Episcopal bishop who urged Trump to ‘have mercy’ on resigning post in Washington DC | Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C. who gained national attention when she called on Donald Trump to “have mercy” on immigrants and the nation’s LGBTQ+ community after his second inauguration, is resigning.

Budde indicated in her resignation letter that she will leave her position on June 3, 2028 after the consecration and ordination of the new diocesan bishop.

“I write today because I have discerned, in consultation with diocesan leadership and the Presiding Bishop’s office, that it is time to begin preparing for the election of your next bishop. I have not made this decision lightly or alone, and it will not be easy to say goodbye to the diocese that I love,” his letter said.

Next week, the standing committee will outline the required steps, which include appointing two committees to undertake this work, the letter added.

Budde, 66, is the first woman to serve as spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She has led the diocese since being elected to the position in 2011. Before that, she served as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis for 18 years.

She made headlines by urging Trump, during his sermon, to show mercy to “gay, lesbian and transgender children” across the political spectrum, some of whom, she said, “fear for their lives.”

Trump demanded an apology in a message shared on social media.

“She brought her church into the political world in a very unsightly way. Her tone was mean, and neither convincing nor intelligent,” the president said.

“Aside from her inappropriate statements, the service was very boring and uninspiring. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!”

This was not the first time Budde had challenged and clashed with Trump.

During Trump’s first term, she published an opinion piece in The New York Times expressing outrage over Trump’s appearance outside St. John’s Episcopal, holding up a Bible for a photo after federal agents used force to clear out a crowd of peaceful demonstrators demonstrating the police killing of George Floyd the previous week.

Budde wrote that Trump had “used sacred symbols to cloak himself in the mantle of spiritual authority, while adopting positions antithetical to the Bible he held in his hands.”

Regarding the future of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Budde wrote, she is committed to ensuring a strong and healthy transition for her successor.

“Alongside the diocesan staff and leadership bodies, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the diocese is as strong and healthy as possible for this leadership transition. I pray for everyone involved, and especially for the one God is preparing to serve as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Washington,” Budde concluded.