While houses of worship are generally seen as welcoming environments, one Rapid City church is having a hard time. Not with drawing a congregation – but with its pride banner.
St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Rapid City hung a pride banner along Sioux San Drive in its community garden space. After a summer without incident, the banner has been vandalized multiple times in the last few weeks.
Rev. Marty Garwood is the church deacon. She explained the situation on the grounds.
“St. Andrews has a well-known reputation in the area of being inclusive," Garwood said. "The night of the first day of school, it got cut down and removed. So, we ordered another one. We put it up a week and a half ago, and I think it was up eight days, and Sunday morning when we came to church it had been spray painted red.”
Currently, that vandalized banner still hangs outside the church doors.
“Ironically, you can still see the message through the red spray paint," Garwood said. "I personally think having a large, red spray-painted banner out there sends a message just as strongly as being able to see clearly the rainbow and message that all are beloved. So, we’re going to leave it up for a little while, and then we’ll take it down and replace it with one of our spares.”
And Garwood said she has no intention of taking pride banners off church property.
“What I feel is that we’re doing something right," Garwood said. "We’re getting people’s attention, and Jesus tells us that we are to be bold about that. He didn’t say only if they agree with you, or look like you, or act like you, or fit into your little square parameter. Love your neighbor.”
When asked if she had any interest in prosecuting, the deacon shrugs. Garwood said she has forgiven the vandals and invited them into the church for conversation.