GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — A Grand Haven pastor hopes you can find someone who vandalized his church.
St. John's Episcopal Church shared that a man in a blue hoodie and a black coat broke one of their flag posts flying the pride flag on Monday night.
In the video, you see after the man broke the flag stand, he left only to come back to steal a symbol for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Father Jared Cramer added that this isn't the first time.
"This isn't simply a question of disagreeing with someone, but the amount of physical force needed to bend that pole. that violence is just deeply unsettling to me," Father Cramer said.
Cramer says he gave people the benefit of the doubt, hoping it was the wind that took the other flags away. He decided to invest in a stronger pole and security camera just to be safe. So, this is the first time they have evidence to show police.
A police station that happens to be right across the street from where the vandalism took place.
Cramer has been an advocate for the LGBTQIA+. He was instrumental in starting Grand Haven's Pride Fest this summer.
"I was a middle school kid in the 90s. And so I absolutely used hurtful language about the community that I still to this day carry guilt and shame over. But so as I'm here now as a priest and a religious leader if I can be a force against that in some way, a force of advocacy and support I want to do that," Cramer added.
He says the parish plans to buy a new metal pole and flag as soon as possible.
"Even more importantly, we will continue to celebrate the gifts of our queer members, stand with the LGBTQIA+ community in Grand Haven, and advocate for all of God's beloved children," Cramer added in his post.
The religious leader adds he forgives the person.
"God's love can heal that pain, if you can let it go. And because usually when people are this angry or this hateful or against the queer community, there's something within them that's broken somewhere, which is causing that hurt and that pain, and that needs God's love and healing," Cramer said.
