Vandals Repeatedly Targeting Church In Tolland County, Pastor Says

COVENTRY, CT — A church in Coventry has been a target of what its pastor termed "repeated vandalism," and its "open and affirming" symbols seem to be getting singled out.

It was the second United Church of Christ to be targeted in Tolland County in four months. A church in Tolland was the other.

Coventry's pastor vowed to take a positive approach to the matter.

In a letter sent to Patch Thursday, Second Congregational Church Pastor Rev. Debra Pallatto said most of the damage has been inflicted on the front lawn. The church, located on Route 44, is a member of the United Church of Christ.

Examples of the vandalism, Pallatto said, are an "Open and Affirming" rainbow flag and flagpole that have been stolen three times, smaller rainbow flags that have been taken from the church property, a banner sign reading “Love is Louder Than Hate” that was slashed with a knife and a "Blessing" UCC sign that promotes "kindness and goodwill to all," that was removed.

"Although our church members and friends feel devastated by these acts, we also see it as an opportunity from the Holy One; an opportunity to share who we are as a church community and our commitment to being an Open and Affirming Church where all are welcome at all times," Pallatto said.

Pallatto said the church covenant makes a commitment to, "embrace, to care for, and to ensure full dignity, to all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, mental and physical capabilities, national origin and residency status, and religious background."

She added, "The stripes in the flag that we hang by our church sign represents the following: red (life); orange (healing); yellow (new ideas); green (prosperity); blue (serenity); violet (Spirit); Black/Brown (people of color); white/pink/blue (people who are transgendered); yellow/purple (intersex). The rainbow flag is not the gay flag, it is called the Progress Pride Flag and this church demonstrates and affirms that progress."

She said community members have offered donations to purchase additional surveillance cameras on the church property and praised the "support" from a Coventry police investigation.

"At Second Congregational, we are committed to our Open and Affirming status and extravagant welcome for all people, a promise of over 30 years," Pallatto said. "Without outward symbols of welcome and safety, people who drive by our busy road will not know that Second Church is different from some other churches. We want everyone to know that they are welcome in our church; even the person(s) who choose to steal our signs and destroy property.We wish you all a very happy and blessed holiday season."

The full transcript of the letter can be viewed here.

In July, members of the United Congregational Church of Tolland were also trying to take the high road after a second intense "hate" message about the all-inclusive flag that flies in front of the church on the Tolland Green.

Church staff member Keri Condos said that, on July 27, the congregation received a letter in the mail from an "anonymous individual" expressing "disgust" over the open and affirming flag.

The letter was the second hate message in the past two months. A voicemail left on the church answering system in early June from a blocked number also made reference to the church policy being "appalling for pushing this same message out to children," Condos said.

The caller said she was able to "understand what people do with their private lives," but added, "For the church to put this stuff out is disgusting."

Goodwill donations sent to the church after the incidents were donated to a local LGBTQ organization.