Church evicted after posting ‘LGBT is a hate crime’ sign during Pride month
A church in Indiana has been evicted after posting an anti-LGBT sign during Pride month.
The message outside the Remnant Fellowship Church in Auburn, Indiana, read: “LGBTQ is a hate crime against God. Repent.”
The sign, which sparked the planning of a protest, has now been removed and the church appears to have vacated the premises on North Street, News Channel 15 reported.
A member of the church confirmed to the channel that they had been evicted, but whether or not it was a result of posting the sign is unknown.
“I just wanted to come and look and check the sign out and they were gone. The sign and everything,” local resident Tammy Kessler told the site.
Robert Sturges, an elder at the church, told News Channel 15: “We’re trying to reach a certain group of people.
“They’re being told in our culture that homosexuality, transvestites, lesbianism, and sexual immorality is OK.
“But the Bible clearly says that those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In fact, it warns them that the wrath of God will abide upon them.
“And in the judgement, they will be lost and they will be sent to hell forever. We believe that. That’s our faith.”
Sturges added: “Even the schools are telling the kids, ‘Go ahead and experiment.’
“They’re going to destroy kids at young ages. They’re opening themselves up to disease and mental illness and making them the enemies of God, who calls them to sexual purity.
“That’s why we put the sign up.”
In June, a church in Arkansas was criticised after warning its followers to avoid an amusement park, as an LGBT Pride celebration was taking place nearby.
Posting on Facebook, the Glenwood United Methodist Church wrote: “Please avoid taking your children to Magic Springs on June 30th. It is LGBT Pride Day.”
In a subsequent post, the church wrote: “While homosexuals are free to use the park any day they choose, ‘Gay Pride’ events are typically ‘in your face’ promotions of homosexuality and transgenderism.”
It continued: “I removed the post because members of the LGBT community started commenting on the post.
“As usual, ANY disagreement with the ‘gay agenda’ is considered hate. We are already seeing that in our own denomination, sad to say.
“But, my intention was simply to warn those who were planning to attend about the event (NOT sponsored by Magic Springs) and suggest they might want to skip that day.”