On Bishop Budde and Politics in the Church
"The words that Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Budde spoke were few. They weren’t shouted. They weren’t demanding. They consisted of insights and a request that might be heard anywhere at any time in a house of worship.
"Because those words were spoken directly to the newly, second-time elected president of the United States during a widely covered prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, they are likely to be remembered long after this administration has gone the way of the next election."
The statement above is from an editorial by the National Catholic Reporter referencing the sermon that the Right Rev. Mariann Budde gave at President Trump's recent Inauguration Prayer Service at the Episcopal Church's National Cathedral. They echo the support for Bishop Budde and her message given by our fellow Christian leaders in the Methodist (UMC), Congregational (UCC), Lutheran (ELCA), Presbyterian (PCUSA), and United Church of Canada traditions. What are these words that have received such a reaction? Bishop Budde concluded her sermon on unity through dignity, honesty, and humility by addressing the person of honor directly (as typical of sermons at ordinations, weddings, funerals, etc) and saying:
"Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God.
"In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. And the people, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They, they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, wadara and temples.
"I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands, to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger for we were all once strangers in this land.
"May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. The good of all people in this nation and the world."
Following our own Bishop Brown's endorsement of these words calling for mercy and echoing our Baptismal vows, I have heard from a few parishioners concerned about the Church being involved with politics. My first response is to say that I am also opposed to any Church being involved in partisan politics; that is, in advocating for any particular party or leader. However, my second response is to point out that leaders of God's People have a long history of "speaking truth to power" and that it is our responsibility to use our pulpits to do so when appropriate.
Our Scriptures are full of religious instructions on political matters such as loving and providing food and housing to foreigners in the land, and caring for those who are persecuted and/or unable to work. They also testify to the prophets who publicly condemned the leaders who failed to follow these principles.
Our Faith celebrates the saints who used their religious position to advocate for the poor and oppressed, or called out the powerful for injustice. From John the Baptist to Thomas á Becket, John Wesley to William Wilberforce, and Martin Luther King Jr to Desmond Tutu, preachers have used their "bully pulpits" to confront politicians and political systems in the name of justice and love. Even Jesus our Savior was nearly thrown off a cliff by parishioners who were offended by his first sermon (see last Sunday's reading), and finally was crucified by the Roman Empire as a political revolutionary as they felt their power called to task and threatened by his words and ministry of love.
The only question that remains, then, is "is there reason for the Bishop to confront the President?" Those denominations listed above have all issued statements of concern about the new Administration's rhetoric, policies, and actions that endanger the vulnerable (see Catholic Bishops, Lutherans, and Methodists). We are seeing refugees abandoned, peaceful immigrant families threatened, and minorities demonized. Our new Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies have issued a statement calling our political leaders to hear the words of Scripture and care for the strangers in our midst.
I am proud to be part of a Church that at our best takes the Christian calling for justice seriously without respect for partisan divisions. We should continue calling out harm and injustice regardless of party or leader, as we did under previous administrations as well.
If you have further questions or concerns about this, I would be glad to sit and talk with you any time.
In love and justice,
The Rev. John Elliott Lein, Rector
