Date: January 9, 2025
On Tuesday, as I joined the Council of Deans talking to the new Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, I was struck afresh with the significance of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Bishop Rowe mentioned, almost in passing, that he will be presiding at the official state funeral which will be held in the Washington National Cathedral. Given we are small tradition in the United States, this is a significant responsibility.
As anyone trying to navigate the District, we already know that President Carter has been lying in state at the U.S. Capitol. Today, the funeral will be held at 10am; all five living U.S. Presidents are expected to attend.
This is a national day of mourning for President Carter. And we remind ourselves afresh that here was a man who loved the Lord Jesus and did everything he could in his one hundred years to progress the kingdom. Rest in peace President Carter.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary