September 7 2008
Pr. Robert Goldstein
Except to Love

"Owe no one anything, except to love one another." These great words in our second reading this morning come from the pen and heart of St. Paul. These words are the cream of the baptismal life of Christian faith, the height of humble service, the heart of simplicity, and the light of the beacon of our striving for justice.

On the surface I come arrayed this morning to fulfill a good-humored dare made at a church event that if $1000 were raised for the work of this church, I would appear at church as Katy Luther, the wife of Martin Luther. Katharine von Bora was not ordained but was an extraordinary leader of women in the reforms championed with her husband, Martin. Do not let my raiment detract from her greatness. But In depth, I also come in love, that my witness might enlarge the community's web of love and respect for transgendered and cross-dressing persons -that my rather maudlin makeup and presence would nevertheless honor those often forgotten and oppressed communities.

My witness occurs on the momentous occasion of theAugust 17 resolution of the American Psychological Association supporting full equality for transgender and gender-variant persons by the medical profession and full legal and social recognition in society. While this comes 35 years after the Association removed homosexuality from their lists on mental illness, it has arrived now and we welcome it. "Owe no one anything, except to love one another." St. Francis, as usual, has led the way. Far more stylishly attired, far more elegantly coiffured, far more cosmetically painted persons have adorned this nave and knelt at its communion rail. Dale Johnson, Jim Remer and Greg Egertson, to name a few of our buxom beauties. I am but a faded, worn out has-been of that former gilded age in St. Francis' life. I look like Jane Crawford who's had far too many.

So, you see, St. Francis has been welcoming of cross-dressing and transgendered persons for a generation. St. Francis has lived out St Paul's great vision to "owe no one anything, except to love one another." The Holy Spirit impelled us to enlarge the circle of love, which fired up a beacon of light for justice in the world. It burns brightly -because there is darkness all around.

Now we all need to follow this beacon's light to new realms. We are on the verge of voting on Proposition 8 in 58 days -a venture from the Prince of darkness and sisters and brothers of our human family whose faith is often built on fear, fundamentalism and dogmatism. We must rally ourselves, and all who we know, to meet the darkness with the light of baptism's freedom, liberty and love in Christ. To "owe no one anything, except to love one another." We need to welcome and encourage the 20% of the California population who are undecided. We need to appeal to their sense of fairness, compassion, good will and dislike of government imposition in the lives of people. But you and I cannot stand idly by. Much is at stake for transgendered, bisexual, gay and lesbian persons, indeed for all persons, for justice denied to some is an injustice on the whole community.

How can you help? Well I know of four ways. No five. First you can pray for justice, for prayer is much more powerful than people often think. Prayer stirs deeply. Second, you can volunteer with the No on 8 Campaign whose headquarters are on Market Street at the former Tower Records site. Please the issue is serious. Third you can give money to the campaign. The Prince of darkness has deep pockets. Fourth, you can be part of St. Francis' new venture: Dialog Dinners.

We are now contacting Lutheran congregations beyond San Francisco to invite a few of their members to dinner at a restaurant in their neighborhood. There would be no pastors. Three or four of our members would dine with them and all would share their stories. In this dialog over breaking bread, trust and respect for one another should develop, and through these relationships six or eight persons would come to "owe one another nothing, except to love each other." And I think we could say this growing relationship would engender a disposition to vote no on 8.

Fifth, in a quite different approach, we are offering a study group here for the next six Thursdays to evaluate the national church's recent and pathetic statement on sexuality. What is exciting is that we are going to prepare a response -to shine that beacon of light into the hallways and hearts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. So, if this is your gift, use your energy and love to participate in that.

Dear transgendered and cross-dressing persons, I hope I have not offended you or been insensitive to your feelings and deeply held self-understanding. I pray, that this church will continue to grow in its love for you and for everyone who feels excluded from the City of God in the cities of humankind. God bless you all and "owe no one anything, except to love one another." Amen