The pastor of Arlington’s High Point Church told his congregation Sunday that he stood by the church’s decision to retract an offer to host a memorial service for a gay man, prompting applause from the hundreds in the crowd.
“With all the negative e-mail we are receiving right now, it seems that the homosexual community, God bless them all, are very organized,” said the Rev. Gary Simons, referring to the reaction to the church’s decision, which has generated news coverage around the world and lighted up gay and religious blogs.