Who is going next?

For many who travel in church circles, it was Maryann Budde who went first.

The Episcopal Bishop of Washington, the Right Reverend Budde took her place in the pulpit of the National Cathedral.

It was January 21, one day after Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States. Again.

The Cathedral scheduled an interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation. Bishop Budde would preach.

According to online promotion, the service was to “gather with our interfaith and ecumenical partners to offer prayers of thanksgiving for our democracy and to seek God’s guidance in the years ahead.”

Moving into the climax of the sermon, Bishop Budde directed her remarks to President Trump.

In a calm, collected, clear, and kind voice, the bishop asked him to show mercy on those in targeted groups now living in fear because of his threats.

Trump later dismissed the sermon as “not very good.” 

He said more, of course, but suffice it to say, his reaction was negative. No real surprise. He also requested that the bishop apologize for what she said to him. Here is how she addressed the request for apology during an interview with PBS radio:

“I don’t feel there is a need to apologize for a request for mercy. And I don’t feel that there is a need to apologize to speak to the unity of this country that includes people that were not at all referenced in the unity that he spoke of the day before in his inaugural address. So, no, I don’t feel the need to apologize. I regret that I never – you know, I regret that it is – I don’t know. What do I regret? I regret that it was something that has caused the kind of response that it has, in the sense that it actually confirmed the very thing that I was speaking of earlier, which is our tendency to jump to outrage and not speak to one another with respect. But, no, I won’t apologize.”

Watch the full sermon here.

What I believe demands attention is the courage it took to stand in the pulpit, look the president in the eye , and ask for change. It was brave. And it’s important to us all to be courageous at the right moments in life. Any one of us may be called upon to be brave in the future. When it’s my turn I pray that I can be as poised and clear, yet gentle, as was Bishop Budde.

Perhaps Bishop Budde’s views on the nature of bravery could inspire us.

For that, I commend her book, How We Learn To Be Brave. You can purchase the audio version on Audible, or order the book from your favorite source. I do understand it is in high demand, and many bookstores have it on back order. 

I also include a Reel from Facebook demonstrating the importance of standing up to injustice. Click here to watch on Facebook.