Watch: Police Investigate Torching of Church's Trans Flag as a Hate Crime

Police in Brookline, Massachusetts, are investigating as a hate crime the middle-of-the-night arson attack that destroyed a church's transgender flag, NBC News reports.

"The Rev. Kent French, the senior pastor at United Parish of Brookline in metropolitan Boston, said a staff member at the church discovered the burned flag, which had been up for more than a year, on the building's lawn on the morning of Aug. 26," NBC News detailed.

"Police believe the incident occurred sometime from 10 p.m. on Aug. 25 to 9 a.m. the next day," the article added.

Rev. French "describes himself as openly queer," NBC reported, and told the news outlet that "his church strives to be inclusive of all people, especially LGBTQ people who have ever felt 'betrayed' by their religious communities."

Rev. French noted that "trans people are an integral part of his church's faith community, which includes more than 250 members," NBC went on to note, adding that the reverend said his congregants expressed "shock " and "dismay" at the flag's burning.

But in accordance with the teachings of Christ, the reverend urged his flock to pray for the person or persons who destroyed the church's property.

"We believe the Christian faith is a progressive faith, tha tit's one that's always looking forward, that it's one that's always looking to include," Rev. French told NBC News. "People are challenged by difference," he added, "and we are living in divisive times – and this is an expression of that."

To watch the NBC News clip, follow this link.