He was a career ambassador for Prussia (nineteenth century German Empire). He was good at what he did since diplomacy was his strong suit. Baron Christian Charles Josia von Bunsen (1791-1863) was appointed ambassador to Rome, having earned a reputation as a Protestant “who honored Catholics in their conviction.” He established good relations with the Vatican and earned the respect of Pope Leo XII. His diplomatic skills were put to the test in mediating the “mixed marriage dispute.” By mixed marriage, we’re not talking about Christians marrying unbelievers but marriage between Catholics and Protestants. The Vatican insisted the children of such marriages must be raised Catholic, while Prussian law stipulated that children must be raised in the father’s religion, whether Catholic or Protestant. When Pope Leo’s successor took a hard line, the King of Prussia pushed back and guess who was caught in the crossfire? Baron spoke his mind, the king sent him packing, and relations between the two countries worsened. The king later came with hat in hand to offer Baron the job of ambassador to England. While all this drama was playing out in his life, somehow, Baron found time to collect nine hundred and thirty hymns and three hundred and fifty prayers for inclusion in his Evangelical Hymnbook and Prayerbook. As I read his memoirs that his wife published after his death, I was struck by a prayer in his journal as a twenty-eight-year-old contemplating a diplomatic calling:
Baron Bunsen
Eternal, omnipresent God! Enlighten me with Thy Holy Spirit and fill me with heavenly light! What in childhood I felt and yearned after, what throughout the years of my youth grew clearer and clearer before my soul—I will now venture to hold fast, examine, and faithfully represent…
Let me not falter nor slide away from the great end of knowing Thee. Let not the joys, honors, or vanities of the word enfeeble and darken my spirit; let me ever desire to perceive and know Thee…
Preserve me in strength and truth of spirit, to the end of my earthly existence, and should I not finish what I have begun, let me find peace in the conviction that nothing shall perish which is done in Thee and with Thee; and what I have imperfectly known, imperfectly conceived and indistinctly expressed, I shall leave to another to accomplish, by Thy help and blessing. Amen.
A Memoir of Baron Bunsen, edited by Frances Baroness Bunsen, 1868.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.