The Reverend Tommy Tipton – Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church
Special Convention of the Diocese of SC - October 24, 2009

I would like to speak to Resolution #2 and to make a general statement to this convention gathered so I only have to step up to the microphone one time.

First I want to remind us of the term “broad church.” When I became an Episcopalian it was this term that attracted me most to the Episcopal Church – the fact that we could have “evangelicals” and “traditionalists” and “anglo-catholics” – and “conservatives” and “liberals” and everything in between – all coming together as one Body of Christ.

The part of the church that I represent is the “broad church middle.”
While we may not agree with everything that is decided at our National Church Convention – or decisions that are rendered by our Executive Council or the House of Bishops – it does not give cause to separate ourselves from those decisions, to begin any sort of withdrawal from those decisions or deem those decisions null and void.

In fact Bishop, as you stated in your address, our own Diocesan Canons state very clearly in Article I that “the Diocese of SC accedes to and adopts the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA and acknowledges this authority accordingly.” I simply cannot figure out, for the life of me, how withdrawing from anything brings us closer together.

The RR Dan Daniels of the Diocese of Eastern Carolina, who presided over the consecration of our own Bishop – The RR Herman Hollerith in Southern Virginia – The RR Porter Taylor in Western North Carolina – The RR Neil Alexander in Atlanta – The RR Charles vonRosenburg in East Tennessee – The RR Henry Parsley in Alabama – The RR Scott Benhase – the new Bishop in the Diocese of Georgia – The RR Dorsey Henderson in Upper South Carolina. These Bishops are “godly” “holy” “orthodox” bishops who are not “left wing radicals.” They are our neighbors and our friends and they represent the “broad church middle” – the Anglican “via media” – which is the Episcopal church of which I am a part – and make the following invitation.

There are many in this diocese – both clergy and lay – who are “broad church Episcopalians” and it is past time for our voices to be heard – for us to stand up and claim the church.

I am saddened by the direction this diocese is heading – I think it is destructive – and will do nothing but separate us more. I will not vote in favor of this resolution or any of the others as they are written.