GA - Bishop Long accused of coercing young males into sex

[Charlie09]

One of our local radio stations posted this video on their website this morning.
I just can't get into the mindset of someone that would write this kind of sermon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg2cg25jQyI&feature=player_embedded

I think in context - and without the white guy looking like Dana Carvey's church lady popping in and out, and the whole message - it would make sense in today's world. It's easy to make fun of something out of context, but when he's talking about in essence people bearing fruit - it makes sense. (I have never even heard of the guy before this thread...so I'm not really standing up for the guy, but I know that when pastors stand up against certain groups they are sometimes targeted. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.)

 

[lilmisssleuth]

Missizzy - That is what I was thinking of. I don't think it is a huge sex ring either, but you never know. This just was what popped in my head when I read about it. Thank you for keeping us updated with this

 

[believe09]

Did any of you watch his speech yesterday concerning the allegations? His words were very, very carefully chosen. I thought that was interesting. I think the textd pictures (alleged by the possible vics) were somewhat bizarre.

 

[Belinda]

I hadn't seen anything about texted pics. Where did you see that? I must have missed something in one of the links. Portraying himself as David against Goliath was nauseating. The fact that he never said he was innocent should have given his flock a clue, but they are all standing by him. Again, nauseating.

 

[believe09]

I hadn't seen anything about texted pics. Where did you see that? I must have missed something in one of the links. Portraying himself as David against Goliath was nauseating. The fact that he never said he was innocent should have given his flock a clue, but they are all standing by him. Again, nauseating.

I watched it on the news-there were two pictures of him in second skin type workout/triathlete type gear. I mean, super super tight. One outfit blue and one red IIRC. The dude is quite buff.

ETA: my mistake-Red and Black respectively.

 

[believe09]

Here is a link to the story. Apparently some of the others were not appropriate for your standard viewing audience.

http://primewriter.com/news-1246-headlines/?p=10064

 

[Belinda]

Ah, so the evidence begins to emerge. He's screwed.

 

[Missizzy]

I'm not so sure that these particular photos prove anything. I find them a good bit off but that's just me. The guy is built and if he was sending these to his wife or to his personal trainer, I would be fine with them. However.....

Here's a link to larger copies of the same photos:

http://hiphopwired.com/2010/09/23/b...hotos-released-attorney-defends-them-99999/2/

http://hiphopwired.com/2010/09/23/b...hotos-released-attorney-defends-them-99999/3/

 

[Belinda]

I believe they said there were a number of worse ones not being released. They could be of the same ilk. Who knows. I think the texts will be an important component.

 

[believe09]

I just love you Belinda....that was hilarious.

 

[Missizzy]

So, I've just completed my own private study over here. I have a handsome, tremendously athletically gifted son who happens to be black. He's 21. He too is "built" but he's a soccer player so his build is very different. Granted, he was not raised within a dynamic black church but rather a very liberal and accepting but not very ethnically diverse town.

I showed him the photos and asked him to tell me about him. He has no idea who Bishop Long is nor did I mention that the photos were of a pastor. I just asked him what he "saw". This is a transcript of our conversation:

Me: So tell me what you see.

S: Wow, that dude's got some body.

Me: He sure does. Anything else?

S: Those are really expensive Underarmors. I'm jealous. Hey, nice bathroom.

Me: It is nice. Anything else?

S: Um...he's not like selling himself of Craigslist, is he?

Me: That's what we're trying to figure out. Thanks sweetie.


Out of the mouths of babes. A young man of the same ethnic background. Athletic. Immediately picked up on something sexual with not a single clue from me. He never asked if this was for some sporting event or TV show or was a celebrity he didn't recognize. He focused on the guy's build, his expensive work out clothes, the fanciness of the surroundings, and the possibility that the man was posing in a sexual way to promote himself.

Hmmmm. Guess Bishop Long wouldn't want S on his jury.

 

[craftybatchy]

Under his leadership the Church has actively worked to rehabilitate homosexuals, advocated strongly for sexual purity and preached self-control. Methinks the Bishop doth protest too much.

There was one pic floating around of him wearing this bright purple, spandex
racer back tank top and black shorts. Definitely Craigslist material, imo.

 

[Missizzy]

Just to be clear, I am NOT imposing my judgement nor my spiritual beliefs on Bishop Long. I am merely pointing out some "lessons" available in the book he chose to use for guidance in his pastoring:

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

 

[angelmom]

I'm not so sure that these particular photos prove anything. I find them a good bit off but that's just me. The guy is built and if he was sending these to his wife or to his personal trainer, I would be fine with them. However.....

Here's a link to larger copies of the same photos:

http://hiphopwired.com/2010/09/23/b...hotos-released-attorney-defends-them-99999/2/

http://hiphopwired.com/2010/09/23/b...hotos-released-attorney-defends-them-99999/3/

I think there should be a NSFW or Kids warning on these links! I clicked on them while my 10yo dd was in the room - luckily she was interested in something else!!!

The pictures of Eddie are odd, but the ones on the sidebar of the site are the next best thing to .

 

[Trino]

If he is guilty, it's going to be hard to convict him. His bio is quite lengthy, on this board, that board, etc., plus he has powerful friends in metro Atlanta. Then, of course, the thousands who attend his church seem to support him.

What makes me think he's guilty is the fact that the last accuser does not live in the Atlanta area, whereas I think the others do.

 

[believe09]

If he is guilty, it's going to be hard to convict him. His bio is quite lengthy, on this board, that board, etc., plus he has powerful friends in metro Atlanta. Then, of course, the thousands who attend his church seem to support him.

What makes me think he's guilty is the fact that the last accuser does not live in the Atlanta area, whereas I think the others do.

That is what the Catholic Church and Ted Haggard believed as well .

 

[Trino]

"Long himself drives a $350,000 Bentley, bought a $1.1 million home in 2005 and favors gold necklaces and Rolex watches. When the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked him about the $3 million he received from the church and its charities between 1997 and 2000, Long was defiant."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130159112&ft=1&f=1001

See other fashions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zandile-blay/bishop-eddie-long-a-wolf_b_741058.html

Good grief. Thousands who attend his church support his lifestyle with contributions. Amazing.

 

[Belinda]

Do all these people really believe this is a good way to spend their money? They must since they keep giving it to him. I will never understand this mindset. Surely, they don't believe the money for all these things is falling from the sky.

 

[oh_gal]

"Long himself drives a $350,000 Bentley, bought a $1.1 million home in 2005 and favors gold necklaces and Rolex watches. When the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked him about the $3 million he received from the church and its charities between 1997 and 2000, Long was defiant."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130159112&ft=1&f=1001

See other fashions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zandile-blay/bishop-eddie-long-a-wolf_b_741058.html

Good grief. Thousands who attend his church support his lifestyle with contributions. Amazing.

Look at his eyes, or rather, the facial expression as a whole, both in his "work out" clothes ("Come here, you sexy thing, you want a piece of this??") as well as his "pastor" clothes -- doesn't he just look like the cat who ate the canary in that pic??? JMHO, of course.

I too, find it hard to grasp that otherwise intelligent people would give money to this man, to support his lavish lifestyle.

 

[Belinda]

Perfect description oh gal! Isn't the Bible very clear about those who relish wealth over goodness? Yet, all these mega-churches work under the premise that God wants everyone to be wealthy. How do people reconcile this in their minds? It's completely beyond me.