Bishop’s plea for mercy is common message in the church
The attempts to silence Bishop Budde are consistent with ongoing efforts to intimidate four-star generals, accusing civil servants of partisanship, even after they worked under both parties and targeting former staff who refuse to demonstrate the requisite loyalty to President Trump.
By Rev. Dr. Michael J. Goodwin
When I heard the shocked and appalled pearl-clutching following Bishop Mariann Budde’s post-inauguration sermon, I wondered what could’ve provoked such strong reactions from the President, Vice President, and other pastors who participated in the inauguration.
Listening to the sermon, I was surprised at how ordinary it was. I could even agree with President Trump that it was boring. However, that doesn’t make it less truthful. One only needs to flip through a Bible to find calls for unity, concern for widows, orphans, and immigrants, and examples of pleas to those in power to show mercy. Go to any mainline church, and you will likely find a similar message. So why a need to attack the Bishop as partisan and divisive when she is clearly faithful and biblical?
The attempts to silence Bishop Budde are consistent with ongoing efforts to intimidate four-star generals, accusing civil servants of partisanship, even after they worked under both parties and targeting former staff who refuse to demonstrate the requisite loyalty to President Trump.
As a preacher, I can tell you it’s one thing to call a sermon boring; that happens. However, this will never happen: those of us, like the Bishop, prioritizing the gospel over falling into line, will never bow down to bullies who demand silence when they can’t dominate with fear. 'Jesus is Lord' is a political statement meaning nothing and no one else will have our ultimate allegiance. Pleas for mercy from those in power are both patriotic and faithful.
