Bishop Mariann Edge Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington announced she will resign.⁠ ⁠ Budde was the first woman elected to lead the diocese and has served in the role since 2011. She gained national attention during the inaugural prayer service for President Donald Trump’s second term, when she directly appealed to him to have mercy on his constituents, mentioning LGBTQ+ people and migrants.⁠ ⁠ The diocese posted an open letter from Budde, dated Thursday.⁠ ⁠ “I write today because I have discerned, in consultation with diocesan leadership and the Presiding Bishop’s office, that it is time to begin preparing for the election of your next bishop. I have not come to this decision lightly or alone, and it will not be easy to say goodbye to the diocese I love,” she said.⁠ ⁠ “I hope that you know that serving as your bishop is one of the great blessings of my life,” Budde said.⁠ ⁠ The election of a new bishop will take place at the Diocesan Convention on Jan. 29, 2028, she said. The...