Church signs: Provocative or offensive?

When she's standing in front of the cash register at Alamo Roast Beef in Medford Square, Kristen O'Callaghan has a perfect view of the New England Baptist Church of Boston and its notorious signboard, so she can always tell when the church's message of the week is especially provocative.

"People are always stopping and taking pictures of it," she said of the 4-foot by 6-foot signboard next to the white church building. "But some weeks are busier than others."

One of the busiest weeks took place last month, when the church posted, "If we didn't abort our children, the U.S. wouldn't have to hire illegals."

To some people, even those who say they have become somewhat immune to the messages, the statement was especially offensive.

"They can be rather disturbing," said Medford native Stephen Serino, a self-described devout Catholic, about the messages that he sees whenever he drives though downtown.

They "lack Christian virtue and the timing is often poor, and they create dissension, not unity," said Serino, who left a career on Wall Street to run a support program for homeless men. He grew up in Medford and has seen it evolve from a mostly white, working-class community to an ethnic melting pot, he said.

Of course, the city has long been home to the world-class Tufts University, but most of its neighborhoods have traditionally been Irish- and Italian-American. These days, Medford Square merchants like to boast about the varied ethnic backgrounds of local shopkeepers, while school administrators brag about all the different languages the students speak. According to US Census data from 2000, 86 percent of the city's 55,765 residents identified themselves as white, 6 percent black, 4 percent Asian, and 2.6 percent Latino.

But in a city that is taking strides to embrace diversity and celebrate inclusiveness, the downtown church's messages are causing plenty of discomfort.

Its pastor, Thomas Michael, said that's exactly the point.

"The church is going to be in conflict with a society that rejects the Bible and the truth of Jesus Christ our savior," he said in a recent interview. "So when people say the signs are controversial, we take that as a compliment."

The massive church on Salem Street was built in 1875 for a Congregational parish. The present Baptist congregation, which took over the building in the late 1970s, has about 120 members from Medford and surrounding communities.

Michael said his congregation believes in a very literal translation of the Bible and, as a result, takes strong stances against abortion and homosexuality. He said various church members come up with the messages, which he approves and changes about once a week.

Some have been more provocative than others. In September 2005, as the city of New Orleans struggled to cope with the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, the church posted, "New Orleans: Natural disaster? Or God's anger with sin?"

Then, as the war on terror raged in Iraq, a sign went up that many people thought insulted members of the American military. While they remember their reaction to that post, no one could recall its exact wording.

Michael said he is aware that the opinions preached inside the church and posted on the message board are often unpopular with the general public, but he said that making people uncomfortable comes with his job.

"It is the cost of being an obedient Christian," he said.

Despite the occasional protests, no one is saying that the church's signs should come down.

"He has every right to put up whatever sign he wants," said Robert Trestan, the Anti-Defamation League's civil rights attorney.

But, Trestan added, the church should not expect everyone to take kindly to its provocative messages.

"Attacking immigrants in a community that is as diverse as Medford is, it is understandable that people would find it offensive."

Some people said they are sometimes more confused than offended by the messages.

Brendan Lowney of Milton said he has been reading the church's signboard for at least 20 years. His cousin owns a building in Medford Square, and he is frequently in the area.

On a recent morning, he rattled off several of the recent posts. "I remember one that said, 'Homosexuality is sin,' " he said.

Lately, he has begun taking photos of the messages and circulating them on the Internet to friends. "They are so extreme that I want other people to see them."

Especially perplexing for him was the message that linked abortion to illegal immigration.

"It made zero sense," he said, as he made his way to a nearby coffee shop.

Christine McConville can be reached at cmcconville@globe.com.