Congratulations to the REVEREND Essie Diane Holloway!

On Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 5pm the Shiloh Baptist Church of Trenton, New Jersey ordained its newest pastor.  Reverend Dr. E. Diane Holloway has been a lifelong member of Shiloh.  Since eight years of age she has been a lead vocalist in various choirs.  In 2002, the Lord directed her to New Brunswick Theological Seminary for study.  As a part of her study, she completed her supervised ministry experience at the Bethany Baptist Church in Lindenwold, NJ. In 2006, Minister Holloway graduated Cum Laude from New Brunswick Theological Seminary.  She earned her Master of Divinity Degree writing her thesis paper, "African-American Clergy Women, Baptist Ordinations and Senior Pastors: A Stained Glass Ceiling." In 2007 she was licensed as a Minister at Shiloh Baptist Church.  In 2011, she obtained a Doctoral of Divinity Degree with her thesis entitled: "Church Stewardship and Community Transformation: A Case Study of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Managing God's Resources" Currently, Rev. Holloway serves as the Pastoral Assistant to the Reverend Darrell L. Armstrong.  In this capacity, she learned why being a pastor is a "calling!"

According to Holloway:

It requires an inordinate amount of love and sacrifice because the work of the pastor is extremely demanding. The pastor has to have an empathetic view of the church and ministry and be willing to place himself/herself in the position of the 'other' as Jesus often did. The pastor not only preaches and teaches but also Shepherd's the congregation.  He/she serves individuals of various generations within family structures who experience grief resulting from brokenness in their lives.

Senior Regional Pastor of ABCNJ, Rev. Dr. Lee Spitzer and Rev. Erin Phillips, Associate Regional Pastor of Capital Association, ABCNJ welcomed Rev. Dr. Diane Holloway into the family of ordained ministers with the laying on of hands, prayer and a presentation of the Certificate of Ordination.