Five Massachusetts churches have Pride flags, symbols torn down in acts of vandalism

[Episcopal News Service] St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Framingham, Massachusetts, was one of five churches in the state that experienced anti-LGBTQ+ vandalism in the past 10 days.

The five churches were in four cities southwest of Boston, and in addition to St. Andrew’s, three were Congregational churches, and one was an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation. All had Pride flags or other expressions of LGBTQ+ support torn down.

In her sermon at the start of the church’s Aug. 4 service, the Rev. Susan Sprowls, St. Andrew’s interim rector, described how she and other staff members on July 30 discovered that a Pride flag that usually flew on the church’s front façade had been taken down and replaced by a so-called Christian flag that had been wrapped around the flagpole.

Nearby was another flagpole that holds a welcome banner, and tucked into a loop on its rope they discovered what Sprowls described as “a two-page screed denouncing St. Andrew’s for its welcome of LGBTQ+ children of God.”

Sprowls and the others took down the white, blue and red flag and called the police. Not finding the Pride flag anywhere, they replaced it with an extra one they kept in reserve – although it lacked the words on the original, “Everyone is Welcome Here.”

On Aug. 4, the bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts joined their Lutheran and Congregational colleagues in denouncing the vandalism of the five churches.

The joint statement said, in part, “Sadly, the persons responsible for these attacks left materials indicating they were done in the name of Christ. In response, we declare our unequivocal and unwavering commitment to living out Christ’s welcome to people of every sexual orientation and gender identity and celebrating their full participation and inclusion in our denominations.”

The Massachusetts Council of Churches Executive Board also issued a statement denouncing the actions against the churches.

In her sermon, Sprowls said that through the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the five churches are cooperating with local county and state law enforcement, the U.S. attorney, the Civil Rights Division of the FBI and the anti-Defamation League to find the perpetrators.

She also said the church has been “surrounded by caring people, near and far” and has received pastoral care “from around the diocese, from the bishops, canons, cathedral dean and clergy colleagues.”

She told Episcopal News Service that after the Aug. 4 service, the missing Pride flag finally was found, tucked into a crevice in the church’s accessible ramp. It now flies one again on the front flagpole.

— Melodie Woerman is an Episcopal News Service freelance reporter based in Kansas.