Be the Bishop

“I have one final plea, Mr. President . . . In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s words at the National Prayer Service continue to haunt me. A little over a week into this new administration, amid the blitzkrieg of executive orders, confirmation hearings, and social media chaos, her presence stands in stark contrast.

At Fearless Communicators, we teach public speaking that is grounded in the body, present in mind, led by the heart, and spoken into the spirit of our shared humanity. Watch her: rock solid in her body, measured in tone, not breaking eye contact, speaking directly to our souls.

Imagine standing before the president, his family, and his supporters—pleading for mercy. For trans children. For immigrants. For those most vulnerable in this political climate. That could shake anyone’s confidence. But Bishop Budde? She remains direct and unwavering in love. This was not a congressional hearing screaming match, or a confrontational press briefing, a rant on Fox News, or a social media tirade. She spoke the truth . . . unflappable and unflinching . . . with love.

When we say “speaking into the spirit of our shared humanity,” we don’t mean it in a religious sense. The word spirit comes from the Latin spirare—to breathe. It’s the root of inspire, expire, and aspire. Her words left her body, riding her breath, amplified through the microphone to those in Washington National Cathedral and the millions who heard her message on TV and social media.

And her words caused movement—outrage from some, including demands for an apology from the president and his supporters. But for others, they sparked a release, a celebration of a religious leader who dared to speak truth to power with love and kindness.

Her homily centers on the radical love of Jesus Christ—a love extended to the afraid and the marginalized. And she leaves us with this prayer:

“May God grant us all the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, speak the truth in love, and walk humbly with one another and our God, for the good of all the people of this nation and the world.”

This will be my prayer for the days ahead—a beacon in dark times, a bright light on the path, pulling us forward as we continue the WERK of building a more perfect union.

And in these uncertain times, a reminder: BE THE BISHOP.

Fearlessly yours,

Eduardo