The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Doctor William Lloyd Birch

Florence, SC

Sponsor: Rep. James Clyburn, (D-SC)
Date of Prayer: 04/29/2008

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

(Mr. CLYBURN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a pleasure for me to welcome and thank the gentleman and scholar who provided us with today's invocation. Dr. William Lloyd Birch hails from my congressional district. He is an ordained minister in Florence, South Carolina.

Over his illustrious ministerial career, Dr. Birch has served as interim pastor in more than 42 churches. Dr. Birch is the founder of the Sociology Department at Francis Marion University, and chaired it for over 30 years. Prior to his retirement, Dr. Birch was a family therapist, and chaired the South Carolina Board of Licensing.

Dr. Birch is known by many in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina as their professor, as the minister who baptized their children or performed their son's or daughter's weddings, as the interim pastor at their church, or as the counselor who guided them through a family crisis.

Many have also seen him riding his horses, fox hunting or playing the bluegrass music he loves. Many of us are grateful for his work throughout the Pee Dee communities in South Carolina.

He is joined here today by his wife of 57 years, Jean, and I thank both of them for their daughter Lindy's work in my office on behalf of the people of South Carolina and the Nation.


Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Dear Father,
we are so grateful for the blessings you have given to us. But the blessings of the past will not suffice for the needs of today. We know that if we commit ourselves to you, you will help us focus on the needs of our nation. We confess that so often we fall short of the expectations you have for us. We are tempted and so often we succumb to these temptations – we put ourselves before others – we fail to show our Brothers and Sisters the love you want us to demonstrate by the quality of our lives. As we face this day, help us to be honest, unselfish, compassionate people. What have we gained if we obtain success in the eyes of the world and yet lose the sense of your presence, your Will among us? May your Kingdom come. May your Will be done. We pray in the name of the Lord of our nation . Amen


To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory