[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E93]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING BISHOP MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
pay tribute to Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, a steadfast leader, a 
courageous voice, and a beacon of moral clarity in our Nation. As the 
first woman to serve as the spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese 
of Washington, Bishop Budde has demonstrated an unwavering commitment 
to faith, justice, and the common good.
  Before her historic election in 2011, Bishop Budde served 18 years as 
the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, where she 
ministered with compassion and conviction. Her academic journey 
includes a bachelor's degree in history from the University of 
Rochester and a master's degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. She 
is also a distinguished author of How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive 
Moments in Life and Faith, Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love, and 
Gathering Up the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice.
  Bishop Budde's impact extends far beyond the pulpit or the pages of 
her books. At a critical moment in our nation's history, she called 
upon the highest office in the land to remember the fundamental duty of 
leadership: to serve the people with integrity, humility, and 
compassion. Her words and actions have resonated within the church and 
in the halls of Congress and across the country, reminding us of the 
moral responsibility we bear toward one another.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
honoring Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for her steadfast faith, fearless 
leadership, and unwavering commitment to our nation's well-being.

                          ____________________