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Just the anger that anyone who has their property violated feels.” “Heartache…we've got lots of queer people in the church, though by no means are we the biggest percentage. “Some surprise that the real world is right here, right outside the walls of our sanctuary,” she said. When she called Ames Police, they had already made an arrest.Ĭongregants of the church generally like to believe Ames is a place where everything is fine, Gebbie said, and they have reacted to the incident with surprise, heartache and anger. IPR Senior minister Eileen Gebbie learned of the flag's disappearance on Tuesday morning. “Partly just because of the words itself, partly because of the history of violence against gay people by the Christian church, but in large part because he lives only one block away from us.” “Watching that news show, that segment, last night and hearing what he had to say and then reading the transcript…and saying that he feels like he's doing it in the name of God, seeking vengeance, and he said something about execution is a blessing of the Lord…was a real punch to the gut,” Gebbie said, sitting in the sanctuary of the church Thursday. “It is a judgement and it is written to execute vengeance on the heathen and punishments upon the people,” Martinez says on camera. Then, he went on Des Moines’ KCCI-TV declaring his guilt and referencing Scripture. And even after Adolfo Martinez allegedly destroyed the church’s gay pride flag in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, Gebbie wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
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The welcoming and affirming Ames United Church of Christ, located downtown, existed in a “happy bubble,” says senior minister Eileen Gebbie.
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A bubble of faith burst for a church in Ames this week after its gay pride flag was ripped down and burned.