Ames pastor chooses forgiveness after LGBTQ flag-burning sentencing – and the hate that followed

Danielle Gehr | Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption New Pride documentary commemorates legacy of Stonewall Inn on 50th Anniversary LGBTQ activist Raymond Braun opens up about how Stonewall Inn started Pride 50 years ago

After a week of hateful messages — most fixated on the 16-year prison sentence of a habitual offender who stole and burned the LGBTQ flag that hung outside the Ames United Church of Christ — the Rev. Eileen Gebbie opened the church's first service since the man's sentencing with a question:

"How many of you have watched a Hallmark Christmas movie this season?"

The congregation laughed and many raised their hands as Gebbie went on to say — similar to the common thread of these Hallmark movies she watches with her wife — there seems to be a miscommunication in the community.

Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames was found guilty last month of a hate crime — a Class D felony — third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire. The judge sentenced him to 16 years and 30 days in prison Wednesday with the possibility of parole after three years.

Gebbie said the messages, strewn with outrage and homophobia, came from a place of misunderstanding: The church had no part in the sentencing, she said, and prior felonies marked Martinez as a habitual offender, increasing his penalty.

Yet the flow of hate mail began the day of Martinez's conviction, and only increased after his sentencing. Gebbie said the church partnered with police to determine whether any real threat exists. Authorities found nothing alarming as of Sunday, but extra patrols are monitoring activity near the building.

Despite the homophobic and threatening messages, Gebbie is choosing to forgive.

"Even though the internet — the good, old internet — believes that this is a satanic cult and this is a haven of hatred with an agenda of the 'Rainbow Reich' led by a false prophet who speaks in serpents' tongues," Gebbie said, "anyone who's been here knows this is a house of love."

Martinez stole an LGBTQ banner hanging outside the church and burned it early June 11 outside Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges in July, despite telling KCCI in June he was "guilty as charged." Prosecutors referenced the interview during the trial.

Martinez is a habitual offender, having been convicted of prior felonies in Texas. Past convictions include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in March 2008 and robbery, possession of marijuana and theft in May 2013. All are felonies.

While a Class D felony normally holds a maximum sentence of five years in prison, the habitual offender charge increased Martinez's sentencing.

Iowa District Associate Judge Steven Van Marel was required to sentence Martinez to at least 15 years in prison, Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds told the Des Moines Register on Monday.

Gebbie told her congregation that the sentence "does seem outrageous when it's related to a piece of plastic. But that's not all it's related to. It's related to law, it's related to bigotry and it's related to our neighbor's choices."

► More, for subscribers: Amid online outrage, police guard church where gay pride flag theft ended in 16-year sentence

'We're in this together'

Gebbie said the decision to forgive isn't hard, as she knows the real one suffering is Martinez: "Forgiveness is what we have to offer."

"So how can we help him in his suffering, and how can we maybe find a bridge between our two understandings of God?" Gebbie said.

Gebbie said she feels well-supported by the Ames Police Department and a congregation that's standing with her. For now, communications to the church will be shut down for the rest of the calendar year.

Still, Gebbie said seeing this view on the world grieves her, reminding her how much work still needs to be done and how rare a place her church is.

The church has been open and accepting of all sexualities for almost 20 years, and the pride flag hung for many years before it was taken by Martinez. Congregant Cornelia Flora said church members like to say they spend more time arguing about whether they'll use round or rectangular tables than whether they should be open and affirming.

Flora was present at the sentencing.

"It was so difficult because, on the one hand, we have to forgive, but when there's no repentance, it's harder," Flora said. "It's hard with the continuing threats."

Christa Andersen, who started going to the church eight years ago, said she found Ames United Church of Christ after searching for an open church, as she has a family member who is transgender.

"My husband said, 'You see the flag? They are open and affirming,'" Andersen said. "So that flag — where it can be a symbol that is hated against — it can also be a symbol of love."

The church's intern, Kelsey Plummer, who also serves as a full-time hospice chaplain and gave Sunday's service, said she chose to work at Ames United Church of Christ because she wouldn't want to work anywhere that wouldn't accept her brother, who is gay.

She said Sunday's sermon was about being in solidarity with those targeted by the hate.

"I don't know what it's like, what all of those threats feel like, directly," Plummer said. "I just wanted to sort of pay back the welcome I felt years ago when I came here."

This isn't the first time the church has been bombarded with hate mail, Gebbie said. Two years ago, the church held an LGBTQIA Halloween party that drew criticism.

► Related: All-ages drag shows at Ames library draw criticism, applause

Despite the anger directed at the church, Gebbie said they won't be changing who they are.

She said what's often lost in the outrage is that the church's congregation is majority straight, just with a different take on religion.

"They (the congregation) have done the hard work of examining how theology has been used to kill and to hate and that God transcends Scripture and that God is part of our lived reality, which includes human biology and new understandings," Gebbie said. "And they're like, 'OK, turns out we were wrong; now what are we wrong about next?'"

Danielle Gehr is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. She can be reached by email at dgehr@dmreg.com, by phone at 515-284-8367 or on Twitter at @Dani_Gehr.

Your subscription makes work like this possible. Join today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.