City, ATF probing church fire
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A fire that heavily damaged a portion of the First Christian Church yesterday in Makiki is being investigated by Honolulu fire officials as well as federal investigators.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The church's openly gay pastor, who says it appears the fire was deliberately set, recently challenged the city-sponsored Family Day event.
The First Christian Church on Kewalo Street was heavily damaged yesterday in what fire officials believe may be an arson attack related to the pastor's views.
Fire officials have said the early-morning fire appeared to be of suspicious origin The fire was reported at 4:39 a.m. and confined to the bottom-floor fellowship hall of the church at 1516 Kewalo St. It caused an estimated $150,000 in damage.
A spokesman with the FBI in Honolulu said the agency had been "alerted," but would not say whether it was investigating.
Tracy Elder, resident agent in charge with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the agency is involved in the investigation, which is in the early stages. Elder said the ATF investigates many fires, and its involvement does not mean federal charges will be pursued.
He said ATF would await the results of the Honolulu Fire Department's laboratory tests before deciding what to do.
The church's pastor, the Rev. Vaughn Beckman, continues to pursue legal actions against the city of Honolulu as one of several people who filed a lawsuit in state Circuit Court, saying the July 5 Family Day at Kapi'olani Park was essentially a Christian religious service paid for with taxpayers' money.
The dispute arose when gay and lesbian groups were not allowed to march in a Family Day parade sponsored by the Hawai'i Christian Coalition.
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Beckman said he could not believe the fire was a hate crime at first. "But after talking to the people I've talked to today (the authorities) ... they know this was arson and they feel that there's a real strong indication that this was a hate crime."
"I think it would be very improper for me to back down," the Rev. Vaughn Beckman said.
He said he had not received any threats because of his views. He acknowledges being a controversial figure because he welcomes gays to his Protestant church. "There might be people that disagree with my views and my ideas, but I don't consider that to be justification for burning a church," he said.
Beckman said the church has about 75 members and likely will not be able to conduct services at the church Sunday. He said an alternate site was being sought.
Beckman said he would continue to speak out for justice and equality for all.
"I think it would be very improper for me to back down," he said. "I do think that the person who caused this is the one who is to be blamed, not that my speaking for injustice should make me be the one who is to be the cause of this."
Mitch Arnold, who lives next to the church, said loud voices woke him up before 4:30 yesterday morning. He then heard a "loud boom" and saw an orange glow in the fellowship hall, he said.
But Arnold wasn't sure whether the voices were coming from the church, and did not see anyone there.
"There was more than one voice that I heard. But I couldn't make out what they were saying because that's what woke me up," he said.
