The First Parish Welcoming Congregation Committee was formed in 1990 by members straight and gay. We began a four year process of workshops, lay led services, presentations in RE classes and a discussion on homosexuality and homophobia with the Youth Group. There were also three sermons by our settled minister, publication of two brochures (Guidelines for Inclusive Language, and What if someone asks if ours in the gay church?), and a monthly Free Film Series open to the public. As the congregation was educated, it shifted, for the most part, from acceptance to affirmation of our gay and lesbian members. First Parish met the requirements, and in April 1995 voted unanimously to become a Welcoming Congregation, and subsequently received recognition by the UUA.
Summary
In January 2001, swastikas were drawn over the rainbow flags on the sign in front of First Parish. They were cleaned, and then, the next night, defaced a second time as well as our rainbow flag stolen. This provoked a response of deep conviction by the congregation, the surrounding religious communities, the Town of Sudbury and people from near and far. An interfaith service on the following Sunday evening completely packed the meetinghouse and was followed by a candlelight vigil with over 1000 people in attendance. Three teenagers were eventually convicted of a hate crime. Our Minister and a member of the Board were present at every court date with the goal of fair and compassionate justice being served.
From the newspapers:
Boston Globe: Church signs are defaced by swastikas
Sudbury Select Board: To the residents of Sudbury
Town Crier Editorial: Sudbury Stands Up
Town Crier Letter: Church member upset over swastika markings
Town Crier Letter: Trustees, congregation thank the community
Boston Globe: Church signs are defaced by swastikas
The Boston Globe Thu, Feb 01, 2001 - Page 18
By Michael Paulson, GLOBE STAFFIn what church officials are calling a hate crime, someone twice drew swastikas over signs welcoming gays and lesbians to a Sudbury church.
Two rainbow triangles, intended to symbolize the First Parish of Sudbury's openness to gays and lesbians, were covered with swastikas on Saturday, police said. Then, after congregants of the Unitarian Universalist church cleaned off the swastikas, someone drew new swastikas over the triangles Saturday night and stole a rainbow flag and the accompanying flagpole.
"Somebody out there is really trying to send a message," said Diane Kolb of the Anti-Defama-tion League. "There's no way this can be a random act of vandalism. It was purposeful and vengeful."
Sudbury Police Sergeant Todd Eadie said detectives are investigating the incident.
The congregation, which prides itself on its openness, is reeling.
"We interpret this as a hate crime," said the Rev. Katie Lee Crane, pastor of the church. "We don't think this is just an act of vandalism."
Crane said local clergy and public officials have decried the incident, which occurred more than two years after the symbols were posted on the church's signs.
"We are reaching out to the broader community for support, we're making sure our people and our building are safe, and we put the signs back up to say publicly that we embrace the presence and participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in all aspects of our community life, and we are not going to be scared or back down," she said.
Sudbury Town Crier, Top Editorial Page. 2001-02-01
The Board of Selectmen has been notified that a swastika was painted on a sign at the First Parish Church on Route 27. The board unanimously condemns any act of hate against individuals, churches, schools and the community. Sudbury is a community that encourages diversity. Historically, had this nation not had opposing viewpoints, the Revolution may never have started. The board - considers this act shameful and cowardly and intends to fully cooperate with law enforcement officials to ensure every possible avenue is available in discovering those responsible and holding them accountable.
The board supports First Parish Church in this difficult time. We appreciate feelings of vulnerability, fear and disappointment that they have been the unfortunate targets of anger. This church has always maintained strong ties with the community, and it is our intention to lend them the support to the extent that we are able.
The town as begun a program called No Place for Hate, which is being administered by the assistant Town Manager Wayne Walker. This program was developed by the MMA and the Anti-Defamation League. The board embraces the concept of the program and details will be forthcoming.
Kirsten Roopenian,
That is the message Sudbury should lake away from the blatant hate crime that hit the First Parish Church almost two weeks ago.
Two 17-year-old males and a 16-year-old female, all residents of Sudbury and students at Lincoln-Sudbury. were charged this week with willfully defacing property at the church, damaging property for the purpose of intimidation. and larceny The charges were brought agans the youths for marking black swastika over signs displaying rainbow flags at the Unitarian Universalist church on Holocaust Memorial Day and for repeating these actions the next day after volunteers had cleaned off the signs. A rainbow flag was also stolen.
The charged youths didn't come forward to admit their guilt and few clues were left for authorities to work with, but police were still able lo complete the investigation less than i with after the crime. How?
Because citizens of Sudbury stood up and said "we will not tolerate this behavior"
A series of anonymous phone calls from the public, cooperation from Lincoln-Sudbury administration, staff
and students, and the work of Sudbury detectives led to the charges being filed in this case. Although the state Attorney General's office and the FBI offered assistance with the case, local police didn't take it. or maybe didn't need it. because community members stepped up to help find those responsible for the hateful act.
The community pulled together all week, making a firm statement that hate crimes would not he tolerated here.
Members of the L-S Gay-Straight Alliance as well as other high school students, faculty and stall gathered together for all impromptu rally on Friday. A petition with 400 signatures, and banners and signs displaying such messages is "Honk, if you support First Parish" made their way
to the Rev. Katie Lee Crane. pastor of the church that afternoon.
Church member and 10th-grader Sam Kindick who attended the rally said besides being an attack on gay, bisexual, transgender people, the church and the town. "It's sad they (the vandals) feel they can get away with it in this kind of community" This kind of community is one that has come together despite differences in religious teachings and moral beliefs The Rev. Michael Bora Conu of Our Lady of Fatima Church sent a letter to Crane offering prayers and protest against this crime even though. he said, the two churches have different theological approaches.
Sudbury selectmen also spoke out to residents in a letter, condemning the act and offering whatever support they can.
Sudbury along with SO other Massachusetts communities has already Joined the Anti-Defamation
League's latest program, No Place for Hate, and plans to continue involvement in it. Several other programs and forums to offer outlets for protesting hate crimes are also in the planning stages.
And on Sunday hundreds of people from Sudbury and beyond gathered at First Parish for a candlelight vigil where people spoke out against the vandalism. A member of the Unity Church of North Easton presented Crane with a new rainbow flag to replace the stolen one.
Rebecca Chizzo, another member of First Parish. said at the vigil. "Don't mess with the church .. or any place for spiritual worship."
Point well made.
Sudbury residents have taken their stand. Hate crimes will not be toleraled here. And that message, loud and clear, has reached even beyond town borders.
Somebody painted a swastika on our rainbow triangle at the First Parish of Sudbury. We don't know who did it. or why. and frankly we are baffled. We just don't know who would consider us their enemy" Was it a bad joke, or a hate crime? Could someone possibly object to the basic principles on which almost all Untarian-Universalists share common agreement 'Let's review them.
We affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The night of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in the society at large. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. Respect tor the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.
We can't find much in the above principles that would inspire hatred by anyone.
Why would someone pant it swastika on our rainbow triangle. Those of us old enough to remember. or who have studied World War II know that the swastika stood for the murder of millions of innocent people because they were not considered by a few to be of sufficient "ethnic purity" to represent a "master race" The rainbow symbol stands for the celebration of diversity. It says that we welcome people of all faiths and all races, and we believe that it is OK for people to love each other and to experience a warm family relationship in a welcoming and caring community, whether they are of the same or opposite sex. Maybe this is what made someone feel threatened, but surely, no one would feel threatened by us, if they actually knew and understood us
We may never know who you are and what you were trying to say to us, but we hope that you will come to know us as we are.
Ted Jones
I am pleased to write to you on behalf of the Board of Trustees and the congregation of First Parish Church of Sudbury. We would like to express our grateful thanks to the community for its support during the recent incident at First Parish. Our distress and concern at the defacement of our signs have been alleviated by the overwhelming support of our community.
We are grateful to our local clergy for speaking out about violence and to their congregations for standing with us. Thanks and appreciation go to the Sudbury Clergy Association and particularly to the Rev. Lisa Schoenwetter and Memorial Congregational Church for organizing the vigil on Sunday, Feb. 4.
We appreciate the Sudbury Police Department for their excellent work on this case, and for their assistance to our congregation on issues of safely and security.
We are grateful that the Sudbury Selectmen and Town Manager, Maureen Valente, and other State and local officials who voiced a strong statement of support and demonstrated their concern by their presence at the vigil Sunday night.
We add our thanks to the Sudbury schools for their advice and assistance, and to the students at L-S High School who reached out to us, demonstrated their concern and delivered a letter of support signed by more than 400 students, teachers and administrators at L-S.
The schools, their students and faculty, have fostered an open discussion of the issues that this incident raises. Dr. John Ritchie, in particular, has counseled with us about the unfortunate incident and has been personally supportive to our minister, the Rev. Katie Lee Crane.
It is our hope that what happened at First Parish can be transformed into a community-based dialogue about the impact of hate and violence. Our wish is for Sudbury to remain committed in an ever more conscious way to the principles that we as a congregation stand for; among them, affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Nancy Douttel
To the residents of Sudbury
Chairman, Sudbury Board of Selectmen.
Sudbury Stands up
Sudbury Town Crier Editorial, February 8th, 2001.
Never doubt that a small group of citizens can make a differecnce
Church member upset over swastika markings
TO THE EDITOR
BENT BROOK ROAD AND MEMBER OF HRST PARISH OF SUDBURY
Trustees, congregation thank the community
Sudbury Town Crier 2001-02-15, TO THE EDITOR:
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST