15th Sunday after Pentecost [Pr. 16] August 24, 2008 “Series A”
Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, from the beginning you created us male and female, and through the gift of marriage, founded the basis for human community. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds to your Word, and give us courage to embrace your will for our lives, that we might embrace and uplift your gift of marriage, that the joy of the family might be renewed. This we ask in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
Several weeks ago, I received a phone call from Pastor Blair, who asked if I had read the latest issue of “Forum Letter,” published by The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, which he graciously pays for my subscription. I told him that I had not as yet received my copy, but would read it as soon as it arrived.
“Well,” he said, “Your sermon is written for August 24th. The cover article, entitled ‘Pastoral Counsel on Gay Marriage,’ needs to be preached. I even looked up the lessons for the next few weeks, and quite frankly, the second lesson for the 24th is a text on which this article is based.”
The next day, my copy of the “Forum Letter” arrived at the church. I immediately sat down at my desk and read the cover article. And I must admit that I found it to be enlightening concerning a couple of issues that face our church on the controversy over gay and lesbian rights, as interpreted by our courts. The fact that in Massachusetts and California it is now legal for persons of the same sex to “marry,” has created a new challenge for the church.
However, before I go any further, I would like to pause and say that I did not find my sermon to be “written” by this article. Although there have been times in which I have found a particular article or another pastor’s sermon or commentary to be so inspiring to me that I have followed their outline or train of thought, I still preach my own sermons. And I do cite and give credit to the author.
Furthermore, I always begin with the assigned lessons for the day, for I believe that this is my responsibility as one called to proclaim the Word of God. And I must admit that Pastor Blair was right, that our lesson from Paul’s letter to the Romans, does provide us with the guidance by which we, as Christ’s Church, are to view what becomes the acceptable norms of society.
Listen again, to the second verse of our text: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The truth is, you and I, and all who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, are citizens of the kingdom of God, as we live out our life here on earth, in whatever human society in which we find ourselves.
Thus, Paul is telling us that even though our human society might find certain behaviors and actions to be acceptable and normal, does not mean that this is how we are to live as children of God. The fact that two states have now “redefined marriage” to be any committed relationship between two persons, regardless of whether they are male or female, may be politically correct in our society, but does not mean that it must be adopted by Christ’s Church.
Yet because these two states have determined that it is legal to perform a marriage between two persons of the same sex, brings before the churches in those two states, the possibility that they may be asked to solemnize such unions. And, according to this article by Richard Johnson, the editor of “Forum Letter,” the fact that California has no residency restriction for those seeking to be married in the state, means that same sex couples can go to California to be legally married, and come back to their home states, and seek their churches blessing upon their marriage.
The truth is, I am really disturbed by the direction in which our society is headed, not only with the redefining of marriage, but with many decisions that have been reached over the past fifty years. Quite frankly, individual rights have become so emphasized lately, that I have become concerned about our communal rights, as people living in our society. It is my understanding that protecting the ethical fabric of a community is the basis for individual expression.
Nevertheless, what bothers me even more, is how the leadership of our church, and especially the bishops in the California Synods seem to acquiesce to the norms of society. According to Johnson’s article, a letter addressed to the pastors in the Sierra Pacific Synod, jointly written by the retiring bishop, David Mullen, and the newly elected bishop, Mark Holmerud, was intended to provide pastoral guidance relative to the church’s “changed context” in California.
Johnson states, “They begin with the salutary observation that the ‘sense of urgency’ brought on by the court’s decision ought not force us to neglect the ‘need to Prayerfully consider’ our responsibilities as pastors. But they then go on to admit some ‘may be clear in their desire to refrain from offering such a ceremony’ while others ‘may choose to offer such a ceremony, but are concerned about possible consequences.’ No matter – pastors are ‘assured of our support.’ In other words, the question of an ELCA pastor officiating at a same-sex marriage is firmly lodged in the realm of individual conscience.” End quote.
The truth is, several ELCA congregations in California have actually advertised that they were available and willing to perform same-sex marriages. This raises a serious question for me. Is the policy and witness of our church to be determined by individual conscience? After all, history has proven that many sins have been committed with a clear conscience.
This leads me to my second concern that was raised, by having read this article. According to Johnson, “Some bishops sought the guidance of the ELCA Secretary, David Swartling… who, to his credit, pointed out that our church officially defines marriage as ‘a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman.” He also noted that the churchwide assembly has had opportunities to change this policy and has ‘declined to do so.’
Therefore, the secretary stated that pastors and congregations ‘may be subject to discipline if they officiate at same-sex marriages, or allow them to take place in their buildings. These bishops then reminded their pastors that they were not ‘constitutionally permitted’ to solemnize a marriage between same-gendered couples.” End quote.
At least Secretary Swartling gave some pastoral counsel to the bishops in California that rose above one’s individual conscience. But again, it raises a concern for me about our church’s acquiescence to the norms of our society. To quote the ELCA constitution as the authoritative norm of guidance does little to uplift and witness to the fact that the church is the body of Christ, God’s kingdom on earth, flawed as it is.
What ever happened to the Holy Scriptures, as our church’s constitution proclaims we subscribe to as the most important, authoritative document in determining the faith of the church? It is not as if the Bible is silent on same-gendered relationships. There are numerous accounts in Scripture, which address this issue. But I don’t want to go into these various passages, which have given rise to theological debate over recent years. But what I would like to do, is to cite our own bishop’s theological observation of his study of Scripture.
Bishop Jones concluded, “As I read the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, it is in the very creation and ordination of God, that we have been created male and female, and that from the beginning, God established marriage between a man and a woman as the basis of communal life. As a result, I cannot endorse the blessing of same-sex unions, regardless of how committed they are to each other. End quote.
For my final comment, let me say that I am not “homophobic.” I have embraced as friends, persons who have been gay, lesbian, and bisexual, throughout my life. But through the power of God’s Spirit, I have come to realize that such behavior is not according to the will of God. And the Spirit has also led me to realize, that just because a person is heterosexual, does not mean that they live by the will of God. Having sexual relationship before marriage is still a sin. Adultery is still a sin. Divorce is still a sin.
As a divorced pastor, I have come to realize the grace of God, not only to forgive my past sins, but also to enable me to embrace a new life with a person who is truly committed to God’s design for marriage. And even though I still fail to do what I ought to do to support and uplift Josie as my wife, I believe that our marriage has been a blessing to both of us, as we strive to live under God’s guidance.
Yet, I must admit, that as a pastor of Christ’s church, I have not been led by God’s Spirit of grace, to embrace God’s gift of marriage encompassing persons of the same sex. And as a pastor, redeemed by the grace of God, I can not, of my own conscience, even as a redeemed sinner, go contrary to the authoritative Word of God. May God’s Spirit give us, his church, the courage to witness to his will.
Amen.
