Community Corner
Tolland Church Responds To 'Hate' Messages With 'Love' Campaign
After receiving a pair of recent hate messages, the United Congregational Church of Tolland has decided to "respond to hate with love."
TOLLAND, CT — Members of the United Congregational Church of Tolland are taking the high road after their second intense "hate" message this summer about the all-inclusive flag that flies in front of the church on the Tolland Green.
The flag promotes an "open and affirming" policy, which is a major theme of the church's denominational parent, the United Church of Christ.
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.
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"The flag represents our acceptance of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, to participate in the life and worship of our church," Condos said. The letter also made reference to the motto inevitably "harming children," she added.
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.
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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."
The church put out the following response Tuesday:
"In keeping with our desire to respond to hate with love, we would like to ask for donations to be sent to the church directly at 45 Tolland Green, Tolland CT or venmo @UnitedCongregational-ChurchOfT. One hundred percent of these donations will be donated to a local LGBTQ organization. Love wins, every time."
That organization is PFLAG Tolland-Mansfield, which is also headquartered locally on the Tolland Green, Condos said.
Within a half-hour of the post Tuesday, about $250 worth of pledges had come in from both church members and non-members, Condos said.
One donor said on social media, "I absolutely love the response," and the donor said she made a pledge in an effort to "defeat hate and bigotry."
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