Credit: Allendale UMC via Facebook

Credit: Allendale UMC via Facebook

The act was ugly, but the reaction was beautiful.

Allendale United Methodist Church, a north St. Petersburg church known for posting socially progressive messages of love and equality for all humans on its marquee, had its sign vandalized.

Anyone who passes the church knows it by its messages, like the one they posted after the shooting in Parkland, Florida.

They also aren’t afraid to stand up against their “parent” church.

And they have a sense of humor.

They’ve also been fairly clear on their anti-Trump stance, citing Jesus as the sort of guy Trump wouldn’t like very much.

And, apparently, someone took issue with their Jesus-like ways of love and acceptance. It isn’t the first time someone vandalized the sign, and when vandals struck again, the church opted to take the high road.

First, they added the “Vandalism is a felony. That shouldn’t take away your vote for life! Vote yes on Amendment 4” 

And then they changed the other side to reflect the church’s acceptance for LGBT equality.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman took to social media to show his support for Allendale UMC…

…and his disdain for the vandal.

And not that it should matter, but Allendale UMC’s pastor is cisgender, and Rick Kriseman is Jewish.

It’s almost as though these wacky people think they don’t have to fear people and ideas with which they don’t identify.

This article appears in Sep 20-27, 2018.

Cathy's portfolio includes pieces for Visit Florida, USA Today and regional and local press. In 2016, UPF published Backroads of Paradise, her travel narrative about retracing the WPA-era Florida driving...