I received an e-mail from Jared Holloway directing me to a post on his personal blog and he graciously gave me permission to re-post it here. Since this blog began, Jared has been an active commenter and a voice of reason from the CEC. His thoughtful comments and respectful tone have always been a pleasure to encounter whenever he cared to contribute his two cents. Read his post below or go to his blog here. It’s definitely worth a read.
My own prayers continue for the Holloway family.
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I guess…
Posted by jzholloway on October 17, 2009
I never wanted to go here… well… yeah I did, but I hoped, even due to my nature, that I would never have too, but I do, and I do it humbly, and sadly…
First, I want to say that I love the Charismatic Episcopal Church… ICCEC, etc… however, I am discouraged by a few things, mainly, how my father, Bishop John Holloway, has been treated since his stroke in June of 2007.
In June of 2007, after the last night of the Mid-South Diocese convocation, my father suffered a terrible stroke. Since then, in absolute disbelief of doctors, and the clergy of the diocese and the CEC, he has recovered dramatically. However, praise be to God, this is not my concern.
My concern, is the taking care of my father, his wife, and his two youngest children. First, the Canons of the ICCEC state that the Communion will take care of clerical families in need after a death or in a case where the clerical member can no longer serve… if you want the reference, please let me know, I have both a hard copy and a soft copy of the canons. At first, this happened, however, after many excuses… the best being that my mother was receiving more income than anyone else in the diocese… a lie… it has decreased at timed intervals… coming soon to zero support. On the lie, it is easy to look at those employed by the state… and their income, and to make it even easier… certain clergy spouses made more than given to my mother for my father’s care and my families care. Second, we have been assured that the mortgage would be taken care of… no matter what… yet my mother has until Dec. 1.. this year… to be out of the house, unless God provides a miracle… in other words… no help on the mortgage… I was also promised my dad would have visitors of CEC origin… beyond those who have been faithful… very few… I can count them on one hand… well, maybe two… this has also not happened. Lastly… for some reason… as retired clergy, my father cannot be mentioned on the Mid-South Diocese web site… even though retired clergy, etc are almost always mentioned… keep in mind… with out Bishop Holloway… the Mid South Diocese would not exist, the Committee on Missions would have stalled, the Committee on Canons would have stalled, and St. Michael’s Seminary in the Southeast would not exist. He and Abp Chuck Jones would not be Bishop’s Tigger and Pooh… and the Philippines would not be the same. St. Paul commands us to honor our fathers and our mothers… well my father is more than my father… more than a father for the Mid South Diocese… he is a Father for the CEC… the ICCEC… and the Church… If I am wrong, please correct me… but remember… I know his faults… like I know mine… I was also his prime assistant for his committees, putting everything together… and I was also one of two sons who would sit, with a beer and a cigar who would sit and BS with him… I know him better than most… which is sad, because as our current Patriarch will remark.. we are a Communion based upon the Pro-life movement… I would say he needed to be there in 1992… we are a communion based on relationships…
In closing.. please pray for my father, mother, Josiah and Hannah… God called them to Thomaston, Upson County, Georgia… I hope is is more than just to have a stroke and get foreclosed on with nowhere to go…
Pax Christi… JZH
4 comments
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October 19, 2009 at 6:45 pm
anon4cec
Yes, it is very unfortunate, but I think that it highlights the sad fact that the CEC (in the US at least) is losing the strength to live up to its commitments. As more churches are closed, the membership will continue to shrink along with the financial contributions. The current leadership become more like figureheads, and any promises they make have nothing to back them up.
Jared, may the Lord have mercy on your family.
October 19, 2009 at 8:18 pm
therestofthestorynow
There has to be more to this than meets the eye. Weren’t the Holloways supported at the same amount they were receiving prior to the stroke for a year or more? How can they be losing the house if they were receiving a housing allowance? Were the mortgage payments not paid with the money given to them? Usually a foreclosure does not take place until someone is several months in arrears. Granted the CEC is not a large denomination so how can one expect unlimited finances for life?
I understand Jared is upset over his father’s illness, and rightly so. Anyone would be. But to blame the CEC for all their financial problems is ridiculous. It’d be interesting to see what the finances were like before all this happened.
I cannot imagine the CEC allowing the Holloway’s to lose their home. The least they should do is cover the monthly mortgage payments, utilities and a stipend for food. From what i understand, they have been doing that plus more ever since Bp. Holloway was struck down.
Jared, I pray the Lord will supply for your parents. As the eldest son, I also hope you will help support them too.
October 19, 2009 at 8:33 pm
papaz
Jared,
Your post fills me with grief. You and I may have had differences based on points of view, but your dad and your family remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Even when the CEC crisis was hottest, your dad’s health has been of concern to me
http://papaz.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
and that concern continues.
Grace and peace,
Papa Z
November 6, 2009 at 2:24 am
jzholloway
First of all… for anyone who felt like I was trying to be malicious towards the CEC, I wish to apologize and ask for forgiveness. That was never my intention, and I am still a faithful and loyal member of the CEC, attending Lifepath Church in New Port, RI.
I would like to address some things to therestofthestorynow…
Yes, in the beginning, my family was given money – enough to virtually to cover everything. For reasons of which I am sure are genuine, that amount continued for about a year I believe, and has gradually decreased… going to sometime next year… I am not sure if it is January or not, to zero. While the amount that was given was enough to cover the mortgage and all the other bills, including medicine and special needs for my dad, yes, the mortgage was being paid… in fact, it was up until June of this year, when one of the cuts in the amount happened, my mother was able to pay the mortgage, since then it has not been possible. Second, I do not expect “unlimited” finances for life, and I, nor my family, ever have. All my mother has wanted is a roof over her head, food on the table, and the finds to get her (she had stage 4 lymphoma the year before the stroke) and dad’s medicine.
I am not upset over my dad’s illness, in fact, in ways, as God always does, it has not been a “blessing,” but it has not been a curse either. For the finances before, ask the 150 people who received two bags of groceries a week every Wednesday at noon, my dad gave everything that he was and had for those in need, even at the expense of everything else. Acts 4:32-37 should be a good reference point.
About the CEC not letting my parents lose the home, I was under the same impression, by direct source. I do not know what has happened since August, I no longer live in Georgia, and I was just as shocked by my mother’s announcement on facebook at the beginning of last month as everyone else.
I agree, the mortgage payment, and stipend for food and needed medicine would be great, in fact, that is all I have ever wanted.
Asx his eldest son, I wish I could be in Georgia taking care of him, etc, however, I am in Rhode Island, with my wife and newborn daughter, and I must also provide for them. When I can do something, I will, etc.
Lastly, I am not mad, nor do I wish to cause any strife or anyone’s “justification.” For causing strife and possible misunderstanding, I do ask everyone for forgiveness. Again, I thank everyone for their prayers, love, and support, both within the CEC and without. For more information on the support effort, please visit the following webpage:
http://hollowayfamily.wordpress.com
Thank you all, God Bless,
Saepe Cogitamus,
Jared Holloway