offer an immediate and unqualified apology.
Why is this important?
Julie Atwood was at her son's wake, standing next to his casket, when she got the news: The church was canceling the funeral because her son was gay.
Rev. T.W. Jenkins of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, told Julie that he'd read in the newspaper obituary that her son was married to another man and decided that holding the funeral would be "blasphemous."
This story is generating national headlines, but so far Jenkins is only doubling down, saying his church plans to "continue to stand on the word of God."
We need to show Pastor Jenkins -- and the media who are covering the story -- how many people are appalled by how he's misrepresenting Christian faith and hurting Julion Evans's grieving family.