Schism Ch. 3 – Pt. 3: The Inevitable

Last Time: The third Business Meeting of 2011 continued as Deacon Calhoun warned the church members about becoming pawns of Satan.

October 8, 2011

After things settled down and we heard reports from the various committees, Trustee Ronald Brooks noted that the Planning Committee replaced the stolen license plates on the church van. People started laughing after the announcement for some strange reason. When my father asked Tr. Brooks about what measures had been put in place to prevent another theft, my father and Assistant Minister Zachary Toliver – who works for a lock company – suggested some ways to help Bro. Brooks and the church plan for a possible future robbery. Trustee Allen White spoke up, denouncing the suggestions because he himself could figure out various workarounds. 

Instead, Tr. White said his “better” idea that a majority of the members liked, “What we should do is get some personalized plates.”

Before a decision could be made, Sister Freda Watson talked about her frightening experience in the church that involved a policeman warning her about someone calling 911 from inside the church during one of her cleaning sessions. Though the officer thoroughly searched the church, they found no one.

Adding to the fear were Deacon Dewey Holly, Tr. White, and several other church members talking about people parking their cars and SUVs in the church’s parking lot during the night. Some unwanted guest went as far as to camp behind the church until Tr. White forced them to get out.

Once everyone calmed their nerves, we moved onto new business that focused on Deacon Holly’s decision to remain Chairman of the Deacon Board following his wreck, arrest and subsequent Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge. After some uncomfortable silence, Sister Gloria Henderson asked Dcn. Holly about his plans and if he needed help for his drinking problem. Before Dcn. Holly could respond, Sis. Henderson gave her opinion on the matter and requested Dcn. Holly do the right thing and step down.

Sis. Henderson was determined to make a case in favor of her mindset by reminding the congregation, Deacon Board, and Pastor Cyrus Payton that another deacon suffered from alcoholism in the past and was forced to step down. In Sis. Henderson’s view, letting Dcn. Holly stay Chairman of the Deacon Board was nothing short of favoritism and a showing of blatant ignorance to the truth.

The pro-Dcn. Holly members started chatting louder and louder, drowning out Sis. Henderson’s statements and questions.

Without warning, Dcn. Holly’s wife Deborah Holly demanded that Sis. Henderson stop her “tirade”, “You need to sit down!”

Suddenly, Sis. Henderson stopped talking. The room fell eerily quiet. Something was about to break loose.