A Mighty Girl's 2025 Profile in Courage: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde embraced the honored tradition of speaking truth to power during the inaugural prayer service at Washington National Cathedral in January, when she directly addressed President Trump with a plea for mercy toward LGBTQ people and immigrant families -- enduring a torrent of attacks, vitriol, and even calls for her deportation for defending the most vulnerable. Her response when asked if she would apologize? "I am not going to apologize for asking for mercy for others."
After more than 13 years leading the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Bishop Budde directly addressed the newly inaugurated president with words that millions of Americans had longed to hear: "Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. 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 continued, defending immigrants whose lives were about to be upended by mass deportation orders: "The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals -- they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras, and temples."
The sermon came just hours after Trump had signed a flurry of executive orders, including one halting refugee admissions and escalating deportation efforts. When asked later what moved her to speak so directly, Budde explained that she was driven by "the level of license to be really quite cruel" that some people now feel, and by "the fear that I have seen and experienced among our people — people that I know and love, both within the immigrant community and within the LGBTQ community, and how terrified so many are."
"I was trying to say, 'The country has been entrusted to you,'" she reflected. "And one of the qualities of a leader is mercy, right? Mercy. And to be mindful of the people who are scared."
The backlash was swift and severe. In the early hours of the following morning, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to attack Budde as "a Radical Left hard line Trump hater" and stating that she "was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart." He then demanded an apology. His supporters went on to rabidly attack Budde online and in interviews with one Republican Representative, Mike Collins of Georgia, calling for the New Jersey native to "be added to the deportation list.”
Budde, who asserted that she will "not apologize for asking for mercy for others," said that she was not surprised by the vitriolic reaction, although, she reflected, "people have said they do wish me dead, and that’s a little heartbreaking.” She believes that this extreme reaction to what she described as "a pretty mild sermon" is part of the "culture of contempt in which we live that immediately rushes to the worst possible interpretations of what people are saying."
"I think it's all of us, you know," she observed. "I think it's not about me. It's about the kind of country we are called to be. And that's what I did my best to try and speak to, to present an alternative to the culture of contempt, and to say that we can bring multiple perspectives into a common space and do so with dignity and respect. And that we need that, and the culture of contempt is threatening to destroy us. And I'm getting a little bit of a taste of that this week."
In a later interview, Budde spoke to the forces fueling such division: "There are forces that benefit from keeping us outraged at each other and demonizing each other, and that's very very powerful right now. I'm not saying I don't have strong feelings. My heart is broken and I'm doing my best to pastor people whose lives are in great vulnerability and uncertainty."
Support for Budde following her inaugural sermon was overwhelming. Religious leaders from across the country and around the world voiced their support, with Irish Catholic leaders calling her sermon "courageous" and theologians describing it as "a clear depiction of moral leadership and moral clarity." When the House of Representatives introduced H. Res. 59 condemning her sermon as "political activism," the United Church of Christ responded: "The voice of faith leaders must be heard in the public square calling truth to power in all times. We commend the courage and wisdom of Bishop Budde."
In the months since her inaugural sermon, Bishop Budde has channeled the national attention into a broader mission of teaching others how to find their own courage. Her 2023 book, "How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith," became a New York Times bestseller following her sermon -- and has been reissued with the full text of her inauguration prayer service address, as well as being released recently in a new young readers edition.
In the book, she explores what she calls "decisive moments" -- those pivot points when we're called on to push past our fears and act with strength. In it, she weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture to show that bravery is not a singular occurrence but a journey we can choose to undertake every day.
"We all have the capacity to live within a narrative of great adventure, no matter our life circumstances," Budde writes. "The courage to be brave when it matters most requires a lifetime of small decisions that set us on a path of self-awareness, attentiveness, and a willingness to risk failure for what we believe is right."
After the overwhelming support following her inaugural sermon, Budde also launched "Be Brave Together," a free community workshop designed to foster compassionate courage and connection. "This is not a political or religious workshop, but a human workshop," the initiative explains. In a time when fear and division dominate many narratives, the program seeks to shift the conversation towards unity, compassion, and collective strength.
The three-hour online workshops guide participants through reflection and small-group conversation, helping them identify defining moments where bravery plays a role, recognize barriers to courageous action, and integrate bravery into daily life. "Bravery is not a solitary act," Budde says. "It is something we nurture in relationship with one another. Together, we can choose love over fear and take the next step forward."
Last month, Bishop Budde was entrusted with delivering the homily at the funeral of Dr. Jane Goodall at Washington National Cathedral, where over 1,500 mourners gathered to honor the legendary conservationist. Budde called Goodall "a human being fully alive," and wove passages from Goodall's own writings into a charge for the living.
Quoting words Jane had recorded near the end of her life, Budde shared: "In the place where I am now, I want to make sure that you understand that each of you has a role to play. Even where the planet is dark, there is still hope." For Budde, those were marching orders. "Get up. Go ahead. Do something," she told the congregation. "Move to preserve our beautiful planet for all living beings."
"We can do this," she has told audiences throughout the year, "especially if we remember we are never alone. Together, God will work through us to bring about the kind of society, the kind of community we all deserve and that we want to pass on to those who come after us. Take good care, have courage, and remember that together, we can all be brave."
In December 2025, nearly a year after her courageous sermon, Bishop Budde was invited to deliver a Christmas meditation on BBC Radio 4 -- a testament to the global resonance of her message. Looking back on her decision to speak out, she reflected on what she calls "decisive moments" -- those times when we actively choose a particular path that requires us to be brave. "We all want to be brave when it counts," she has written, "to be one who steps up, leans in, does the right thing when it matters most."
When asked about the culture of contempt and outrage that met her sermon, Budde's response was characteristically measured: "Could we, as Americans and fellow children of God, speak to one another with respect? I would offer the same to you." And she urged people to focus on those who most need protection: "The people who are in danger are the people who fear for their lives and their livelihoods. That's where the focus should be."
Kudos to Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for her courage in speaking truth to power when it mattered most -- and for reminding us all that true leadership requires not just strength, but compassion!
Bishop Budde is the author of "How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith" at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9780593539217 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/40GpHtM (Amazon)
This powerful book was recently released in a young readers edition for ages 10 and up: "We Can Be Brave: How We Learn to Be Brave in Life's Decisive Moments" at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9798217113828 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/3L6lRGk (Amazon)
All upcoming sessions of "Be Brave Together" -- the free online workshop rooted in the core insights of Bishop Budde's book designed to help people deepen their capacity for compassionate action -- are full but you can sign up to be notified when new dates are announced at https://www.bebravetogether.com/sign-up-form
For books for children and teens about the importance of showing compassion and standing up for others, visit our blog post "60 Mighty Girl Books About Standing Up for Others" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13481
To inspire children and teens with the true stories of women who stood up for women's rights and the rights of others throughout history, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364
For two excellent resources to help tween and teen girls learn how to assert themselves with confidence and let their voices be heard, we highly recommend "A Smart Girl’s Guide to Knowing What to Say" for ages 9 to 12 (https://www.amightygirl.com/a-smart-girl-s-guide-to......) and "Express Yourself: A Teen Girl's Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are" for ages 12 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/express-yourself-guide)
For more inspiring stories of pioneering girls and women throughout history, you can sign-up for A Mighty Girl's free email newsletter at https://www.amightygirl.com/forms/newsletter
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