Lansdale Church's 'Black Lives Matter' Sign Invokes Uproar

Three little words.

That’s all it took for Lansdale’s Trinity Lutheran Church, on West Main Street, to propel itself into the center of a national debate last week.

The church posted a “Black Lives Matter” sign on its front lawn last week, and Lansdale exploded.

Insulting, harassing, and ridiculing phone calls and emails flooded the church, according to Rev. Paul Lutz.

The slogan has been circulating social media for several years but has gained popularity - and notoriety - over the past year as tensions grew in certain communities between citizens and law enforcement.

Supporters of the slogan blame institutional racism and a faulty justice system for the unpunished deaths of African-Americans at the hands of police officers around the country.

Opponents cite the murders of police officers, and chant back with slogans like “all lives matter” and “blue lives matter.”

Lutz apologized for the “commotion” the sign caused and attempted to explain why the church posted it.

“We (put up the “Black Lives Matter” sign) in solidarity with a three year old non-violent grass roots movement that is working to “broaden the conversation” around race from the legal system and black poverty to the burdens on black women, children, black queer and trans folks, and blacks with disabilities,” Lutz said.

The justification only angered many who commented on the Trinity Lutheran Facebook page. Many were angry that their previous comments had been deleted.

“Sir, sticking ones foot in the pile of dung, then trying to wipe off the smell rarely works....please think before you jump into the pile,” said Lorna Edling Allison.

Those angered by the slogan vehemently disagreed with Lutz’s categorization of the movement as non-violent.

“That you continue to post the very same argument is an indication that you have no interest in discussion, only self-validation,” said Mike Kiggins. “You state the Black Lives Matter group is not a HATE group, and yet they are seen on camera shouting “Pigs in a Blanket- Let ‘Em Fry” Not exactly a message of love, wouldn’t you say?”

Lutz said that he believed the slogan, or at the least the essence of it, came from a place of peace.

“We wanted to deliberately explore the privilege we (primarily a white congregation) have to not experience our own lives in racial terms,” Lutz said. ”We came to appreciate how saying “All Lives Matter” can be a form of willful colorblindness desired to take color out of the conversation. Such a response can be heard as words of negation, repudiation, and refutation to the experience of blacks in our neighborhood, state and country.”

Lutz was very concerned at the feedback the church received and reiterated that “we believe that all lives matter.”

“There is a serious misunderstanding in our community. Trinity does not support hate groups. We believe that all lives matter. We are grateful for the service and dedication of all first responders, especially our Lansdale police, fire and emergency teams. We are, however, concerned about the old, old story that suggests black lives matter less than white lives.”

To address the divide in the community, Lutz is hosting a forum for discussion so that the community can work together to “reduce discrimination and racism.”

The event will be held at the church on September 9 at 7 p.m.