The Standard February 1, 2025
On January 21 an interfaith service, part of inauguration events since 1933, was held at the Episcopal Church’s Washington National Cathedral. The Service of Prayer for the Nation included Mormon, Buddhist, Muslim, Native American, Jewish, Mainline Christian and other leaders.
DC’s Episcopal Bishop, the Right Reverend Mariann Budde, delivered her sermon in a calming, melodious manner. “As a country we have gathered this morning to pray for unity as a people and a nation. Not for agreement, political or otherwise, but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division, a unity that serves the common good.” She spoke of unity not being partisan.
“Rather, unity is a way of being with one another. It encompasses and respects the differences that teach us to hold multiple perspectives and life experiences as valid and worthy of respect, that enables us in our communities and in the halls of power to genuinely care for one another even when we disagree.”
In her mind, the three foundations of unity are: honoring the inherent dignity of every human being, being honest, and being humble.
She spoke of “refusing to demonize those with whom we differ, choosing instead to respectfully debate our differences and whenever possible to seek common ground. And if common ground is not possible, dignity demands that we remain true to our convictions without contempt for those who hold convictions of their own.” These timely words came across as thoughtful and heartfelt.
Ater hearing of the Executive Orders enacted by President Trump on January 20, Budde decided to add a new ending to her sermon by speaking directly to him. “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.” She went on to describe many of the jobs that immigrants here, some without legal documentation, perform, and to urge the President to welcome those facing war or persecution in their own lands.
This was the point which some Christians considered an unfortunate use of politics from the pulpit. As Budde said afterwards, she felt compelled to address policies enacted by Trump. From her previous words, I must assume she would have respected a Roman Catholic priest or an Evangelical minister pleading with President Biden in this service four years ago to honor the inherent dignity of babies in the womb, to empathize with the fear of sexual assault survivors being forced to share a locker room with biological men, and to consider the trepidation of some NCAA women competing on the court or field with biological men who went through male puberty.
Budde and I, after studying for years the original intent and context of the Old and New Testament authors, draw many opposing conclusions. I do not doubt her sincerity and good intentions, just as she would not doubt mine. The bottom line is that our views of God’s design for salvation and for human flourishing probably could not be more different. Likely, both of us are equally mystified by the other’s reading of Scripture.
Budde commented about “drawing from our sacred traditions and texts, as all the faiths represented here affirm, the birthright of all people as children of our one God.” Certainly, I agree that the different religious people participating in the gathering would affirm the inherent dignity and value of every human being. Since, for example, Buddhism teaches there is no creator or supreme god, but various supernatural figures or divine beings, and Islam teaches there is no God but Allah, I could not state that the faith leaders in the service and all those in attendance shared “our one God.” Surely, the Service of Prayer for the Nation included many who would not proclaim the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – or that Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to earth to die for our sins, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
It is crucial to listen intently and analytically before we speak respectfully of what we believe God has revealed to us in Scripture. I think Budde would agree that those in low positions as well as those in high ones should practice boldly yet honorably the things God compels us to do. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
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