Consider This from NPR
A pastor's sermons on social justice causes conflict among congregation
Fri, 31 Jan 2025
Schools, corporations, even churches, are wrestling with how to approach issues of racial and social justice in a highly polarized U.S. But what happens when people with shared political views disagree on how much is too much? For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: How did Bishop Mary Ann Buddy address social issues in her sermon?
In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country. We're scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families. Some who fear for their lives.
That's Episcopal Bishop Mary Ann Buddy giving a sermon at Washington National Cathedral earlier this month. This was at an interfaith service held the day after the second inauguration of President Donald Trump. In her sermon, she spoke directly to the president, who was seated up front with Vice President J.D. Vance and their families.
Bishop Buddy went on to talk about immigrants who may be at risk of deportation under new Trump policies.
I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.
Reactions to her sermon lit up social media and national news outlets. The backlash from Trump supporters was immediate and intense. Lorenzo Sewell is the pastor of Detroit's non-denominational 180 Church. and he spoke at the Republican National Convention. He attended that sermon and shared his outrage on Fox News.
I cannot believe that she would use that moment to speak a demonic message as if she was using the Bible. She used her platform to practice theological malpractice. It was horrible. It was the worst message I've ever been in in my life.
Consider this. Across the country, people are wrestling with how to approach issues of racial and social justice in a polarized environment. And divisions aren't just between the political left and the political right. Even people with shared political views often disagree on how much is too much.
Coming up, NPR's Frank Langfitt reports on a liberal church in North Carolina with a rich civil rights history, yet it pushed out its pastor, who had spent years promoting racial justice and who had repeatedly called out Donald Trump. From NPR, I'm Sasha Pfeiffer.
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Chapter 2: What was the reaction to Bishop Buddy's sermon?
Most of us, all of us, are very supportive of social justice, but for some people... Being able to focus on social justice, it would be a welcome luxury because they have alcoholic spouses. They have children that are addicted. They have cancer. They have these personal needs, and that gets to the other part of the strategic plan, which was caring for the internal community.
The pastoral part of the job.
The pastoral part. Not so great there. We were basically taking care of ourselves as best we could.
Boswell says he was committed to pastoral care and devoted a staffer to it full time. Boswell knows that some people think he made a mistake by focusing so much on racial and social justice. But he says he'd do it again and will continue to preach that message whatever he does next.
NPR's Frank Langfitt reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode was produced by Elena Burnett and was edited by Catherine Laidlaw and Jeanette Woods. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Sasha Pfeiffer.
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