Bishop Robert Hirschfeld is the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire. After the fatal shooting in January of Renée Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Hirschfield drew international attention when he called on clergy to ensure their wills are written in case they have to “stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.” He spoke to Broadview’s Rev. Christopher White.

Christopher White: As we are speaking, the U.S.-Israel war with Iran has just started. What are your early thoughts on this?

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Robert Hirschfeld: I would say that it is yet another reminder of the human tendency to sin, and that we are living in a fallen world that seems addicted to resolving its differences and its struggles through force. I’m anxious. This is not to condone or justify the Iranian regime and its oppressiveness. But it seemed like we were moving towards some diplomatic resolution to avoid the proliferation of nuclear weapons in that regime [on CBS News a day before Iran was attacked, Oman’s foreign minister stated a peace deal was within reach]. But we just seem to go the way of violence. And we pray and continue to lean on the message of the prince of peace, Jesus.

CW: After Renée Good’s death, you made a statement that was viewed by thousands online. Can you talk to me about how you arrived at those words?

RH: I’ve been occupied with the passage of Scripture, the letter of Paul to the Philippians, chapter two, when Paul says [paraphrase]:

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God as something to be exploited or grasped, but chose........

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