The first senior African-American bishop in the U.S. Episcopal Church has been asked to preach a sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this coming Saturday.
Kensington Palace has announced that Prince Harry and Markle have asked The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, the head of the Episcopal Church, to preach at the highly-anticipated wedding at Windsor Castle.
"Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have asked that The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, give the address at their wedding," the Palace stated in a tweet on May 12.
The invitation has been seen as a break from tradition, as addresses at royal weddings are usually delivered by senior clergy from the Church of England.
Curry, who became the first African-American presiding bishop following his election in 2015, acknowledged the request in a statement.
"The love that has brought and will bind Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle together has its source and origin in God, and is the key to life and happiness. And so we celebrate and pray for them today," he said.
The American pastor will be joining Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will be officiating the wedding ceremony, and Reverend David Conner, who will be conducting the service.
Welby said in a statement that he was pleased by the couple's decision to ask Curry to deliver the address at the nuptial.
"I'm thrilled that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have asked Bishop Michael Curry to preach at their wedding. @PB_Curry is a brilliant pastor, stunning preacher and someone with a great gift for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ," Welby tweeted.
Curry became popular in 2012 after he preached the sermon that came to be known as "We need some crazy Christians."
The bishop argued that Jesus was once thought to be of unsound mind and said that Christians need to follow his example.
"They thought he was crazy! And he was! He is!" said Curry, who was serving as bishop of North Carolina at the time. "And those who would follow in his footsteps, those who would be his disciples, are called and summoned and challenged to be just as crazy as Jesus".
Apart from his popular sermon, Curry is also known for his support for immigration reform as well as his advocacy for gay marriage and transgender rights.
