Father Tirman responds to the Notices of Inhibition
Links below Fr. Tirman's response to copies of pertinent documents
St. Michael the Archangel Anglican Church
Post Office Box 392 Westfield, Indiana 46074
Statement by the Reverend Dr. Thomas Gregory Tirman concerning the serving of the Notice of Inhibition against him and Deacon Chuck Conover by Catherine Waynick, Bishop of Indianapolis
St. Patrick of Ireland 2007
Dear Friends,
We received word today via separate, but identical, certified letters (other than our names), that the Reverend Charles (Chuck) Conover and I have been inhibited by Catherine Waynick, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis effective yesterday March 16, 2007.
We wish to acknowledge the receipt of these letters, and express our thankfulness to her and the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Indianapolis for them both. And though we are quite flattered by the attention, we do wish to point out that both Deacon Conover and I retired from our active ministries in the Episcopal Church, very publicly on December 31, 2006. We are now clergy in the Diocese of Bolivia.
It should be said that our decisions to retire from the Episcopal Church did not come without a lot of thought and prayer either. Though only 45, I was a life-long member, and Deacon Conover came to the Episcopal Church close to 50 years ago. We both have been ordained a long time too. I was ordained in 1989, and Chuck in 1992.
But as Orthodox Anglican Christians, the actions of the Episcopal Church over the past few years were difficult for us, including actions here in central Indiana. The Episcopal Church has come into a state of impaired or strained Communion with the majority of the worldwide Anglican Church. That disturbed us. But rather than wage a battle of leading our parish out of the Episcopal Church, we both chose to retire instead. But we did so with dignity, publicly, and in accordance with the Canons of the Church.
Neither Deacon Conover or I have any intention of renouncing our Holy Orders, and feel strongly that we have not abandoned the faith of the Church. Like many in the Anglican Communion, we believe that the Episcopal Church has instead.
The focus and agenda of this action is but a paper tiger. It aims accusations at faithful leadership in a clear attempt to discredit us and demean our character, and we can show the well to be far deeper than this. Yet we profess that standing in faith for what we believe is far more vital for us as clergy, particularly when those who are now calling for our obedience are being called to obedience themselves in the worldwide Church. In truth, we are clergy outside their jurisdiction and should not be their concern.
Once again, we wish to thank the Bishop of Indianapolis for drawing attention to the clear distinction between her position and ours. We are certainly not afraid of the truth or of issues here that need to be brought into the light. And we welcome this opportunity to be faithful witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is to say, in faith, we intend to continue to stand for what we believe. We are reminded of the words of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms who was facing similar circumstances when he said, “Here I stand: I cannot do otherwise, so help me God!. Amen.”
We shall do the same.
Faithfully,
Tom Tirman+
The Reverend Dr. Thomas Gregory Tirman
Link to Copies of Inhibition Letters
Link to Waynick Pastoral to be read or disseminated about Inhibitions
MS Word Link to Fr. Tirman's Statement on Inhibitions