H.Res. 59

The Right Reverend Mariann Budde

On January 21, 2025, at the National Day of Prayer at the National Cathedral, the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, in her church, in her pulpit, preached a sermon that set off a firestorm and resulted in House Resolution 59 being written and prepared. I would encourage you to google H. Res. 59 to see the whole resolution and I am not sure what the status of it is now.

I will share here just the end of the resolution:

Resolved, That -

(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the sermon given at the National Day of Prayer Service on January 21st, 2025 at the National Cathedral was a display of political activism; and

(2) the House of Representatives condemns the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde’s distorted message.

Earlier in the resolution Bishop Budde is taken to task for not advocating the full counsel of biblical teaching.

Well, what could she have possibly said that set off such condemnation?

Perhaps you have seen the clips of the President and Vice-President sitting there and Bishop Budde asking the leadership of this country to show mercy and grace to those who were now fearful, some for their lives.

First, I spent some time trying to remember my high school government and civics class and did some research into what a resolution is. A resolution is different from a bill. It will not be presented to the President to be signed or carry any real action. Basically, it is these members of the House of Representatives saying – this preacher was out of line and mean to you, Mr. President, echoing statements the President made after the service.

Second, some thoughts on the National Day of Prayer.

(1) Yes, the National Day of Prayer does include praying for elected leaders, but it is also a prayer for the soul of the country that we might all truly do our very best to be the shining light we so often proclaim. The service happens every year, not just after an inauguration.

(2) It is an interfaith service and at least seven different faith traditions were present and heard a plea for unity.

(3) I would suggest she preached some of the most important parts of the gospel. I’m not sure what the ‘full counsel of the Bible’ means. Maybe the sponsors have never read the First Testament and don’t know about the numerous times the people of God are reminded to care for the widow, orphan and alien in their land.

So why is this important to preachers and churches?

Why should it make some of us nervous?

Here are some members of the House of Representatives critiquing what a preacher said at an interfaith National Day of Prayer in her church, from her pulpit. I am sure, as one who preaches, that Bishop Budde did not say those words lightly. What gets really concerning is when the government feels it has the authority to publicly take a preacher to task for a sermon. A group of representatives decided her message was distorted because it didn’t fit their political view. They accused the bishop of being political.

One could say they brought their politics to the gospel.

It is our ministry to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. It sounds like someone was made uncomfortable. It is our mission and - mandate – to care for the least of these. Read Matthew 25 if you wonder what that looks like.

We can agree or disagree about the state of the nation. We can even be on different sides of the political aisle on various issues. But what happens when the government tries to silence voices? What happens when government officials decide they disagree with certain churches and certain preachers? When that door opens, every church – every church, whether you are conservative, liberal, progressive, evangelical – whatever name you claim needs to be concerned. Open that door and suddenly the long-held foundation of the separation of church and state is shaken.

The work of the prophet is to speak truth to power.

The full counsel of biblical teaching is filled with prophets sent by God to speak truth to power. Bishop Budde looked and saw the powerful in the front pews and spoke a biblical truth, have mercy, practice justice, walk humbly with your God … and then was accused of the sin of empathy.

Thank you, Bishop Budde. I stand with you!

Peace,

Dave