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Dear Ed,

You may remember the moment.

Standing in the pulpit of Washington National Cathedral, Bishop Mariann Budde looked toward President Trump and offered a clear, pastoral plea:

“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

It was a moment of moral courage that reached far beyond one sanctuary, one sermon, or one political moment. It reminded many of us what faithful public witness can look like: grounded, compassionate, truthful, and brave.

At a time when fear is being weaponized, vulnerable communities are being targeted, and many people are wondering how to respond without losing hope, Bishop Budde’s witness still speaks.

And on Wednesday, August 12 at 1 pm ET, she will join Sojourners for a live conversation on what it means for all of us to learn to be brave.

Hosted by Sojourners President Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, this free webinar will feature Bishop Budde, author of We Can Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, for a timely conversation about courage, faith, and the moments that call us to speak and act.

This is not only a conversation for clergy or public leaders. It is for anyone trying to live faithfully in this moment.

It is for those who are asking:

• How do I speak truth without losing compassion?

• How do I remain grounded when public life feels overwhelming?

• How do I practice courage in my family, congregation, workplace, neighborhood, or community?

• How do we build a more loving and just world when so much around us feels fractured?

Bishop Budde’s witness reminds us that bravery does not always mean speaking loudly. Sometimes bravery means refusing cruelty. Sometimes it means telling the truth with a steady voice. Sometimes it means choosing mercy when contempt is easier. And sometimes it means believing that another future is still possible — and acting like it.

Event Details
What: Learning to Be Brave: Speaking Truth to Power in the Public Square
When: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | 1pm ET
Where: Online via live stream
Cost: Free; registration required

This is a can’t-miss conversation for anyone longing for a more courageous, compassionate, and faithful public witness.

Can’t attend live? Register anyway, and we’ll send you the recording afterward.

In hope and resistance,

Your friends at Sojourners