Church and homosexual funerals

I can imagine this comes with issues that aren't as easy as covering the event with "Of course, we'll do the funeral for a gay guy!" What I do feel about it is this - if the people want to hold the funeral in the church then it is the pastor that is the decision maker as to how the funeral proceeds. Don't like his take? Have your ceremony at the funeral home, then.

An Arlington church volunteered to host a funeral Thursday, then reneged on the invitation when it became clear the dead man's homosexuality would be identified in the service.

The event placed High Point Church in the cross hairs of an issue many conservative Christian organizations are discussing: how to take a hard-line theological position on homosexuality while showing compassion toward gay people and their families.