Presiding Bishop Michael Curry writes in tribute to George Herbert Walker Bush, 41st President of the United States, who died late in the evening on Nov. 30:
With a grateful nation, and many around the world, we of the Episcopal Church give thanks to God, the source of life and love, for the life, the public and private witness of President George Herbert Walker Bush.
Through his enduring commitment to public service and his steadfast devotion to his family, he lived the way of Jesus through a life shaped by faith, hope and, above all, love. Through his unswerving service to our country and to the human community around the globe, he embodied the noblest ideals of his faith and his country.
President Bush will be an enduring reminder that virtues like kindness, gentleness, and goodness are among the things that truly endure, and that chart the way to our living as the human family of God.
In him we have beheld a great soul, and been reminded of the hope that, by God’s grace, we can live likewise.
May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.
The Very Rev. Randolph Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, issued a joint statement with the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, Bishop of Washington, which says in part:
Across his 94 years, President Bush served his country with integrity, honor and distinction. He embodied the decency of his call to a “kinder, gentler” politics, and provided a steady hand to our nation as unprecedented winds of change swept across the globe. Facing the collapse of Communism and war in the Persian Gulf, President Bush’s leadership was defined by a sense of deliberation, humility and thoughtfulness.
His commitment to service and volunteerism remains an enduring testament to the rigor of his character and his gentleness of spirit. His unfailing support for the Americans With Disabilities Act was shaped by the compassion of his heart. Indeed, of his famed Thousand Points of Light, President Bush’s example burns brightest.
President Bush’s funeral is scheduled for Dec. 5 at Washington National Cathedral.
