Rallying for pride
Church raises new pride flag after being recently vandalized
WATERLOO — About 100 community members from around the region gathered outside Emmanuel United Church in Waterloo on Saturday to watch the congregation hang a new pride flag on the front of the building.
“We affirm and are proud of people for exactly who they are,” said Rev. Jenn Hind, of Emmanuel United Church, which is inclusive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and questioning community. “That’s what that flag stands for.”
The event was held just days after the church — along with Parkminster United Church in Waterloo — discovered graffiti on the property.
Just below Emmanuel Church’s pride flag, scribbled in black paint along the more than 100-year-old brick façade of the building, were the words “the church shall remain holy.” And along the stained glass windows a spray-painted scripture reference was made to Romans 1:32.
The same scripture reference was found painted on the parking lot under Parkminster’s pride flag and on the outside entrance floor.
The reference is to a passage in the Bible that reads, “They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die — yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.”
Rev. Heather Powers of Parkminster said the passage can be used to “spread hate.”
But that didn’t deter the church community from replacing Emmanuel’s wind-torn pride flag with a new one on Saturday.
“Whoever did this (graffiti), I don’t know what their intended purpose was, whether it was to engender fear or create hate, but all they did was inspire a big, big love,” said Hind.
The flag ceremony was attended by federal and provincial politicians, members of the congregation, atheists and believers, the ministers from Parkminster church, and residents from around the region.
Brian Limoyo of Waterloo, who is an atheist, attended with his spouse and young son.
“I’d like to show some support with my family, to … show that we stand for love for everybody,” he said.
Dianne Roedding of Kitchener, who is not a member of the church but is part of the LGBTQ community, also felt it important to attend.
“I just wanted to support them in the raising of the flag,” she said. “It’s just unbelievable that this graffiti, this message, would be here the same week as the (federal government’s) apology to the LGBT community.”
Waterloo Region Police are investigating the vandalism that was found Thursday at Emmanuel and Parkminster as a possible hate crime — it’s the second time in the past two months Parkminster has been targeted.
Both churches are affirming ministries, meaning they are officially considered inclusive of the LGBTQ community by the United Church of Canada.
Despite the graffiti, the congregation at Emmanuel is in positive spirits.
Doug Jacklin, whose job it was to hang the new flag, said the congregation is moving on.
“We’re positive, we’re going forward, we’re going in the right direction, and nothing’s going to stop us,” he said.