Dear Friends of Harvard-Epworth,

On Tuesday night of this week, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC, gave a sermon at the National Cathedral’s Inaugural Prayer Service. President Trump and Vice President Vance, along with their wives, were in the front row. And Bishop Budde literally spoke truth to power.

Looking directly at the president, she spoke of three pillars of unity: recognizing the dignity of all persons, being honest about the truth, and having humility. Then, at the end of her sermon, she laid out a fourth pillar: mercy. Speaking with conviction and with compassion, she asked President Trump to “to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” She lifted up the fears of the LGBTQ community and immigrants in this country. Again, she asked the president to have mercy.

Many people have written and spoken eloquently about the power and courage of Bishop Budde’s sermon (you can hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwwaEuDeqM8). She was steady and principled her conviction: the Jesus we meet in the scriptures is about mercy, kindness, love. Especially for the outcast and the stranger.

What resonated with me in Bishop Budde’s sermon was not just what she preached, but how she preached. She followed a principle I learned from my mentor, Rev. John Winn, from whom I learned the basic skills of congregational leadership: when making a statement or enforcing a policy, “be tough on issues and gentle on people.” Be crystal-clear about the principles — in this case, dignity and honesty and humility and mercy — that you call people to follow. And even when someone does not do so, you still treat them with respect. You critique the behavior, but you don’t demonize the person.

Bishop Budde’s sermon was a shining example of “being tough on issues and gentle on people.” She challenged the president’s rhetoric and actions, laying out a clear alternative based in Jesus’ teachings. She was rock-solid and bold in her call for mercy and compassion. She made her plea for mercy with dignity and respect. Today, even as the president and others have attacked her publicly and personally, she has refused to demonize anyone. She has stayed true to her principle that all are created of God, all have inherent worth. She continues to seek respectful dialogue.

In the coming days there will be many political decisions made and statements offered that may offend us and frighten us. We will be tempted to respond with invective and to demonize those with whom we disagree. Bishop Budde offers a better way, a more faithful way: be clear about our principles — love, respect, the dignity of all, care for the poor and disadvantaged — as Jesus was. And also be clear that no one is outside of God’s mercy. No one loses their humanity no matter what they’ve said or done. We are called to stand together, a block of people faithful to the call to robust love that always seeks the good for everyone involved. Then, as Isaiah writes, God promises:

For as rain and snow fall from the heavens,
and return not again, but water the earth,
Bringing forth life and giving growth,
seed for sowing and bread for eating,
So is my word that goes forth from my mouth,
it will not return to me empty,
But it will accomplish that for which I have purposed,
and prosper in that for which I sent it.

Pastor Barb