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In an era of political upheaval, a book that strengthens core Christian convictions through the power of the Gospel.
When Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde called on newly inaugurated President Donald Trump to have mercy during a January 2025 prayer service, the radical political implications of core Gospel work—preaching the Good News, caring for the poor and immigrant, healing the sick, and telling the truth—were laid bare.
What she asked was not unusual in the long history of God’s people. But it took on a radical edge due to the change in political context. The context may have changed, but the work stays the same.
Following Bishop Budde’s lead, this book features essays from theologians, ethicists, liturgists, and pastors who will consider one basic Christian commitment—“Love Thy Neighbor” or “Judge not, lest you be judged,” for example—in light of this political moment. Together, they explore the power of the Gospel for our times and provide resources to Christian leaders and the faith communities they serve.
“What a gift to have the collected wisdom of two Episcopal seminary faculties to help us think clearly and prayerfully about what it means to be merciful in our time and place! Each short, easily readable reflection in this volume is packed with insights to learn from, discuss with others, and, above all, put into practice.”
“The essays in this volume help the reader to realize that the tendency to allow perilous times to erase the Christian’s ability to show mercy to those who are the creators of the peril has to be resisted because showing mercy is the best remedy for not becoming complicit with them.”
“In a time when fear and division too often shape our common life, Have Mercy offers a compelling vision of Christian discipleship rooted in the mercy of God and expressed through courageous public witness.”
"The genius of this collection is its insistence that mercy is not a retreat from politics but a form of it, that feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and standing with the lowly are themselves acts of public faith. Drawing on Scripture, liturgy, and Christian tradition, these essays refuse both the idolatry of Christian nationalism and the temptation to quarantine faith from the public square. Accessible, generous, and grounded, Have Mercy is an invaluable resource for anyone trying to follow Jesus faithfully in a fractured age.”
"In an age of bitter polarization, where scorn is the common currency, the gospel calls us to a politics of mercy, lived out in a community of love. The essays in this book show us a clear way to heed that call. These compelling and diverse voices come together to cast a singular vision for the role followers of Jesus can play in this painful and challenging moment. This is essential reading for the church in our times."