By the Rev. Melanie Mullen

What does love mean to you?

“Love is what justice looks like in public,” and seeing Episcopalians doing ministry of repairing the breach and proclaiming the dream of God’s Kingdom on Earth showed me how true that phrase is. 

Where did you see God in this festival? 

I saw God in the tears of relief from Episcopalians who were reminded they aren’t alone. In the eyes of young chaplains suggesting we add Vaseline to the Episcopal Protest Chaplain’s Handbook because they’d painfully learned it’s the only thing to soothe the chemical wounds born by LGBTQ+ youth marching for human rights in Florida. I saw God in the parish member who wandered in alone, not sure if anyone else even cared as they did about the Poor People’s Campaign and the church’s commitment to solidarity with the poor. And finally, I saw God in the bishops who traveled across the country to join the international conversation about Anglican creation care and advocacy. It was a beautiful reminder that we are not alone in our public witness and ministry and that we are all in this movement together! 

What do you Love regarding your ministry? 

I love being able to witness the intersectional Jesus Movement in action and see how there are no boundaries when it comes to ministry. It’s amazing to be a part of building a beloved community, repairing this broken world, and sharing a vision of shalom and the Kingdom of God. 

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The Rev. Melanie Mullen serves as Episcopal Church’s director of reconciliation, justice, and creation care—charged with bringing the Jesus Movement to the concerns of the world.