Marvin K. White
Minister of Celebration
Glide Memorial Church
November 19, 2023
Today, I stand before you to let you know that the Bible is not God’s wrath, God’s condemnation, nor is it a statement about Homogeneity, Inequality, Exclusion, Marginalization, and Injustice. The Bible is only valuable to us as a practical theology, a public theology, a trans theology, or a peace theology if the Bible is God’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Justice statement. The Bible is a witness to the sacred narratives of our lives.
Our gathering today, yes, is underpinned by gratitude for all the privileges that we have and hold, but this celebration is also a remembrance, a testament to our shared humanity. We converge here on the day when our extended families around the world are fighting just to be. To be loved. To be safe. To be home. To be free. To be human.
On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we not only mourn the lives locally, nationally, or globally that we’ve lost, but we celebrate the lives, struggles, and triumphs of our transgender siblings. Their existence, their ontology – their very being – challenges and enriches our understanding of how divine creation is and how it works. What is Ontology? Our existence, our ontology – in its simplest form, is about understanding the essence of our being. It’s like asking, “What makes us who we are?” And in the context of our faith and the teachings of liberation theology, it’s about understanding how God has created and intended each part of God’s creation. Genesis 1:27: “So God created humankind in God’s image, in the image of God God created them; male and female God created them.” And while this verse is often interpreted through a binary frame, I think it invites us to explore a more expansive view.
The Bible is God’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Justice statement. The image of God – imago Dei – “So God created humankind in God’s image,” is bigger than any binary, Black or White, Rich or Poor, Young or Old, Blue or White Collar, Student or Teacher, Red Stated or Blue Stated, Housed or Unhoused, Urban or Rural, Liberal or Conservative, Religious or Secular, Educated or Uneducated, Married or Single, Employed or Unemployed, Healthy or Sick, Native or Immigrant, Child or Adult, Technologically Savvy or Technologically Challenged, Able-bodied or Disabled, Artistic or Analytical, Introverted or Extroverted, Public Sector or Private Sector, Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian, Traditionalist or Modernist, East Coast or West Coast, Landowner or Tenant. God is bigger than the binary.
God’s diversity extends beyond any definition, celebrating every hue of human existence. Being made in God’s image isn’t about physical appearance; it’s about the essence of who God is, reflected in us. It’s about our ability to love, create, reason, seek justice, and show mercy – these are divine qualities that we all share. In this sacred space, we ask: Who gets to “be”? Who is granted the grace of existence? By what authority are some relegated to the margins? In the heart of the Gospel, in the spirit of the Bible, God’s diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice statement, we find a radical inclusion – an invitation for all to exist freely, wholly, without fear or favor. Transgender individuals, like all of God’s children, have the divine right to “be.” Their stories and journeys are sacred texts, teaching us the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless nature of God’s love.
But who are you? Beyond the surface, beneath the layers of societal norms, who are you? In this house of God, you are a holy scripture, your tears a prayer, and your laughter a hymn. Here, we honor the ontology of existence – the sacred right to be oneself in all its complexity and beauty. To my transgender brothers, sisters, and non-binary kin, I say: You are the embodiment of God’s creative genius. Your existence is not a debate; it is a celebration of the diversity of God’s creation. You teach us that the image of God is vast, encompassing a spectrum of identities and expressions.
You are the Imago Dei and the Imago Gay. On this day of remembrance, let our gratitude for life intertwine with our resolve for justice. Let us remember those we have lost to ignorance and hate, and let their memories galvanize us toward a world where every individual can live authentically and safely. We belong to one another – not just in words, but in actions. In the way, we stand up for each other, in the way we dismantle the structures that seek to invalidate the existence of our transgender siblings. We are called to be allies, advocates, and amplifiers of voices that society tries to silence. Let our questions of existence be answered not with silence but with a resounding affirmation – that everyone gets to “be.” Everyone, regardless of gender identity or expression, is a sacred part of the divine whole.
Psalm 139:14: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.” Each person, including our transgender siblings, is a marvelous creation of God. This scripture calls us to celebrate God’s creation’s incredible complexity and diversity. And here’s the thing: we are confronted with a world where the existence and rights of transgender individuals are often questioned and denied. The challenge before us is not only to affirm and validate their existence but to actively participate in dismantling structures that perpetuate discrimination and violence against them. Our faith does not call us not to passive acceptance but to active love and justice. Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In Christ, we find unity that transcends all earthly labels and divisions, affirming the equality and value of every individual.
And if the Bible is a diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice statement, and we are made in the image of God, then we are the Imago Dei and the Imago Gay: In us resonates the joy and authenticity of God’s spirit, reflecting the divine in same-gender love and the freedom of authentic self-expression. The Imago He: In us echoes God’s masculine essence, a resonance of assertive wisdom and enduring strength. The Imago Him: We mirror God’s masculine spirit, speaking in nurturing gentleness and compassionate steadfastness. The Imago She: Through us flows the divine feminine, a wellspring of grace, intuitive love, and nurturing warmth. The Imago Her: In our being resonates the feminine spirit of God, whispering secrets of deep knowing and mysterious strength. The Imago They: We embody the non-binary nature of God, a tapestry woven with threads of fluidity, inclusivity, and boundless love. The Imago Them: In our collective spirit, we reflect God’s communal essence, transcending singular identities to embrace a multiplicity of divine expressions. The Imago Ze: We carry the essence of a non-binary, genderqueer divine, symbolizing an innovative and transcendent presence beyond traditional norms.
The Essence of Being in God’s Creation, our ontology, The Uniqueness of our Being, The Purpose of our Being, and The Interconnectedness of All Creation means that Ontology isn’t just about individual essence; it’s also about how these essences are interconnected. In a world that God envisioned, no one exists in isolation. Our lives, our struggles, and our joys are interconnected. The liberation of one is tied to the liberation of all. I found God’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice Statement: I, the Eternal Co-Creator, affirm My unwavering commitment to all creation. My divine essence is mirrored in the boundless variety of humanity, with each person being a unique reflection of My image, integral to My creation. I cherish every soul, every story, every identity, having fashioned humans in a spectrum of colors, cultures, genders, and experiences, deliberately expressing My love and creativity. This diversity is a testament to the rich imagination through which My image is fully realized. As the Architect of all existence, I call upon My children to build a world reflecting the kindom of Heaven, where all transcend earthly divisions and are united as one. My teachings, exemplified in Christ, guide us to create a world where every voice is heard and every life is valued. The charge for a world that reflects My love includes:
- Educating and understanding the splendid variety within My creation, advocating, and acting as beacons of justice and equity.
- Embracing and celebrating through creating sanctuaries of unconditional acceptance.
- Praying and supporting each other in our shared journey of faith and love.
This diversity is not just a facet of your world but a testament to My immeasurable creativity. It is a divine challenge to Educate and Understand by seeking wisdom and insight into the splendid variety within My creation. It is a sacred challenge to Advocate and Act: Stand as beacons of justice and equity. It is a divine challenge to Embrace and Celebrate: Create sanctuaries of unconditional acceptance. It is a sacred challenge to Pray and Support:
- Keep each of My children in your prayers.
- In the chorus of diverse voices, experiences, and identities, find the fullness of My love.
- Embrace this diversity, strive for equity and justice, and walk together in the light of My inclusive love.
I am with you in this journey, guiding, loving, and rejoicing in the magnificent diversity of My creation as we build together a world that reflects the depth and breadth of My love. As we reflect on the message of gratitude and remembrance, let us be grateful for the beautiful diversity of God’s creation. Let us remember those in the transgender community who have been lost to hate and ignorance. And let us extend through trans people to those around the world who have been lost to hate and ignorance. In their memory, let us renew our commitment to a world where everyone is free to be who they are, a world that reflects our Creator’s boundless love and creativity. Can we do that? Can we do that? Amen.