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Bethesda pastor reacts to gay pride banner being ripped down at his church
‘Like a punch in the stomach’: Bethesda pastor reacts to gay pride banner being ripped down at his church
Kyle Cooper | kcooper@wtop.com
November 14, 2023, 11:30 AM
A large gay pride banner was ripped off the side of a church in Bethesda, Maryland.
The torn pride flag at Bethesda United Methodist Church. (Courtesy Pastor Dennis Williams)
“It was like a punch in the stomach,” said children’s minister Dennis Williams of Bethesda United Methodist Church on Old Georgetown Road. ... Williams was the first person from the church to notice the damage to the two-story tall banner last week.
“Back in the day, I would have understood that, but now, living where we live and being in such a supportive church, it hurt,” he said.
In a statement to WTOP, Montgomery County police said officers were called to the church on Wednesday, Nov. 8 after a report of vandalism.
A preliminary investigation showed that on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at around 9:35 p.m., an unknown suspect walked to the church’s property, damaged the flag and left the scene.
{snip}
Kyle Cooper
Weekend and fill-in anchor Kyle Cooper has been with WTOP since 1992. Over those 25 years, Kyle has worked as a street reporter, editor and anchor. Prior to WTOP, Kyle worked at several radio stations in Indiana and at the Indianapolis Star Newspaper.
kcooper@wtop.com
Kyle Cooper | kcooper@wtop.com
November 14, 2023, 11:30 AM
A large gay pride banner was ripped off the side of a church in Bethesda, Maryland.
The torn pride flag at Bethesda United Methodist Church. (Courtesy Pastor Dennis Williams)
“It was like a punch in the stomach,” said children’s minister Dennis Williams of Bethesda United Methodist Church on Old Georgetown Road. ... Williams was the first person from the church to notice the damage to the two-story tall banner last week.
“Back in the day, I would have understood that, but now, living where we live and being in such a supportive church, it hurt,” he said.
In a statement to WTOP, Montgomery County police said officers were called to the church on Wednesday, Nov. 8 after a report of vandalism.
A preliminary investigation showed that on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at around 9:35 p.m., an unknown suspect walked to the church’s property, damaged the flag and left the scene.
{snip}
Kyle Cooper
Weekend and fill-in anchor Kyle Cooper has been with WTOP since 1992. Over those 25 years, Kyle has worked as a street reporter, editor and anchor. Prior to WTOP, Kyle worked at several radio stations in Indiana and at the Indianapolis Star Newspaper.
kcooper@wtop.com
3 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
