When members of Parkminster United Church in Waterloo walked to the front doors this morning, they found graffiti spray-painted on the concrete outside the front doors saying "The church shall remain holy," a reference to Romans 1:28.

The bible verse cited says "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done."

Minister Joe Gaspar told CBC News the church thinks "it's in reference to our rainbow pride flag that we have up on Erb Street," and the church is also inviting people to an LGBTQ and allies potluck dinner this Saturday.

The church is hosting a potluck dinner this Saturday and are inviting LGBTQ communities and allies to join. (Joe Gaspar)

Gaspar said the graffiti is a sign "to not be complacent about this kind of discrimination and hate" that targets a specific group of people.

"It just speaks to the fact that we need to continue that work in building relationships in the community with LGBTQ people and just proclaiming the message of love, which is central to our faith, and that it embraces all kinds of people," he said.

'Jesus opened his heart'

In November 2016 the church celebrated 10 years of being an official LGBTQ-friendly congregation.

Maedith Radlein, chair of the church council, said while there were people who left the church and there are people who don't join the church because "they think it's too liberal," she has never seen public resistance or graffiti like this.

"It is upsetting and it is disappointing, especially as it quotes scripture," she said, "Because for me, our religion preaches respecting each other, loving each other, and not judging each other."

"Jesus opened his heart and his hands and his mind to all humanity, and that's what we do."