45. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (Episcopal) - I Can Learn to Be Brave: Building Courage One Step at a Time

45. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (Episcopal) - I Can Learn to Be Brave: Building Courage One Step at a TimeAlexis welcomes back Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., for a deeply hopeful conversation about courage, faith, and her beautiful new children's book, I Can Learn to Be Brave- releasing July 7th!Known around the world for her sermon calling for mercy toward LGBTQ people and immigrants, Bishop Budde reflects on the quieter acts of bravery that prepare us for life's defining moments. Together, Alexis and Bishop Budde explore why courage begins in childhood, why adults need this message just as much as children, how churches can rebuild trust after church hurt, what faithful public witness looks like in a polarized world, and why the future of the Church could depend on ordinary people willing to take one faithful step at a time.This conversation is an invitation to raise courageous kids, become more courageous ourselves, and imagine a Christianity rooted in humility, inclusion, compassion, hope, and the teachings of Jesus.💬 In This Episode• Bishop Budde's new children's book, I Can Learn to Be Brave• Why courage is something we learn and practice• Raising courageous kids through faith• Why adults need bravery too• Spiritual formation and listening to the Holy Spirit• Church hurt, deconstruction, and rebuilding trust• Christian nationalism and loving our neighbors• Ministry in the digital age• LGBTQ inclusion and women in ministry• Why ordinary people change history• Building the future of the Church one faithful step at a time• A beautiful closing prayer for anyone needing hope today👥 People & Resources Mentioned• Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde – @mariannbudde• I Can Learn to Be Brave  is available for purchase on The Sacred Slope Book Reccos List: https://bookshop.org/shop/thesacredslope• Illustrated by Holly Hatam – @hollyhatamillustration• Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers – @penguinkids• Rev. Gerlyn Henry - @gerlynhenry• Pastor Paul Drees - @pastorpauldrees• Sharon McMahon – @sharonsaysso• Jonathan Eig - @joneig• Rich Villodas – @richvillodas• Adam Hamilton – @revadamhamiltonSupport the showAbout The Sacred SlopeWhere the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity.Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion.🎧 WATCH: YouTube / Spotify     LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere     FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky)🔗 Connect🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: [email protected]🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿Fruit of the Spirit:  ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control