St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church has long stood as a quiet beacon of inclusion in this growing city just south of Seattle. Designated as the first official “Safe Space” in Burien, the church has taken a public stand for welcome and dignity, flying the Pride flag alongside the American and Episcopal flags—even in the face of repeated vandalism.
The Rev. John Forman, rector of St. Elizabeth’s for more than 12 years, recalls that the church’s Safe Space designation emerged after a conversation with a friend in the King County Sheriff’s Office. Burien had no Safe Space program at the time, so the church coordinated with local law enforcement and Seattle Police to receive training. “We were the first ones up,” Forman said. The designation was meant to signal that anyone in danger from harassment—particularly LGBTQ+ individuals—could find immediate safety and support at the church.
For the Rev. Forman and the St. Elizabeth’s congregation, the Safe Space program is deeply aligned with the church’s mission. “Every person is welcome, but not all behaviors are,” he explained. “Our signal is simple: if you’re a human being, you’re welcome here. You don’t get to hurt other people.” The Pride flag became a natural and visible extension of that commitment.
The decision to raise the rainbow flag was made informally, with the Rev. Forman simply adding it to the church’s tall flagpole. Parishioners quickly understood its meaning: a public affirmation that all are welcome. While some conservative visitors had questions, they stayed part of the congregation, and others were drawn in because of the church’s stance. One couple told Forman the flag made them feel like they had found a spiritual home.
But this public witness has not come without a cost. For years, vandals have targeted St. Elizabeth’s flags—cutting ropes, stealing banners, and spray-painting anti-LGBTQ graffiti. “It’s vandalism,” the Rev. Forman said, “but we see it as an opportunity to practice resilience and love.” In one early incident, neighbors who didn’t attend the church came with brushes and soap to scrub hateful graffiti from its walls. “This is unacceptable,” they said, embodying a kind of community solidarity that transcended church walls.
The congregation has become known for its determination to keep flying the flags. When vandals cut down all three flags in 2025, including the American flag, a neighbor offered the honor flag of her late father, Alfred “Chuck” Titus, Jr., a World War II Navy veteran. With the help of a local electrician and a cherry picker, the church restrung the flagpole and raised the American, Episcopal, and Pride flags once again. “We are grateful for the opportunity to express our respect for those who’ve sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy,” the Rev. Forman said, “and to signal that all are welcome here—even if all behaviors are not.”
Despite repeated vandalism, St. Elizabeth’s continues to fly the Pride flag as a symbol of love, safety, and community. For the Rev. Forman, the vandalism only strengthens the church’s resolve. “You’re not harmed by this flag,” he said. “It is a sign that we will try to love one another. Even those who cut the flags down are welcome here. If you want to understand what it means to respect the dignity of every human being, come to church and see.”
As Burien grows and wrestles with its cultural divides, St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church remains a steadfast witness: resilient, welcoming, and unafraid to let its flag fly high.
