Colorado church refuses to hold funeral for lesbian woman after dispute over ‘affectionate’ photos

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

A Colorado church refused to hold a funeral service for a lesbian woman after the family declined to remove photos of her showing affection to her wife.

Vanessa Collier, 33, died in December and her funeral service was scheduled at New Hope Ministries in Lakewood, Colo., on Jan. 10. But shortly before the service was set to begin, New Hope’s Pastor Ray Chavez discovered that the family’s memorial video contained photos of Collier kissing her wife.

The church refused to hold the funeral in its building unless the photos were removed. And the family instead decided to move the service elsewhere.

“They said that they didn’t agree with her alternative lifestyle,” Dawnnetta Pierce-Fernandez, Collier’s friend of 15 years told The Washington Post. “They gave the family the option to edit the video and the family decided that they were not going to allow Vanessa’s life to be edited.”

“It’s devastating — and disgusting, honestly,” she added.

On Tuesday afternoon, friends and family of Collier protested outside the church, calling for “Dignity in Death” for Collier and other gay people.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/colorado-church-refuses-to-hold-funeral-for-lesbian-woman-after-dispute-over-%E2%80%98affectionate%E2%80%99-photos/ar-AA88z8F

[Teddy B 17,252]

A Colorado church refused to hold a funeral service for a lesbian woman after the family declined to remove photos of her showing affection to her wife.

Vanessa Collier, 33, died in December and her funeral service was scheduled at New Hope Ministries in Lakewood, Colo., on Jan. 10. But shortly before the service was set to begin, New Hope’s Pastor Ray Chavez discovered that the family’s memorial video contained photos of Collier kissing her wife.

The church refused to hold the funeral in its building unless the photos were removed. And the family instead decided to move the service elsewhere.

“They said that they didn’t agree with her alternative lifestyle,” Dawnnetta Pierce-Fernandez, Collier’s friend of 15 years told The Washington Post. “They gave the family the option to edit the video and the family decided that they were not going to allow Vanessa’s life to be edited.”

“It’s devastating — and disgusting, honestly,” she added.

On Tuesday afternoon, friends and family of Collier protested outside the church, calling for “Dignity in Death” for Collier and other gay people.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/colorado-church-refuses-to-hold-funeral-for-lesbian-woman-after-dispute-over-%E2%80%98affectionate%E2%80%99-photos/ar-AA88z8F

Good for the family. Screw the church and it's discriminating ways.

[VJ_Messiah 22]

Leviticus 18:22 ESV / 1,590 helpful votes

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 1:26-28

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Leviticus 20:13

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

1 Timothy 1:10

The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1 Corinthians 7:2

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Timothy 1:10-11

The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Mark 10:6-9

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Jude 1:7

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Romans 1:32

Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 1:27

And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Edited January 14, 2015 by VJ_Messiah

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Leviticus 18:22 ESV / 1,590 helpful votes

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 1:26-28

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Leviticus 20:13

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

1 Timothy 1:10

The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1 Corinthians 7:2

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Timothy 1:10-11

The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Mark 10:6-9

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Jude 1:7

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Romans 1:32

Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 1:27

And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Are you implying that the Bible is followed to the letter, or do you pick and choose which verses are important?

[SMOKE 1,426]

and?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

The thing is there are some institutions who are not going to accept this life style. There are institutions that don't accept other religions, refuse people because of their color or what they are wearing.

I applaud the church for stepping up and doing the funeral. This is a huge step towards progress we cannot forget to recognize, however, if the church is refusing to do the funeral because of the photo, the family needs to make a decision about do they really want her funeral conducted by a church and if so, do what the church has ordered or find a new place.

@ Marv, sorry, I understand your point, but this is what the bible says. People know this when they choose Christianity as a religion. I don't see these bible verses changing.

[VJ_Messiah 22]

The thing is there are some institutions who are not going to accept this life style. There are institutions that don't accept other religions, refuse people because of their color or what they are wearing.

I applaud the church for stepping up and doing the funeral. This is a huge step towards progress we cannot forget to recognize, however, if the church is refusing to do the funeral because of the photo, the family needs to make a decision about do they really want her funeral conducted by a church and if so, do what the church has ordered or find a new place.

@ Marv, sorry, I understand your point, but this is what the bible says. People know this when they choose Christianity as a religion. I don't see these bible verses changing.

You are wise in the ways of the Lord.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Good for the family. Who'd want to have a service held in a church that preaches bigotry anyway?

A Colorado church refused to hold a funeral service for a lesbian woman after the family declined to remove photos of her showing affection to her wife.

Vanessa Collier, 33, died in December and her funeral service was scheduled at New Hope Ministries in Lakewood, Colo., on Jan. 10. But shortly before the service was set to begin, New Hope’s Pastor Ray Chavez discovered that the family’s memorial video contained photos of Collier kissing her wife.

The church refused to hold the funeral in its building unless the photos were removed. And the family instead decided to move the service elsewhere.

“They said that they didn’t agree with her alternative lifestyle,” Dawnnetta Pierce-Fernandez, Collier’s friend of 15 years told The Washington Post. “They gave the family the option to edit the video and the family decided that they were not going to allow Vanessa’s life to be edited.”

“It’s devastating — and disgusting, honestly,” she added.

On Tuesday afternoon, friends and family of Collier protested outside the church, calling for “Dignity in Death” for Collier and other gay people.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/colorado-church-refuses-to-hold-funeral-for-lesbian-woman-after-dispute-over-%E2%80%98affectionate%E2%80%99-photos/ar-AA88z8F

Edited January 14, 2015 by JohnR!

[JohnR! 5,495]

The only issue is that Jesus himself never said anything on the matter of sexual orientation.

The thing is there are some institutions who are not going to accept this life style. There are institutions that don't accept other religions, refuse people because of their color or what they are wearing.

I applaud the church for stepping up and doing the funeral. This is a huge step towards progress we cannot forget to recognize, however, if the church is refusing to do the funeral because of the photo, the family needs to make a decision about do they really want her funeral conducted by a church and if so, do what the church has ordered or find a new place.

@ Marv, sorry, I understand your point, but this is what the bible says. People know this when they choose Christianity as a religion. I don't see these bible verses changing.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

My parents have been pastors my entire life. From my own experience, the first question that comes to mind is why on earth would they choose that church? What connection? Was it the deceased's wish to have a religious ceremony? Why not just have a service at a funeral home, or other venue? They had to have known that they'd face some adversity be it right or wrong.

[VJ_Messiah 22]

The only issue is that Jesus himself never said anything on the matter of sexual orientation.

Your debating God's word with some tacky meme jacked from the net? The Holy Bible is the one and only official rule book for Christians. Some people try to rewrite the Holy Bible to suit their sick and perverted needs but it doesn't work that way. A person cannot be a homosexual and be a Christian at the same time as in homosexuals cannot have their cake and eat it too.

Edited January 14, 2015 by VJ_Messiah

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Your debating God's word with some tacky meme jacked from the net? The Holy Bible is the one and only official rule book for Christians. Some people try to rewrite the Holy Bible to suit their sick and perverted needs but it doesn't work that way. A person cannot be a homosexual and be a Christian at the same time as in homosexuals cannot have their cake and eat it too.

Strong argument against Christianity. Why would anyone in their right mind want to belong to such an intolerant bunch?

[VJ_Messiah 22]

Strong argument against Christianity. Why would anyone in their right mind want to belong to such an intolerant bunch?

People are free to make their own choices but to try and force the church to go against it's own doctrine is asinine at best. Some religions and some people don't agree with men and women who have sexual relationships with the same sex. Some people don't think that's natural and it even sickens some. Not all people of course. Personally I find two men giving each other oral sex anything but natural.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The stupid just doesn't stop does it. You'd think compassion for the family of the deceased should trump someone's personal religious beliefs.

Idiots proving yet again that while they may be christian in name in action they are complete cocknoses.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Hail Ming!

[VJ_Messiah 22]

The stupid just doesn't stop does it. You'd think compassion for the family of the deceased should trump someone's personal religious beliefs.

Idiots proving yet again that while they may be christian in name they are complete cocknoses.

The idiots were the ones who tried to force their values and ideals on the Christian church.

Edited January 14, 2015 by VJ_Messiah