Tennessee pastor refuses to host man’s funeral because his son is gay
Interior of a church (Pexels)
A dying man in Sweetwater, Tennessee has been turned away by a pastor who has refused to host his funeral because his son is gay.
Jessie Goodman said his father has very few dying wishes, but one thing he does want is to have his funeral at the first church he ever attended.
While the dying man wants to have his funeral held in Lee’s Chapel Baptist Church, it looks as though his final wish will not be fulfilled after the church’s leadership found out that Jessie is gay.
Gay son: ‘It’s not me up there in a casket. It’s him’
“As long as I was going to take part in any way, he could not have his service there,” Goodman told News Channel 9.
“They’re punishing my dad for a lifestyle choice I’ve made,” he continued. “It’s not me up there in a casket. It’s him.”
Goodman said that his father had “a very hurt look on his face” when he told him that the funeral could not be hosted at his first church.
As long as I was going to take part in any way, he could not have his service there.
He said that his father is critically ill and that they expect him to live for only another few days.
Goodman said that a member of the church asked him previously if he would be OK with attending the funeral alone – and said that if his fiancé attended the funeral too, he would be asked to leave.
The family is preparing to host the funeral in another location
The church is reportedly holding firm in their decision to not host the funeral, meaning Goodman’s dying 71-year-old father will not have his final wishes honoured. The family is now planning to host the funeral in another area instead.
While Goodman’s dying father will not have his funeral in his desired location, his son will still sing The Anchor Holds as planned at the service.
News Channel 9 contacted the church and spoke to the pastor, who said he would not comment on the situation until after the man had passed away.
