Moral Courage: Bishop Budde’s Graceful Defiance

The test of moral courage.

Written by Sal Naseem

We often hear the phrase “speaking truth to power”, very rarely do we see it in practice but last week I witnessed the very definition of this metaphor when a 60 year old woman stood spoke her truth to some of the most powerful men in the world.

This remarkable woman was the Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde, delivering the prayer at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, January 21, the day after the inauguration.

Seated on the front row was President Trump and Vice President Vance along with their family members.

Looking directly at President Trump, this is what Bishop Budde had to say in ending her prayer:

“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives. And the people — the people who pick our crops, and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat-packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and work the night shifts in hospitals — they may not be citizens, or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes, and are good neighbors.”

Actually, its worth watching this footage here.

The Bishop’s poise, and powerful grace in delivering these words is remarkable to watch, as is watching these two men literally shifting uncomfortably in their seats being made to listen to these truths. Trump’s subsequent toxic response was as consistent as the orange tan applied to his furrowed face.

In what has been an incredibly depressing week watching Trump come to power and begin upending legislative practice in the US, which is designed to address unfairness and inequality, but also as he targets those with the least voice it is notable that Bishop Budde’s beautiful plea and powerful rebuke was the only official dissenting voice that cut through all the worrying acquiescence and sycophancy.

And yes, it took a woman to speak this truth to these powerful men.

This is what moral courage looks like in practice, and true leadership but here’s the thing- look how it stands out. Think about it, how often do you really see this particular type of courage in action in your own lives? Personally, I have found this to be vanishingly rare in my life and career.

Perhaps when we look at the definition of what moral courage is it becomes clear why:

Moral courage is the willingness to take action for moral reasons, even when there is a risk of negative consequences. It involves standing up for ethical principles and societal norms, regardless of personal costs. So, practising moral courage comes at the risk of personal cost, and therein lies why we so rarely see it. How many people are willing to put themselves in the firing line, in the way of potential harm? And yet to me, this is such an essential component of true leadership.

In my book True North, I speak about my own journey in leading and living within this notion of my own values, following that direction- my own True North.

This is essentially values-based leadership, and it is rooted in the foundation that as leaders we must be capable of acting with moral courage when that time comes. And that time always comes.

Its what we do on those moments that counts.

Bishop Budde provides a remarkable example, however practising this moral courage will look entirely different for all of us depending on our own personal context. But that doesn’t diminish its power or strength.

It could mean saying no to a toxic manager, refusing to compromise your values in a situation where no-one is looking, telling your leadership what they need to hear not what they want to hear….it can be many, many things.

Developing this skill, is the essence of real leadership- and we all have that capacity. Arguably it’s what the world needs now more than ever when the very definition of morality is being reshaped much as it was in the 1920’s and 1930’s by the far-right and we are being pitted against each other.

No, it isn’t easy and let’s not pretend otherwise but when you follow that path remarkable things can sometimes happen. And I say that from a place of personal experience. Demonstrating moral courage is an ability that can grow through practice, with time. And deep within us, it’s an ability that we all have, I sincerely believe we just need to be made to see it.

Moral courage can look like the remarkable Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, but it can also look like that person in the mirror looking back at you.
Yes, it really can.