RENTON, Wash. — Vandalism at a church in Renton is being investigated as a potential hate crime.
Officers with the Renton Police Department responded to a mischief call at United Christian Church near 116th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 157th Street on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Six rainbow-colored doors that were part of a church display stating “God’s doors are open to all” were scattered on the front lawn, police said. The church is open and affirming, supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Police saw tire marks on the lawn, leading them to believe that someone had driven over a 6-inch curb onto the lawn and through the doors late Friday night or early Saturday morning. According to neighbors, they indicated they heard a loud noise around 2-2:30 a.m. on Saturday. However, the church has not found any good video evidence of it.
The vandalism caused about $1,800 in damage, according to police.
"It's sad to me that there are people who disagree so strongly with the idea of love for all people, that they would take that kind of action," said the Reverend Cynthia Meyer, pastor at the United Christian Church.
Rev. Meyer, who identifies as being part of the LGBTQ+ community, married her wife five years ago just before starting her tenure at the Renton church.
"I actually left another denomination because I could not serve openly there. And I'm really proud to be a pastor now, in this congregation," she told KING 5.
Renton police said the United Christian Church has been vandalized in the past, and this incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime.
In 2019, an unexploded firework was found taped to the back of one of the same doors, according to witnesses. Two were found with splintered holes. Meyer said this incident is the most serious since the one four years ago.
"A couple of the doors show damage from being directly hit, some have tire tracks on them. I think maybe it was the way they fell, but severely damaged, the supports on the back were all broken off," she said.
Miri Cypers, director of the Anti-Defamation League for the Pacific Northwest, told KING 5 in September that hate crimes have reached a 20-year high nationwide, and continue to increase year over year despite being the most under-reported crime. A survey from the King County Coalition Against Hate and Bias showed there were 643 incidents of hate and bias between 2020 and Aug. 10, 2023. The survey showed that 84% of respondents chose not to go to the police.
According to Rev. Meyer, people in the congregation put the doors back up after the worship service on Sunday.
"We do our best not to hold grudges or to be vindictive, but to try to respond in love and care," she said.
If anyone has information about the case, they are urged to contact Renton police and reference case No. 23-12038.