Last Saturday, vandals tore down Pride flags, replaced them with a “Christian flag” and left leaflets with anti-LGBTQ+ messages and a banner that read “Jesus is King” at two churches in Natick, Massachusetts. In both cases, the church community swiftly responded with love and support for their LGBTQ+ brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors.
Reports Boston.com:
“Tearing down the symbols of a historically marginalized group can never be framed as God’s work – it is an action that inflicts heartache and pain on our entire community,” Reverend Cindy Worthington-Berry, Pastor of the First Congregational Church, said in a statement on Facebook.
Worthington-Berry said her congregation removed the flag, banner, and leaflets after getting the all-clear from Natick police. She says they “joyfully” restored their own flags and began worship. …
Reverend Christephor Gilbert, Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, expressed sadness about the vandalism. He hopes the Natick community will act in “love and restorative justice” to ensure this will not happen again.
“What’s of the utmost concern for our community is that this anti-LGBTQIA+ act of vandalism and hate speech came from an anonymous group of other Christians, once again using the Bible to render their judgment,” he said in a statement to Facebook. “It’s painful to have our shared sacred texts levied against us. Our belief is that God’s mercy is there for all.”
The Christ Lutheran Church members also restored their flags and continued with their service. One congregant said “We’ll keep putting up those flags and banners every time someone takes them down!” the church said in a Facebook post.
The Massachusetts Council of Churches shared a statement in support of the two Natick congregations, and asked their member churches to keep the Natick community in their prayers.
“Houses of worship should be places where people can gather without threat,” they said.
The Natick Police Department told Boston.com an investigation into the incident is ongoing and they do not currently have any suspects.
Read the complete Boston.com story here.
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