North Vancouver church dismayed, not deterred after Pride display ripped down

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A North Vancouver pastor is dismayed after finding a rainbow wrapping they put on a tree outside their church in support of the LGBTQ community ripped down.

Vida Jaugelis is the interim pastor with Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. She says they wrapped the tree in rainbow colours to make it clear the congregation is an inclusive space.

“We wanted our inclusion and welcome to the LGBTQ community to be more visible in the neighbourhood,” she says.

“We also wanted other people to know that Gloria Dei is a safe space because so many churches are not.”

Although Jaugelis is saddened the flag was ripped down, she says displaying a symbol of safety and inclusion remains crucial.

“I’m hoping and praying for the day when it will no longer be an issue, when rainbow flags will not be subject to vandalism and being torn down,” she says.

RELATED STORIES:

• Langley Township removes woman’s pride flag from her home after neighbour complains

• Delta LGBTQ advocate says defaced pride flag doesn’t represent community

The support for the church has been heartening for Jaugelis.

“There’s been a very positive response from the community at large around the church which I completely did not expect,” she says.

There are already plans in the works for a replacement — with some added precautions.

“Our committee chair recommended maybe having a larger flag put up higher up over the entrance, where you’d need a ladder to go up and tear it down, or wrapping the tree in the rainbow colours again but significantly higher up in the tree.”