Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde – 11x14x½ Oil on Canvas

Description

Rev. Mariann Budde – 11x14x½ Oil on Canvas

This 11x14x½ oil painting captures Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde with a composed, steady gaze and a slight, knowing smile. Her short gray hair frames her face with an air of calm authority. She wears a patterned purple and gold stole draped over her clerical robe, the intricate designs echoed in the luminous gold background behind her. The gold field serves as both a symbolic halo and a visual extension of the stole’s patterns, creating a sense of continuity between her spiritual vocation and her presence in the world.

Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, known for her courageous leadership, moral clarity, and unwavering advocacy for justice and compassion. She has been a public voice for inclusion, racial reconciliation, and immigrant rights, urging people of faith to confront injustice directly. In June 2020, she gained national attention when she publicly challenged President Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric, calling on him to embody the kindness, respect, and moral integrity owed to immigrants and all vulnerable communities. Her response—rooted in the teachings of Jesus—was both a rebuke and an invitation to a higher standard of leadership.

Budde’s ministry has consistently centered on building bridges across divides, nurturing diverse communities, and standing alongside those marginalized by systemic inequality. Her work blends pastoral care with prophetic witness, showing that faith is not passive, but active in the service of love and justice.

This portrait reflects the strength, serenity, and moral courage that define Rev. Budde’s leadership. The interplay of gold and purple evokes both the sacred tradition she serves and the boldness with which she speaks truth to power.