Waukegan church to paint over anti-gay graffiti; ‘With … some symbol that says we are an affirming, inclusive and safe place’

  • 📰 chicagotribune
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 30 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 15%
  • Publisher: 91%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

A crowd of more than 100 people gathered Sunday at the entrance to the church — with the vandalism’s residue still showing — to pray, share their feelings and comfort one another.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church congregant Kadie Ramey talks to a crowd about recent vandalism at the building as the Rev. Mark Rollenhagen listens. Shock and then anger were the Rev. Mark Rollenhagen’s first two reactions when he saw the anti-LGBTQ+ message painted at the entrance to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waukegan on Wednesday.

Members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church listen to messages of love after a vandal spray-painted an anti LGBTQ+ message at the church entrance. More than three years ago, St Paul’s became a Reconciling in Christ Community, embracing a program within its greater church organization. Rollenhagen said the designation lets people who identify as LGBTQ+ feel the church’s open arms.

“I tensed,” he said. “He said, ‘Thank you. A friend of mine is LGBTQ, and he was not well-received by his family and was thinking of killing himself. Then he saw a pride flag and it saved his life.’”

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 8. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

The 100 Greatest Rap Albums of All Time (100-76): Staff ListYear: 2020 Lil Baby secured the solo spotlight with his sophomore album My Turn.
Source: billboard - 🏆 112. / 63 Read more »

'Stellar Dreams' project gifting 100 telescopes to 100 families (exclusive)Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere.
Source: SPACEdotcom - 🏆 92. / 67 Read more »

DFW Weather: It's OFFICIAL. We hit 100° for the first time this year... and we're just getting started.DFW hit 100 degrees seven days before the average first 100 degree day.
Source: wfaa - 🏆 543. / 51 Read more »

Denver metro braces for extreme heat as near 100 temperatures expected SundayRobert Garrison is a Colorado native who grew up in Montrose and attended Colorado Mesa University. He is an AP award-winning journalist who joined Denver7 in August 2016 after working in CO and OK.
Source: DenverChannel - 🏆 239. / 63 Read more »

Heat advisory issued for D.C. on Saturday, when it could feel like 105-plusHighs could reach 100 both Saturday and Sunday, with heat indexes over 105.
Source: postlocal - 🏆 327. / 59 Read more »

D.C.-area forecast: Sunny and hot again and againHighs could approach 100 Friday through Sunday.
Source: postlocal - 🏆 327. / 59 Read more »