A 71-year-old man who is currently lying on his deathbed was told by his local pastor that he couldn’t have his funeral at his childhood church because he produced a gay son.
The son, Jessie Goodman, says his dying father’s last wish is to have his funeral at Lee’s Chapel Baptist Church in Sweetwater, Tennessee, and he wants Jessie to sing the hymn “The Anchor Holds” at the service.
The church holds special meaning his dad because it was his family’s church growing up.
But when Jessie contacted the church to start making arrangements, Pastor Jay Scruggs told him absolutely positively not.
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According to local media outlets, Scruggs denied Jessie’s father’s request because Jessie is engaged to another man.
Yes, you read that correctly. Scruggs won’t permit Jessie’s heterosexual father to have his funeral at his church because his son is gay.
“They’re punishing my dad for a lifestyle choice I’ve made,” Jessie tells WTVC. “It’s not me up there in a casket. It’s him.”
Scuggs reportedly told Jessie that “as long as I was going to take part in any way, [my father] could not have his service there.”
So technically, his father could have his funeral at the church, but Jessie couldn’t attend.
According to Jessie, his dying father, who is also a pastor, didn’t take the news well.
“He had a very hurt look on his face when we told him that,” he says.
Church member Daryl Morrow tells local media that he believes Jessie’s father should be allowed to have his funeral at the church and that Jessie should be able to attend; however, he thinks Jessie’s fiancee, Brandon, shouldn’t be allowed inside the venue.
When asked for comment, Scruggs told reporters he wouldn’t talk to them under after Jessie’s father is in his grave.
Jessie’s father is still alive, but the family says he only has “a few days left.”
JaredMacBride
Organized religion is the root of all evil.
hayesj
If everyone thought this way the world would be a better place.
ConnorBryant1658
Organized religion is the root of all evil…..- Real truth But i am here not only to discuss this article but I AM LOOKING for NEW Soulmate. My whatsapp number is 17732425635 . Drop me a line nly if you are single and looking for love and pleasure..
Cam
And once again, the primary purpose of religion these days seems to be merely as a shield for bigots.
notasjw
Just when I thought you couldn’t top your past ignorance you come up with this gem of wisdom!
Cam
@notasjw
No surprise here, one of the anti-LGBTQ accounts that always supports Republican bigots doesn’t like my comment on Religious bigotry.
If you think I”m wrong, you are welcome to detail out exactly what I”ve gotten wrong. But, hmmmm, if you could do that, you would have done it, since you couldn’t you just lashed out in a tantrum to deflect.
white-queer-african
I am screaming at both the so called christian pastor and the son. I would like to ask the pastor the infamous question, WWJD? And the son, if quoted correctly, “a lifestyle choice I’ve made”! No,no son. You were born this way. Let me add, I do feel for your loss that is coming. Love your dad and not these bigots. I ask the Universe to give you strength during these testing times. Love will overcome. .
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
You took the words right off my keyboard. No one CHOOSES to be Gay!!!
Vince
Nope but the church most definitely choose being hateful and bigoted.
Winterborn
I’m sure he’s aware that he’s born gay, he chooses to act upon it. Not the best choice of words but since he’d just been speaking to Christians that was most likely what he was thinking. Many of these hateful evangelicals now accept that you can’t change being gay but ‘ask'(require) that gay people be abstinent. Hence ‘lifestyle choice’. No need to scream at the poor out guy who’s just been told his fathers dying wish won’t be fulfilled.
Cam
:::::Applause:::::
one more thing
I think Jesus produced many gay sons, after all man was made in his image…..
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
That “pastor” is a vile, abhorrent, noxious smcubag. His ticket to the darkest corner of Hell has already been procured, processed, and punched…
rbernard
Yet another cruel un-Christ like story and hateful pastors like Jay Scruggs don’t understand why their churches are aging and dying off and they can’t attract young people to fill their pews..
Tombear
Wake up and smell the coffee! Hate groups have been masquerading as churches for years.
Cam
This comment nails it perfectly.
Felecia
HOLY SH*T….the Churchies are fighting back against our LGBTQ rights by rejecting our families now..? And by the way, it WAS my father’s fault; I was emphatically told as a child that when I grew up, I only dated ‘my own kind’. Ever the dutiful daughter, why was he surprised when I just went with girls, lol…oh; THAT’S what he meant. Oops….:)
Milton
It would appear the Pastor of the chapel is about as far from being a christian as you can get., What a total douche.
nitejonboy
May he burn in hell….I know one pastor who won’t be getting into heaven…my heart breaks for that poor man…learning too late what a sham organized religion is…I recently cut ties with my late mother’s church because the children’s minister there is a homophobic piece of sh_t, I’ve never felt closer to god without that church in my life.
JJinAus
Really? Have you actually READ the bible? In case you’re wondering, I’m a atheist. I have and it’s a vile manual to persecute people.
JJinAus
That’s what the “good” book says people. Don’t believe me? READ IT!
wikidBSTN
It is just a building. As a pastor, the father should understand this.
zunelander
Jesus said, the Law and the prophets it so do unto others as you would have them done unto you. Far too many churches and church members miss the message of Jesus while they focus on biblical texts that they think are relevant. All the while, they are violating what Jesus said to do. Pastor Jay Scruggs believes he’s doing God’s will but he is not. He’s in great disobedience to what Jesus said.
boymikefl
A day will come when people don’t need the organized religion that their parents assigned them at birth (and these gawd aweful gender reveal parties). Uh, money back. Just believe in God, period. Simple. True believers know what’s asked of them. Phonies can be spotted a mile away, Mike Pence.
lovethyneighbor
Pastor Scruggs, I believe you missed the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Bible you claim to uplift. This man wants to have his funeral in the church where he was raised and attended; he should be given this final right. As far as your hatred of his gay son, let it go. It is not your place to judge or to behave in such an irreprehensible manner. I can only pray that God will show you the same level of love and compassion that you are showing to this dying man. You make many people feel glad that they don’t attend yours or anyone else’s church. Shame on you.