To the Editor:

The First Presbyterian Church of Ogdensburg is a Christian Congregation sharing the love and grace of God with everyone without condition. We are a diverse congregation welcoming all types of people to the family, mentally ill, young, old, single, married, gay, anyone with disability, heterosexual, divorced, as well as those of other faiths.

A short time ago we received a gift of a rainbow bench and placed it out in front of our church as a symbol of our love and welcome specifically to the gay and lesbian community, praying that those who have long been shut out of participation in the church at large would know that here there is a place in the family for them. A week after our bench was placed in front of the church it was destroyed by fire.

While we are hurt by the actions of Francis "Dominic" Solis in the burning of our rainbow bench we also reach out to him and pray for justice to be tempered with grace. Without condoning his actions, we forgive him and pray for healing for him, his family and our congregation. We also encourage the community both in Ogdensburg and beyond to resist the temptation to gossip or pass judgment.

The tremendous outpouring of support has been helpful, empowering and moving beyond words. We have received letters, emails, contributions for a new bench and Facebook messages too many to count and we give thanks to God for this community and so many others.

Our hope is that people of all walks of life know that they are truly welcome to this loving and safe house of worship.

Constance Martin

Clerk of Session Governing Board

Pastor and Moderator of Session

The Reverend Laurena Marie Wickham Will