Pride flags and a banner outside of the First Congregational Church of Natick, less than 20 miles from Boston, were vandalized, the church’s reverend said Sunday.
The rainbow-colored flag, the pastel transgender flag and the green mental health flag were found “crumpled and thrown under bushes,” according to the Rev. Cindy Worthington-Berry.
A Christian flag and banner that “declared ‘Jesus is King’” replaced the previous display, Worthington-Berry said, adding that copies of an anonymous letter were left behind, focusing on a “narrow interpretation of a few verses of scripture.”
“Not included in the letter were the many bible verses calling us to care for the stranger or love our neighbor,” Worthington-Berry wrote on social media.
The “unwelcome” message was removed after police in Natick, Massachusetts, were notified of the incident, Worthington-Berry said, and the Pride flags and banner were reinstalled.
“This church values discussion and reflection. We would be glad to have a conversation with anyone who has concerns or questions about our faith, our actions, our understanding of God and the world,” said Worthington-Berry. “We will not be anonymous in our declaration of our convictions, and we will not spread them around the community under the cover of night.”