Central United Methodist Responds to Graffiti, Affirms Trans/Immigrant Support

The leaders of Central United Methodist Church in downtown Traverse City are affirming their support for trans and immigrant communities in response to graffiti left in spray paint across from their building Sunday. Church leaders said they wanted to honor the spirit of the messages - which said Jesus would protect trans people and immigrants - while also respecting the owner of the building that was vandalized, which doesn't belong to the church.

Two messages in black spray paint were left on the wall of an office building across the alley from Central United Methodist Church (pictured). In a press release, church leaders said the messages appeared "intended for church goers exiting the parking lot on Sunday morning." The messages read: “Jesus would protect immigrants” and “Jesus would protect trans people.”

Central United Methodist Church said it "affirms both of these messages." The church said it "supports full inclusion of LGBTQ siblings in the life of church and society. It has made a clear statement of marriage equity and does not discriminate in employment. It is also home to the only free immigration legal aid service in northern Michigan, through Immigration Law and Justice Michigan (formerly JFON, Justice for Our Neighbors)."

Pastor Joan VanDessel preached a message Sunday from Matthew 25, where "Christ says that to care for those on the margins is to care for Christ himself," according to the release. VanDessel says she agrees with the messages on the wall. “But I would actually take it a step further," she said in a statement. "Jesus wouldn’t just protect trans people and immigrants and others on the margins. According to the Gospel – Jesus is the one on the margin."

Central United Methodist Church Lead Pastor Linda Stephan said in a statement that the messages "need to be said as loud and clear as possible and in as many places as possible. At the same time, we always want to be good neighbors. The messages appear to have been meant for us and not the property owners. We are brainstorming ways we can honor the message and honor our neighbor (the building owner). Certainly, we will continue to be a voice of inclusion in the heart of our city."