A sign erected outside a church containing a very risque message has now been removed.
The Anglican Church Southern Queensland Diocese confirmed that the ‘spitting and swallowing’ sign on a church’s noticeboard was removed due to it being ‘inappropriate’.
The church’s Reverend Mike Upton put up the sign, reported The Brisbane Times. The sign, which had heads turning, also went viral on the Internet.
Situated in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, The Anglican Church of Holy The Spirit’s risque message reads: ‘Forgiveness is swallowing when you’d rather spit’.
Despite the Anglican reverend’s well-meaning intentions, people couldn’t help but see the sexual innuendo.
An Anglican reverend’s cheeky message on a church sign has been turning heads
Situated in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, The Anglican Church of The Holy Spirit’s unintentionally risque message actually has a very Christian message
Before the Anglican Diocese reviewed the matter, church officials insisted that the meaning was innocent, and that it simply wanted to convey that people should let go of their negative thoughts instead of talking about it.
A spokesperson from the church told The Gold Coast Bulletin, ‘You don’t open your mouth and yell at somebody, you close your mouth and swallow.’
‘If you want to say something, keep your mouth closed for a bit.’
‘Swallow it, don’t spit it out,’ they said.
Despite this, the head office decided to remove the sign anyway.
Reverend Upton also told The Courier-Mail that he would no longer be answering any questions on the issue. All inquiries should instead be directed to the Brisbane Diocese.
Meanwhile, Surfers Paradise locals were in disbelief but had a laugh at the Church’s unintentional gaffe.
Surfers Paradise Member of Parliament John-Paul Langbroek, posted a selfie with the sign and captioned the photo ‘This will get the punters in …’
The Surfers Paradise locals were in disbelief but had a laugh at the Church’s unintentional gaffe