Dear Union Community, Friends and Supporters,
At Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the Right Reverend Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, in her courageous, beautiful, and heartfelt sermon offered at the inaugural prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral this past Monday, as part of the post-Inauguration Day interfaith ceremony for our nation’s recently elected President Trump. Bishop Budde’s gentle but firm call for mercy, compassion, justice, and moral clarity in this pivotal moment reflects the core values that Union, as a historically Christian seminary with a growing interreligious emphasis, holds dear—values rooted in love, peace, justice, and the unwavering pursuit of dignity for all people.
As Bishop Budde so powerfully stated, now is a time to stand with those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and plagued by fear. We join her in lifting up LGBTQ+ communities, immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, the poor, and all those who face fear and uncertainty. Union remains committed to the sacred work of fostering a world where all are seen, heard, and valued, not just in words but through supportive, concrete actions and policies.
At Union, we affirm that faith communities are places where clergy and laity offer a religiously anchored witness to love, not sites open to an endless barrage of partisan manipulation. As faith leaders, we are called to stand with the marginalized and resist the forces that seek to co-opt our sacred texts for political gain. The weaponization of sacred texts to justify cruelty, exclusion, and oppression is not only a distortion of faith but an affront to the very essence of the teachings of our sacred texts.
We categorically reject any attempt to silence faith leaders who courageously speak up for mercy. To those who would seek to intimidate or suppress the voices of faith leaders, let it be known: we will not be deterred. The work of peace, justice, compassion, and love will continue to be proclaimed from our pulpits, taught in our classrooms, and embodied in our communities, undeterred by political posturing, fear-mongering rhetoric, or endless streams of communal and personal threats. Now, more than ever, we hold fast to our convictions and resist the forces that undermine the liberating message of our faith traditions. The freedom of religious expression should never be treated as a special privilege afforded to or arbitrated by political leaders; it is a sacred responsibility entrusted to us by the Divine and ensconced in our Constitution.
Union Theological Seminary remains steadfast in its commitment to theological education that equips faith leaders to challenge oppression, confront injustice, and proclaim a religious message of universal love. We join others in calling upon faith communities and communities of conscience across the nation to join an ever-growing chorus of voices that reaffirm this unwavering commitment to these deeply held convictions. May that chorus continue to grow in strength and courage.
In times of division and fear, moral courage, such as the Right Reverend Bishop Marianne Edgar Budde’s and that of the Washington National Cathedral, reminds us of our collective responsibility to pursue peace and justice with open hearts and compassion. We are grateful for her leadership and reaffirm our shared commitment to building a just, caring, merciful, and compassionate world.
In faith and solidarity,
Rev. Dr. Serene Jones
President of Union Theological Seminary
and Johnston Family Professor for Religion & Democracy