APPOMATTOX, Va – Members of an Appomattox congregation walked out of their Sunday church service in protest over a sign the pastor posted last week.

WSET reports that Pastor E.W. Lucas put up the sign “America, I love it. If you don’t love it, leave it.” at Friendship Baptist Church in Appomattox. The sign has since gone viral and some church members are unhappy with all of the attention.

According to WSET, the church was empty for the 11 o’clock service.

Lucas says during the Sunday School service, some members of the church led the congregation out of the service in a stance against him. He says members were upset with the national attention the church received this week.

Lucas says he stands behind his decision to keep the sign in front of the church.