
The furor that has followed Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s call for President Trump to act with mercy, offered at the national prayer service following the inauguration, raises questions about the integrity of religion and democracy in our country.
The job of a religious leader is not to tell those in the pews – whether the usual parishioners or their country’s leaders – what they want to hear. Rather, the job requires clergy to speak the truth of their tradition as they understand it.
This tenet of religious leadership may seem confusing to anyone who watched the inauguration, when a handful of religious leaders offered prayers for the new president. Those individuals, selected by the incoming president’s team, each heaped praise upon him, along with their more legitimate expressions of hopes for the country and for future presidential policies.
Bishop Budde understood her role more in keeping with the biblical prophet Nathan, who had the audacity to challenge King David. The Book of Samuel recounts Nathan telling King David – with firm eloquence that reflected his position as a servant of the Holy One – that he was unworthy of building the Temple the King so deeply desired. As Nathan explained, King David’s sexual immorality in taking a mistress named Batsheva and having her husband killed in battle precluded his construction of such a holy place. Undoubtedly, King David did not want to hear Nathan’s words as he spoke truth to power.
In the New Testament, we read three times the famous lines “render unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” One might conclude that this is the Christian Bible’s way of saying to both pastors and presidents, “stay in your lane.” There are more than a few people this week who are calling out Bishop Budde for her supposed foray into politics. But in my world, while you can disagree with Bishop Budde, it feels illegitimate to say that she did anything but fulfill her faithful mandate to speak words of holiness.
Bishop Budde’s homily invoked countless biblical verses when she pleaded before the President that he show mercy for the most vulnerable in our midst, including LGBTQ people and immigrants. Indeed, the Hebrew Bible alone repeats dozens of times the obligation to protect the widow, the orphan, and the stranger – emblems of the most at-risk community members in biblical times and beyond. The Hebrew word “Ger” is translated as both “migrant” and “stranger.” While in many cases there are multiple authentic readings of scripture, the import here is unambiguous: protecting those most at risk is a religious obligation.
Now, in the wake of Bishop Budde’s humble entreaty to show mercy, she is experiencing verbal attacks, including from President Trump, and threats of physical violence. Demonizing dissent may be a chapter in President Trump’s leadership bible but is definitely not found in the actual Bible. Her – and our – religious integrity is on the line. She may be today’s target, but all clergy and houses of worship are at heightened risk not only for violence but also for a diminishment of the integrity of our sacred calling.
This weekend many, if not most, religious leaders across our country will feel obligated to weigh in on the words shared this week between a pastor and a president. Some, fearing for their safety and employment, will steer clear of these explosive issues. Others will find authentic ways to speak the truth. And to be clear: the example set by Nathan was not in his willingness to forcefully challenge a leader he did not support, but rather his willingness to call out the behaviors and policies that violated the core commitments of one’s faith.
I pray for Bishop Budde and for President Trump, for all of my colleagues in the clergy, and for this noble democracy that is being shaken to its core.
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