Shipps was born in Bordentown, New Jersey and graduated in 1942 from William MacFarland High School.

He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and assigned to a naval facility in Savannah, Georgia, but later sailed on ships in the North Atlantic.

[2] After his military discharge, Shipps attended the School of Theology at The University of the South and received his B.D.

Shipps was elected bishop coadjutor on September 15, 1983, on 11th round of balloting from a field of 35 nominees.

During Shipps' tenure as diocesan bishop, the Diocese made headlines when a former Assembly of God minister, Stan White, lead his independent congregation to join the Episcopal Church en masse and as Christ the King Church, Valdosta, became a congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.