SACRAMENTO — Nearly one week after a Sacramento pastor celebrated the violent murders of 49 people at an Orlando nightclub in his Sunday service, a member of his family is speaking out to condemn his message of hate and spread love.
Pastor Roger Jimenez of Verity Baptist Church shared his strong views against homosexuality in a video, but his sister-in-law, who is bisexual, said it’s not a reflection of his entire family.
“I was feeling ashamed that I had any connection to him at all,” said Christina Peters, Pastor Jimenez’s sister in law.
Peters said her sister has been with Jimenez for a decade, and as long as Peters has known him she said his position has always been the same.
“It’s hateful and it’s shaming and it hasn’t changed. When I have dated women I know that I’m not welcome,” she said.
Peters may not feel welcome at Verity Baptist Church where her brother-in-law preaches, but she is welcome at her own church, The Table.
“This pastor doesn’t speak for God or for all of Christianity there are churches like The Table and others in Sacramento who long to welcome people as they are,” said co-Pastor of The Table, Matt Smith.
The support from The Table helps Peters deal with the video and the backlash from it. She said her brother in law has received death threats since posting it online last week.
As much as she disagrees with Jimenez, Peters said she worries for him, her sister and their four children. She is speaking out to encourage people to be peaceful in their response to his words.
A protest is scheduled Sunday at Verity Baptist Church. Peters said those who want to stand up against the hate but don’t want to go to the protest can spend their Sunday at The Table instead.