There was a special buzz in the air at theWashington National Cathedralthis past Sunday.
Trump has already unleashed ablitzof devastating policy actions and orders.
Jen Butler recently served as the national faith engagement director for the Harris-Walz campaign.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde speaks as President Trump sits in attendance at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21 in Washington, D.C.Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty Images
I notice her snapping a selfie in front of the cathedral with a friend before attending services on Sunday.
Ive never seen anything go this viral, she tells me of Buddes sermon.
Shes the first to really find her footing and show no fear, Butler says.
No one I speak with expresses disappointment at Buddes absence.
Im scared and Im concerned, Sue Watkins of Bethesda tells me standing outside of the cathedral.
We need to stand up against all the negative things that Trump is doing.
She wants to act but describes not knowing what to do or how to support those engaged in resistance.
Shes not religious, but when she heard Buddes words, she was moved.
Shes the only one speaking out, Watkins says.
I just wanted to support the bishop.
Mitchell Felton is visiting from South Carolina.
I thought it was very powerful and brave, he says of Buddes sermon.
Her age is revealed only in the silver and white hairs accentuating her otherwise black dreadlocks.
She did not insult the president at all.
She was speaking from her heart.
She was compassionate, she says.
Joanne Popkin has lived in Washington, D.C., for 25 years and is a neighbor of the Rev.
Canon Jan Naylor Cope, provost of the cathedral.
After Buddes sermon, Popkin wrote Cope a note thanking her.
Popkin is out walking her dog around the cathedral and stops, eager to share her thoughts on Budde.
Whats wrong with mercy and compassion?!
Isnt that what made America great?!
Hate gets you nowhere, she adds.
She was eager to speak with me not only about Carter, but also about Trump.
Trump seeks to dismantle everything I stand for, she told me.
Then she told me about resistance.
She discussed her plans to organize, to get political, find like-minded constituencies.
But the one thing I can control is Im going to show up.
Since delivering the sermon, Budde has been a guest onThe View, CNN, andTheRachel Maddow Show.
Steven Colbert teared up during his monologue about Budde.
There are memes,T-shirts, and evencookiesfeaturing Budde.
In positiveeditorialsand letters to the editor fromCaliforniatoFloridaandNew York, the response of people backing Budde has been overwhelming.
Faith leaders have alsoshown theirsupport.
National spokespeople for the Episcopal Church called Budde a valued and trusted pastor.
They said, We stand by Bishop Budde and her appeal for the Christian values of mercy and compassion.
It hasnt all been positive.
Budde has received death threats amid a fierce conservative backlash.
So much so that I expected the Sunday service at the Washington National Cathedral to draw counter protesters.
But there were none to be seen.
Trumpshared a tantrumagainst Budde on social media, demanding an apology which Budde has steadfastly refused to provide.
Learning to Be Brave
Budde and Trump have been here before.
In 2017, the cathedral hosted Trumps first inaugural prayer service with Bishop Budde officiating.
Budde joined with other faith leaders such as the Rev.
She also came to understand to whom she is directing her words.
That was a mistake.
Either way, she believes it is our moral obligation to act.
