By: Reverend Dr. Robert M. Spooney
A lot of people have been commenting on the sermon made by The Rt. Reverend Marianne Budde preached at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday January 21, 2025. Several local Evangelical pastors stated publicly that she was out of order. I watched the sermon and I read the transcript. She was doing what preachers ought to do! The sermon preached by Bishop Budde was a great sermon of unity. Her definition for unity was biblical and theologically correct since unity is one of the foundation of our faith which actually calls for us to care for one another. She posed the question, “is true unity possible among us based on the culture of contempt that resonates in this country?”
Was the question spiritually motivated or politically motivated? I say it was spiritually motivated because Bishop Budde listed three spiritual foundations needed for unity. Her first point was that in order for unity to become a reality we needed to honor the dignity of others, which included refusing to mock others. Her second point was the need for honesty in private and public discourse — in other words speaking the truth. The final point was the need for humility, understanding that no one is absolutely right at all times. She closed the sermon by asking and encouraging the President, who had boldly declared on Monday that he had experienced the providential and loving hand of God doing his assassination attempt, to extend mercy to the people of our country who are afraid.
Now, I hope we did not miss the synchronicity of this service and sermon and situation. In other words this was a moment which may require searching the scriptures to determine if there is a message from God to us as a nation. What I see is two separate lines of cause and effect interacting. I personally I am grateful that she preached what she did when she did and where she did. We need more brave Soldiers to appeal to our leaders to show mercy toward the vulnerable. That’s not partisan politics, that’s not being left or right, that’s just being a good witness for God. We need more true servant leaders who are not afraid to speak truth to power.
