As I mentioned a while ago in a sermon, one of the things that struck me the first time I came to the Cathedral some 35 years ago was seeing a gay couple in the pews a couple of rows ahead of me, sitting next to an older woman, with her grandson sitting next to her. To me this represented what the kingdom of God should be about. Not just that people were “included” but that people from various walks of life, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, and all manner of different perspectives could be together in community.
It is an important charism of the Cathedral that the people who come through its doors feel a part of its community life, and in particular, people from the LGBTQ+ community. A value championed by its first Dean, the Very Rev. James Carroll and all the deans since.
2015, relatively early on in her time at St. Paul’s, Dean Penny, saw that the Mr. A’s building on 5th Avenue was lit up in Pride colors and an idea was born. Why not have the Cathedral similarly lit during Pride? Through the generosity of a parishioner, the lights that now surround the Cathedral during Pride were installed showing that the Cathedral was indeed an inclusive and safe place for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
From there a special service was held during Pride and once again, another idea was born. Susan Jester suggested that in order to have a bigger impact perhaps an interfaith service could be held and Dean Penny encouraged Susan to proceed, which she did, and the Light Up the Cathedral with Pride service we now have is in no small part due to her efforts, along with Bob Leyh, Martin Hall and many, many others.
In the years since the Light Up the Cathedral with Pride service, held on the Wednesday of Pride week in San Diego, has become the largest service held at the Cathedral each year. In partnership with San Diego Pride, the service is the first official event for Pride and brings in clergy from multiple faith tradition (and humanist traditions as well), and is in fact the only such partnership between local Pride organizers and a religious organization.
This Year Light Up the Cathedral for Pride will be Wednesday, July 15, starting with a short concert, readings and prayers given by religious and humanist leaders, keynote speaker Brother Yusef Miller, and the Light of Pride award presented to the Santee United Methodist Church. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook will give the opening and closing blessings.
The prayers, music and presentation of the Light of Pride award, and presence of so many people makes this service a very special spiritual experience in which God, however understood, is felt and expressed.
