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Vandalism
Life in the City UMC in Austin, Texas, was vandalized Aug. 1. (Facebook Photo)
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Repairs
Volunteers help repair Life in the City UMC in Austin, Texas. (Facebook Photo)
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A New Front
After volunteers repaired vandalism to Life in the City UMC, they painted a new colorful welcome on the building. (Facebook Photo)
Aug. 4, 2025
Life in the City United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas was vandalized Aug. 1 with graffiti on the building and tearing down its LGBTQ+ PRIDE flag.
The vandals were photographed from behind on a security camera. They wore clothing that concealed their faces.
The church announced the violence in a Facebook post:
"Sadly, our beautiful church space was vandalized and our LGBTQ+ Pride flag was torn down today by those who clearly oppose our mission of radical inclusivity in Christ. At Life in the City, we strive to welcome those on the outside to the inside of the circle because Jesus’ greatest commandment was for us to love our neighbor as ourselves. And we will continue to do that, even to those who chose to deface our church building…as we know, the church is not the walls, it is the people and the community.
"As the great spiritual says, we shall NOT be moved, except toward bringing the “kin-dom” of God to earth, where all of God’s precious children are loved and affirmed."
The church invited volunteers to meet at its building Aug. 2 to clean up and restore the building. Instead, volunteers removed the graffiti and painted a colorful new entryway.
Life in the City pastor, the Rev. Glen Luhrs, posted a statement about the vandalism on the church's website. The statement was posted in two photographs, seen here:
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The day after the vandalism, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, leader of the Rio Texas Conference that includes Life in the City UMC, denounced the vandalism in an email statement:
"Dear Beloved Community,
"With heavy hearts, we grieve the recent act of vandalism at Life in the City United Methodist Church in Austin. Hateful graffiti was scrawled on their building, and the rainbow flag—long a sign of radical hospitality and Christ-like welcome—was torn down. This was not merely an attack on property; it was an attempt to strike at the very heart of who LITC is.
"Life in the City is a vibrant, faithful community grounded in the love of Christ. It boldly proclaims the sacred worth of every person and affirms that all are beloved children of God—created in the divine image, named, known, and deeply loved. That includes our LGBTQ+ siblings, whose lives, witness, and gifts continue to enrich the life of this church and the broader body of Christ.
"To those in our community who may feel especially vulnerable or afraid in light of this hateful act: you are not alone. We see you. We stand with you. We love you."
Bishop Harvey continued that the Rio Texas leadership stood "in full solidarity" with Life in the City UMC. "We affirm their unwavering commitment to the gospel of love, justice, and welcome. And we echo their message that hate has no home in our churches," the bishop wrote.
The bishop's statement included a message of resolve and reconciliation:
"In the face of hate, we respond with love," she wrote. "In the face of fear, we choose courage. In the face of destruction, we rebuild with hope. And yes—as followers of Jesus—we also choose to forgive. We do not excuse or diminish the harm done. But we remember that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and transforming grace.
"In the days ahead, the damage to the building will be repaired. But more importantly, Life in the City—and all of us across the Rio Texas Conference—will continue to proclaim and embody a gospel where love triumphs over hate and where every person has a place at God’s table."
Bishop Harvey signed her letter "With grace, resolve, and forgiveness."