More than a year after an Episcopal bishop used a national prayer service to deliver a pointed message directly to President Donald Trump, the controversial moment is being memorialized.
Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, recently dedicated a sculpture in honor of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s headline-making confrontation with Trump following his 2025 inauguration, according to The Christian Post.
The sculpture, “Bow of Burning Gold,” was not originally created for Budde. Artist Murray Dewart completed the work roughly a decade earlier, but later offered it to the seminary following the uproar surrounding Budde’s remarks. VTS spokeswoman Nicky Burridge told The Christian Post the donation came in response to what she called the “Budde moment.”
That moment unfolded on Jan. 21, 2025, at Washington National Cathedral, just one day after Trump was sworn into office for his second term.
With the newly inaugurated president in the front row, Budde launched into a direct appeal on some of the most politically charged issues facing the country.
“In the Name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” Budde told Trump.
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She specifically referenced gay, lesbian and transgender children and then turned to immigrants living in the United States without legal documentation and families concerned about deportation.
The remarks immediately sparked backlash.
Rob Pacienza, senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was among those who pushed back.
Pacienza told The Christian Post that Budde’s address was not “really a sermon,” but a “lecture.” He argued that her message promoted transgender ideology, open borders and sexual ethics that stand contrary to biblical teaching.
Now, Virginia Theological Seminary is ensuring the episode is not forgotten.
Beyond dedicating Dewart’s sculpture, the seminary has also launched “Have Mercy: Following Jesus in Politically Perilous Times,” a collection of essays inspired by Budde’s message.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
