Mariann Edgar Budde: A Beacon of Compassion and Justice in the Episcopal Church on Mosher Mag

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is the first woman to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, but let’s be real, she’s not here to just break glass ceilings—she’s here to shatter the whole damn thing and rebuild it with grace, justice, and a whole lot of fire. She’s not just preaching from the pulpit; she’s raising her voice where it counts: in the face of power, in the fight for justice, and in the trenches with marginalised communities.

From D.C. to Maryland, her reach goes beyond the 86 churches she oversees—it’s about resistance, truth, and radical compassion. She’s the kind of leader who doesn’t just follow the path—she carves it herself. Bishop Budde isn’t here for the status quo. On January 21, 2025, at the National Prayer Service, she didn’t just give a sermon—she made a statement. Standing in front of President Trump, she didn’t shy away from calling out the fear-driven politics of the moment.

“Have mercy upon them,” she said, speaking for immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, and anyone living under the oppressive weight of fear. Her words rang loud, not as a prayer for show, but as a challenge to the man in charge and the policies hurting the most vulnerable.

“Honor the dignity of every human being and do not let fear dictate our decisions as a nation,” she urged.

This wasn’t just about giving a sermon—it was about shaking the very core of national rhetoric and calling for a return to empathy. This is a bishop who calls bullshit when she sees it, and she’s not afraid to step into the fire for what’s right.

This wasn’t Budde’s first rodeo in the fight for justice. In 2020, after Trump used St. John’s Episcopal Church as a backdrop for a photo op during the Black Lives Matter protests, she straight-up called it an abuse of sacred space.

The church isn’t a political prop. It’s a refuge, a sanctuary, a place for healing, not for opportunistic grandstanding.

And Budde wasn’t having it. She didn’t just sit back and let it slide. She spoke out and reminded the world that sacred spaces should be about healing and not about cheap political theatre.

Bishop Budde’s leadership isn’t just words—it’s action. Take the 2018 moment when she helped lay Matthew Shepard’s ashes to rest in Washington National Cathedral.

Shepard’s murder in 1998, driven by anti-gay hate, left a scar on the country. But for 20 years, his family couldn’t find a final resting place for his remains—fearing vandalism and disrespect. Then came Budde, who offered the sanctuary of the National Cathedral, co-officiating a service with Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church.

In that moment, it wasn’t just about burial—it was about healing and reclaiming sacred space for a community that had been shut out for far too long. “Matt, you are safe now,” she said, and her words were a declaration: the Church is not just for some—it’s for all.

Mariann Edgar Budde doesn’t just lead a church—she leads a revolution. In a world where faith is often co-opted to prop up systems of oppression, she stands against those systems.

Whether it’s advocating for immigrants, calling out systemic racism, or ensuring that every human—no matter their identity—feels seen, heard, and protected, Budde’s faith isn’t about passivity.

Her message is clear: Speak truth to power, stand with the marginalised, and never, ever let the fear of the powerful drown out the needs of the people.

Bishop Budde’s leadership isn’t just about making headlines—it’s about leaving a legacy of change. Whether confronting national figures, standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, or claiming sacred ground for those who’ve been forgotten, she’s shown what it means to be a leader of conscience in the modern world.

She challenges us all to live out our faith and values in the most radical ways possible. Her life is a testament to the fact that you can be loving, compassionate, and still take a sledgehammer to injustice.

She often reminds her congregation and the world:“We are all beloved children of God. And it is our responsibility to ensure that every person knows it.”

If there’s anything to take from Bishop Budde, it’s that justice isn’t optional—it’s the core of faith.

Bishop Budde doesn’t wait for the world to change. She raises her voice, speaks truth, and takes action—and that’s why she’ll always be one of the most fearless figures in the modern Church.

If you want to see what real leadership looks like, look no further.

She’s calling for justice and compassion, and she's living it, one boundary-breaking sermon at a time.

For the freaks, by the freaks.

Thanks for reading. Stay strange.

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