Cheryl Mirabella’s journey to The Episcopal Church began unexpectedly. After leaving the Catholic Church as a young adult, she embarked on what she describes as a “spiritual safari,” exploring various denominations in search of deeper meaning. “I have a very deep spiritual life … but I didn’t really feel like I was getting what I needed through church,” Mirabella shared with Episcopal News Service.
Her turning point came when she случайно tuned into the Service of Prayer for the Nation at Washington National Cathedral on January 21. There, she heard Washington Bishop Mariann Budde’s powerful sermon, a heartfelt plea to then-President Donald Trump to show mercy, particularly to vulnerable groups: “the people in our country who are scared now” – specifically LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants.
Bishop Budde’s message resonated deeply with Mirabella. “I was so impressed by her kindness and her words,” she explained. Compelled to learn more, Mirabella immediately downloaded Bishop Budde’s book, “How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith,” and listened to it during a solo trip to Arches National Park in Moab. “I was so inspired by her and her words and her journey through life.”
Intrigued, Mirabella decided to experience The Episcopal Church firsthand. The following Sunday, she visited St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Park City, Utah. She attended the January 26 worship service and found herself warmly welcomed by a female priest. “The priest, a woman, got up and her first words were to welcome us … That felt really good,” Mirabella recounted. She added, “What Jesus teaches us is not representative of what a lot of denominations are now.”
Mirabella is not alone in her experience. Episcopal News Service reports that many individuals, inspired by Bishop Budde’s sermon, turned to social media to share their stories of attending an Episcopal worship service for the first time. These newcomers were pleasantly surprised to discover the inclusive nature of The Episcopal Church, where LGBTQ+ people, women, and immigrants of all statuses are not only welcomed but also actively serve as clergy and lay leaders.
The Rev. Clare Hickman, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Ferndale, Michigan, offered insights into this phenomenon to Episcopal News Service. “I think people really have a hunger, especially in times like these, to have a story that will help them, give them hope and give them purpose in life. They don’t always hear a Christian message out there that resonates with them,” she stated. “Having Bishop Budde speaking in a way that’s really talking about God’s kingdom coming in this world – this side of the grave – is powerful.” Rev. Hickman noted that five visitors at her church specifically mentioned Bishop Budde’s sermon as their inspiration for attending.
Bishop Budde’s sermon, as reported by Episcopal News Service and numerous other media outlets, has had a significant impact. Since it went viral, she has appeared on major television networks like CNN and The View, and given interviews to prominent publications such as The New Yorker, The Nation, The Guardian, and Glamour. Her image has even been featured in artwork and on cookies sold by Hive Bakery in Flower Mound, Texas, which became a daily sell-out item. She was also recognized in a folk song, demonstrating the wide reach of her message.
Beyond her recent sermon, Episcopal News Service has also highlighted Bishop Budde’s consistent actions and stances. In 2020, she publicly criticized President Trump for posing with a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church after peaceful protesters were forcibly removed from Lafayette Square. Furthermore, in 2018, Bishop Budde played a crucial role in interring the remains of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man murdered in 1998, at Washington National Cathedral. This act of compassion and support for the LGBTQ+ community, also reported by Episcopal News Service, has resonated deeply within LGBTQ+ communities and beyond.
The Rev. Diana Wilcox, rector of Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge, New Jersey, also spoke with Episcopal News Service about the tangible impact of Bishop Budde’s message. She observed an unusually high number of new faces at her church following the sermon. “One couple said they had lived in Bloomfield for a while and decided to find an Episcopal church to attend this Sunday” specifically because of Bishop Budde’s sermon, she told Episcopal News Service. Rev. Wilcox noted a palpable “buzz in the air” during coffee hour, with attendees engaging in discussions about the sermon’s message. She anticipates that online livestreams may further translate into new visitors in the coming weeks, indicating sustained interest in The Episcopal Church.
Rebekah Gleaves Sanderlin’s journey to The Episcopal Church, as shared with Episcopal News Service, is one of overcoming past religious trauma. Growing up Southern Baptist, she was discouraged from pursuing ministry as a woman. An incident in her conservative Church of Christ school, where she was reprimanded for praying with boys, further solidified her feeling of not belonging. “Looking back now, oh my God, those were horrible things to say to a small child,” Sanderlin reflected in her interview with Episcopal News Service.
After years of searching for a spiritual home, Sanderlin found herself disillusioned after the 2016 election, particularly in the politically and religiously conservative Florida Panhandle. However, Bishop Budde’s plea resonated deeply. Upon seeing a clip of the sermon, Sanderlin decided to visit St. Aidan’s Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “Just hearing Budde say the most basic tenets of Christianity, it honestly blew my mind,” she confessed to Episcopal News Service. “It was not something that I was aware of that was even being preached anywhere.”
Both Sanderlin and Mirabella, speaking with Episcopal News Service, expressed their openness to continuing their exploration of The Episcopal Church. “I know not every congregation is the same, but I have a feeling that [St. Luke’s] may work for me,” Mirabella concluded, highlighting the potential for lasting connections forged by Bishop Budde’s message and the welcoming spirit of The Episcopal Church, as reported by Episcopal News Service.
–Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at [email protected]. Melodie Woerman is an Episcopal News Service freelance reporter based in Kansas.
