GA - Bishop Long accused of coercing young males into sex

[Missizzy]

The heartache is not over for these young men. I didn't realize that one still must stand trial for burglary:

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/28263003/detail.html

Eddie Long Burglary Suspect Breaks Silence

Note: The young mens' names are used throughout this article. In essence, the young man who will stand trial, worked as a security guard for the church. I guess that's why he was paid $40,000 per year.


And:

http://www.eurweb.com/?p=110151

Eddie Long Launching ‘New Birth’ Churches in Birmingham, Denver

"Bishop Eddie Long is launching satellite branches of his Lithonia, GA-based New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and announced Sunday that the first one is in Birmingham, Ala. The church is called New Birth Birmingham, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. And New Birth Denver is currently in the works.

Long also said the Lithonia megachurch recently received its certified audit back from 2010 and 2009. He didn’t explain why the audit was conducted. “All your money’s being done right and being calculated right,” he said from the pulpit, then asked parishioners with deep pockets to make larger donations ($500 to $1,000) as a seed for the ministry..."

more at link



Seed?? The audacity literally floors me. Bob Dylan had it sooo right:

"Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

I wonder if this audit is being made available to those parishioners or if they are supposed to take Bishop Long's word for it that their "money's being done right and being calculated right". I sure wouldn't feel comfortable taking his word as gospel truth...on any subject, but especially monetary contributions.

 

[lonetraveler]

Just how long will this church continue to support and enable this "snake oil salesman"? What is the difference between what this man is doing "in the name of God?" and what Jim Baker served time in prison for? Throw in the "sex offences" too and you wonder why the church is supporting him.:maddening:

 

[Missizzy]

lonetraveler--Now that you mention it, that's EXACTLY what he is. Didn't the ol' time snake oil salesman also take their act out west when things got a bit too hot back east?

Concerning the certified audit, I wonder if it has anything to do with the Congressional oversight committee. Long was one of the ministers targeted for closer inspection, IIRC. I agree, it should be available for all church members. If I were the pastor, I'd want full transparency and would release it to the public.


ETA: I see no document which is available to the public but here's an interesting theory posted by a blogger:

http://thisblksistaspage.wordpress....-birth-satellite-church-in-denver-co-wupdate/

 

[Missizzy]

It's pretty sad when the pastor who ordained you, publicly rebukes you. IMO, Bishop Long needs to listen to his elder.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/bishop-paul-morton-tells-eddie-long-to-repent-51533/

Bishop Paul Morton's Message to Eddie Long: Repent and Apologize

"Bishop Paul S. Morton, founder of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship that ordained Eddie Long as Bishop, has openly rebuked the Atlanta megachurch pastor and called him to repent of any sins committed in sexual coercion lawsuits that were settled last month.

In a sermon on June 19, Bishop Paul S. Morton, senior pastor of Changing A Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta, openly rebukes Bishop Eddie Long and urges him to repent for any wrongdoing in the sexual coercion case that was settled out of court in May. In a Sunday sermon that was posted online earlier this week, Morton called on Long to apologize to his church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and those who have stood with him...."

more at link

 

[Missizzy]

Sad, sad, sad.....but not really unexpected. Long really did a number on these boys/young men. The money is not going to be any sort of "repayment" for the damage done, that's for sure.

http://www.eurweb.com/?p=116143

One of Eddie Long’s Accusers Arrested on Drug, Gun Charges
July 1, 2011

"One of the four men who accused Bishop Eddie Long of sexual misconduct was arrested this week in Florida on suspicion of being a drug dealer..."

and

Jamal Parris, 24, was driving a white 2011 BMW in Miami Beach Tuesday evening when a Florida Highway Patrol officer noticed that it had no tags. Sgt. Seth Dubinsky stopped the car. When he approached it, he smelled marijuana, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday. Dubinsky searched the car and said he found 181 grams of marijuana, which is worth about $1,000 on the street. He said he also found 50 clear plastic baggies and a Taurus semiautomatic handgun. He said Parris also was carrying $1,250 in cash...."

more at link

 

[Missizzy]

And this surprises us?

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/new...l-misconduct-lawsuit-centino-kemp-20110727-es

Bishop Eddie Long Had Fifth Accuser in Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit
July 28, 2011

and

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/new...er-takes-to-facebook-centino-kemp-20110728-es

Bishop Eddie Long's Fifth Accuser Takes to Facebook During Settlement Talks
July 28, 2011

"...One source says CK, who was raised in the Bahamas, met Bishop Eddie Long years ago during a visit to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church while he was a teenage student in a Florida college. The relationship meant enough for him to tattoo Eddie Long's name on his wrist, followed by the words, “Never a Mistake, Always a Lesson.”

He didn't know the other young men and never filed suit, but our sources say he was part of the settlement in the Bishop Long case...."

more at links

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Two Bishop Eddie Long accusers break silence

(CNN) - "Two young men who last fall sued Atlanta megachurch leader Bishop Eddie Long for allegedly manipulating them into having sex when they were teens are speaking out against the pastor for the first time since settling with him out of court."

"On Wednesday, Jamal Parris and Spencer LeGrande, now in their early 20s, gave an exclusive interview to CNN Atlanta affiliate WSB, saying that they are haunted by their experiences with Long and that they are writing a tell-all book about what they say happened between them and the powerful pastor."

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/25/two-bishop-eddie-long-accusers-break-silence/?hpt=hp_c2

 

[Missizzy]

Good for them!! I wish Mr. Parris and Mr. LeGrande the very best in healing and moving forward. Many young men are watching them. They can truly have an impact on other young men's lives.

We all need to listen to what these men have to say. Bishop Long only wanted the world to see one facet of his personality. They've seen another.

 

[Missizzy]

I hadn't fully understood that by speaking out, the young men are most likely forfeiting the funds they received in a settlement. And yet they still chose to speak. I also didn't realize that each did not know of the others.

Here's another article about Parris and LeGrande:

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/eddie-long-accusers-break-1137725.html

Eddie Long accusers break silence on relationships with embattled bishop

"....By speaking out, Parris and LeGrande risk losing undisclosed monetary rewards outlined in the settlement, which is sealed. “The truth should’ve set [us] free,” said Parris. “I thought I could cover the pain up. I thought I could move, start over and everything would go away. I was terribly wrong. I’m living a lifestyle meant to crash.”

The money is irrelevant, LeGrande said. “I’m going to tell the world – money does not buy happiness,” said LeGrande. “When you sleep at night, the problems are still there. The money stuff, who cares about the number. “I feel like burning [the money],” he said....”

more at link

These two young men are quite perceptive. They see now exactly how they were groomed. They acknowledge the good that the Bishop brought into their lives. But each seems to have a clear line of demarcation as to where the good slid towards evil.


A bit O/T, but does Bishop Long's jacket (shown at the link below) bother anybody else?

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/25/two-bishop-eddie-long-accusers-break-silence/?hpt=hp_c2

 

[Missizzy]

What a decent, Christian man. Long's going to give those young "hoodlums" a second chance....because everyone deserves a second chance, right? There's a few surprises here. First, I hadn't realized that over $100,000 was stolen. I also didn't know that the settlement might be as much as $15 million. I wonder if those young men are forfeiting that by speaking out? And who paid this huge sum?

I'm assuming that the good Bishop wanted nowhere near that witness stand.

http://www.bet.com/news/national/20...s-everyone-deserves-a-second-chance.html.html

Eddie Long Drops Burglary Charges and Says Everyone Deserves a Second Chance

"Bishop Eddie Long is backing down against one of his accusers. This week the DeKalb County District Attorney in Georgia announced that he would drop charges against AB, Eddie Long’s former security guard at the church and one of the men who accused Long of sexual coercion. Long accused AB of breaking in and stealing over $100,000 worth of property from his office in June 2010. AB was originally scheduled to stand trial on burglary charges, but the prosecution team had to drop the charges after Long refused to testify...."

and

"...Perhaps after settling a sexual assault case against him for a rumored $15 million, the Bishop is trying to send a message requesting a second chance in his life as well..."

more at link

 

[Missizzy]

Where did all this money come from?

http://www.eurweb.com/2011/10/bishop-eddie-long-wants-his-money-back-from-accusers/

Bishop Eddie Long Wants His Money Back From Accusers
October 5, 2011

"Bishop Eddie Long is speaking out now about his sex scandal cases, but it’s not what you think. While he’s in a bit of legal trouble all the way around, his finances are more than suffering. And in what seemed to be a cry of desperation, the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church preacher is asking his accusers for his money back..."

and

“No one’s going to turn over the money just simply because you’ve asked for it. You’re going to have to earn it back by establishing your right to it in the courts...."

and

"...three of the five accusers, were sent letters last week from an Atlanta based law firm saying they had violated the confidentiality terms of the outlined agreement with long and the church. The firm is seeking at least $900,000 already paid to the accusers. Both LeGrande and Kemp [the young men have asked that their names be public] stated recently they were going to write books disclosing the dirty details and nature of their relationship with Long...."

and

"...Long recently settled a property lawsuit for allegedly defaulting on a $2 million bank loan."

More at link

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Lawyer of megachurch pastor's wife says divorce is on again

"The divorce of Bishop Eddie Long, the Georgia megachurch pastor once accused of coercing four young men into having sex, is on again, according to his wife's lawyer.

A change of heart was reported earlier Friday just hours after Vanessa Long had announced that she had filed for divorce from Long after 21 years of marriage."



http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...achurch-pastors-wife-says-divorce-is-on-again

 

[Missizzy]

Taking some time off. That's actually a great idea. I hope some prayer and introspection are on the agenda.

http://news.yahoo.com/eddie-long-taking-time-off-ga-megachurch-172440937.html

Eddie Long taking time off from Ga. megachurch
December 4, 2011

"Megachurch leader Bishop Eddie Long announced Sunday he's taking time off to focus on his family after his wife filed for divorce.

Long's spokesman, Art Franklin, said the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church leader told his congregation during church services that he will continue to serve as senior pastor at the church in Lithonia just outside Atlanta. But Long said he needs a sabbatical. Franklin declined to say how long the pastor's sabbatical from the church would be. He said Long and his family "are asking for privacy and sensitivity to their family...."

More at link

 

[angelmom]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/new-birth-school-closing-its-doors/nF93S/

Dozens of parents said they are left scrambling to find a school for their children after leaders at New Birth Christian Academy said the campus will not reopen next week.

The academy is housed inside the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. A spokesperson made it clear that the school closure has nothing to do with the sex abuse allegations against Bishop Eddie Long.

Oh, sure. Because school enrollment is not affected by the head guy being a child molester.

Whatever. :crazy::crazy::crazy:

 

[angelmom]

I cannot get over the size of this man's ego. He would give Casey a run for her money in the narcissism category!!!

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/new-birth-ceremony-with-1328502.html?cxtype=rss_news_81960

A ceremony held Sunday at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in which Bishop Eddie Long was wrapped in a sacred Torah scroll and carried upon a throne, has the Internet abuzz and Jewish religious leaders offended and questioning its appropriateness.

"He's a king. God has blessed him," said Rabbi Ralph Messer before covering Long in a scroll "[that] may still have the dust of Auschwitz and Birkenau." Messer referred to the Nazi extermination camps in Poland where millions of Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.

uke:

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Georgia bishop reveals he contemplated suicide after four teens accused him of sex assaults - however he refuses to reveal if he had sexual relations with the accusers

Bishop Eddie Long still leads the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia

Four men said in 2010 that Long had forced them to have sexual relations with him when they were teenagers

Long settled the case in 2011 - and still cannot discuss the details today

In his first interview since the case was settled, he told Steve Harvey about contemplating suicide

Also told the host that he and his wife Vanessa, who asked for divorce before withdrawing the petition, still had some challenges


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ung-men-talks-Steve-Harvey.html#ixzz49dwAc9bZ

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Eddie Long, controversial pastor of Georgia megachurch, dies at 63

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...astor-ga-megachurch-dies-63-article-1.2946958

 

[Jax49]

Megachurch pastor Eddie Long dead at 63

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/megachurch-pastor-eddie-long-dead/386255213