Virginia Theological Seminary installs sculpture honoring Bishop Mariann Budde

Virginia Theological Seminary recently dedicated a sculpture titled “Bow of Burning Gold” on its Alexandria campus to commemorate a sermon delivered by Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde. The artwork, created by sculptor Murray Dewart, was donated to the institution following Budde’s remarks at the 2025 Service of Prayer for the Nation held at the Washington National Cathedral.

During the inaugural prayer service, Budde addressed President Donald Trump directly, urging him to show mercy toward various groups, including immigrants and the LGBT community. While the sculpture itself was created by Dewart a decade prior to the event, seminary officials stated the donation was inspired by the bishop’s public address. In conjunction with the installation, the seminary also released a collection of essays titled "Have Mercy: Following Jesus in Politically Perilous Times," which further explores the themes raised during the bishop's sermon.