The Florida pastor who canceled a man’s funeral because he was gay has no regrets.
T.W. Jenkins, pastor of Tampa, Florida’s New Hope Missionary Baptist Church is under fire after he canceled funeral services for Julion Evans-Capers, because he was gay. After parishioners read that their church would be holding the service for Evans-Capers — the obituary mentioned his husband — they complained to Pastor Jenkins (photo, above), who called Julie Atwood, Evans-Capers’ mother, less than 24-hours before the funeral was to begin.
She was standing at her 42-year old son’s coffin when she got the call.
Pastor Jenkins has been the subject of countless news reports. The church’s Facebook page received well over 1000 negative reviews and comments — until it was taken down. The church removed all their contact information from their website. And on Sunday, for a time, they refused entry to a local news reporter.
But once inside, Tampa’s WTSP recorded the pastor talking about the nation’s anger. “Our trials come to make us strong,” Jenkins told his flock. “My family is doing fine,” Jenkins can be heard telling his parishioners. And he asked his “church family” to “please remain focused and prayerful … and we will continue to stand on the word of God.” The church members applauded.
Jenkins’ family may be doing fine, but it’s safe to assume the same cannot be said for Kendall Capers, or his mother-in-law, Julie Atwood. Last year — after spending 17 years together — Capers married the man he says was his “best friend,” Julion Evans-Capers.
Julion Evans-Capers died from Amyloidosis, the same disease that claimed the life of his father and brother.
Watch the news video at WTSP.
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