Leaders of the Reformation Church in Shelbyville are asking people to check out LGBTQ-themed books from the local public library and not return them. Shelby County Public Library Director Pam Federspiel said someone did just that, checking out 16 books in May worth about $500.
“We didn't know that he was doing it for the Reformation Church until they posted a video on Facebook of all of our books that they had checked out,” she said.
Federspiel said three overdue notices have been sent, with no response. On June 1, Reformation Church pastor Austin Keeler posted a statement on the Shelbyville church’s Facebook page.
“Pastor, Christian, listen to me. It is within your jurisdiction, and it is certainly your duty to combat the perversion of your local library that is supposed to be an aid in the development of our young people, not an aid to their destruction," Keeler continued, "You must find out if this perversion is taking place, and then you must act.”
In a statement, the church called the no-returns an act of civil disobedience. Jane Elkin Thomas, a county resident who was active in unsuccessful attempts to pass a fairness ordinance, called it something else.
“I feel stealing is stealing, doesn't matter what it is, and I feel like, if people object to those books, then they don't read them, but they don't steal them and from other people, and especially from our public library," Thomas said.
Through Facebook, church leaders declined an interview request.
