Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) supported Dr. Catherine Meeks in hosting A Conversation on Hope on April 3, 2025, a compelling and timely virtual gathering exploring truth-telling, courageous leadership in faith, and the transformative nature of hope. With more than 2,000 registrants, this powerful conversation brought together Episcopal bishops from across the country to reflect on love, resistance, and the radical witness of hope in uncertain times.
Due to overwhelming interest, EDS stepped in to support shifting the event to a webinar format to accommodate the large audience, underscoring the deep hunger for honest dialogue and spiritual leadership in this moment.
Featured panelists included:
- The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
- The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota
- The Rt. Rev. Michael Hunn, Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande
The discussion was skillfully moderated by Dr. Catherine Meeks, Founding Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing and Founder of the Turquoise and Lavender Institute for Transformation and Healing.
These leaders offered profound reflections on how faith communities can remain rooted in love and grounded in justice while courageously facing the truth of our times. They spoke openly about the importance of creating circles of care, practicing joy as an act of resistance, and building a church that is not only relevant to young people but sustained by the radical message of Jesus.
Dr. Catherine Meeks emphasized the importance of joy as a source of energy for resistance, stating, "we're not wanting to replace radical resistance to the evil and darkness that's walking around in our country with, ‘oh, well just go be joyous and it'll all be okay.’ No, that's not quite the point. But the joy will generate energy that can help us in the resistance."
Bishop Michael Hunn shared his personal experience of finding hope through tangible acts of love: "I find Jesus in acts of loving my neighbor. The temptation is for me to lose my mind because of what's in the news. But when I actually say my prayers, read my scriptures and love the person I can see. That's when I experience the love of God again. I experience the hope of God again. And I go, oh you're right here. I get it... So I'm resisting my temptation to defend myself or be afraid for my safety, and instead trying to go to the places with love for others. 'cause I know that's where Jesus is hanging out always."
Bishop Craig Loya addressed the church's relationship with young people, asserting, "I think the church abandons the young people that you're describing and renders itself irrelevant every single time. We look like our chief concern is acquiring more for ourselves and sustaining what we've got... The best way we can serve young people is by following the example of Jesus and by embodying the economics of the gospel, which means you are fed by giving and you live by dying. And whenever we show up in the world and do that, it is irresistible to the world because our souls are made for that."
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde spoke powerfully about the act of choosing love in the face of adversity: "I'm going to go with love. I'm just not going to give [hate] back (in reference to her now viral plea for mercy for the vulnerable, directed at President Trump). It's sad to me that's resistance, right? It breaks my heart that we use those words in resistance in the same sentence, but it does at least allow for something that we can all do and we all learn it. If you lower your voice, people hear you more clearly than when you are yelling."
Attendees reported leaving with a renewed sense of purpose: to be true to the message of Jesus, to form communities of deep care, and to allow joy, courage, and truth to shape the church’s path forward. Participants mentioned how they would be taking action: supporting the Diocese of the Rio Grande’s Borderland Ministries, getting involved in the Mercy, Courage, Action campaign, and getting involved in community actions including pursuing education to strengthen their ministry and even a church cooking show in a politically diverse parish. The full chat can be viewed here.
EDS President and Dean, the Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin expressed her gratitude to Dr. Meeks for hosting this “much needed” and “inspiring” conversation.
Resources Shared by Panelists & Participants
- Centering Prayer - Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.
- How We Learn to Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde
- C031 Migration with Dignity
- Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande: Borderland Ministries
- The Asylum Seekers: A Chronicle of Life, Death, and Community at the Border by Cristina Rathbone
- Book Discussion Guide - Episcopal Migration Ministries
- Mercy – Courage – Action – christthekingvaldosta.org (Campaign mentioned by Dr. Meeks)
- The Wounded Healer - Henri Nouwen
- The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Carlton Abrams
- Theology of Joy and the Good Life: Study from Yale Divinity School
- The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving by Dr. Lisa Miller
- The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul by Connie Zweig
- Song: I Believe by Mark Miller
- Sociologist of religion Robert Bellah