Megachurch Pastor Eddie Long Leaves Church, After Wife Files For Divorce
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Eddie Long, the anti-gay preacher who was accused of sexually abusing four young men in his youth ministry, announced today he is taking a leave from his Atlanta megachurch to spend time with his family.
“I’m still your pastor, you will receive my direction,” Long told the congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
Vanessa Long, who has been married to the pastor for 21 years, filed divorce papers last Thursday, but withdrew them a few hours later.
But Vanessa Long’s change of heart was short-lived. Friday, her lawyers announced the divorce was back on.
“Mrs. Long continues to hope that this matter may be resolved expeditiously, harmoniously and fairly; however, she has determined that dismissal of her divorce petition is not appropriate at this time,” her attorney said in a statement.
Long’s accusers say he coerced them into sexual relations when the they were teenagers. The preacher settled with the accusers for an undisclosed amount last May. Some suggest he spent nearly $2.5 million to end the lawsuit. This summer, at his first public appearance after news of the allegations broke, Vanessa Long stood by her husband’s side.
The church is trying to put a good face on the most recent developments, and today told its Twitter followers, “The enemy wants us to think it isn’t well.”
Eddie and Vanessa Long have three children together, and he also has a son named Edward from his previous marriage.
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, which has more than 25,000 members, has been rocked by the scandal involving their “bishop.”
Elder Bernice King, daughter of slain civil right leader Martin Luther King, left the church this summer but denied she left because of the allegations surrounding Long having sex with young men in his youth ministry.
Long has a long history of preaching again gays, gay sex and gay marriage. He once led a march against gays through the streets of Atlanta, and described homosexuality as a “spiritual abortion.”
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“I’m still your pastor, you will receive my direction,”
How on earth is that possible? The Hubris of the Bishop is thick! I don’t believe the Bishop, or his followers/enablers, are well.
Posted by: Steve | December 4, 2011, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
““I’m still your pastor, you will receive my direction,”
How on earth is that possible?”
How else would he still be able to get paid if he didn’t continue being their pastor?
Posted by: Well of course... | December 4, 2011, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
You need to do some original reporting. Vanessa long never pulled the divorce filing or retracted her initial statement. New Birth sent out the mid-day Friday announcement. And her lawyer later made it clear that his office — not New Birth represents her
Posted by: Janet | December 4, 2011, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
Forgiveness is necessary for all. I am praying for the Long family. Jesus, on the cross said,” Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. Father, I pray for Bishop Long and his family that they may find peace in you.
Posted by: Pastor Sherry | December 4, 2011, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
When your own wife won’t stand with you that’s when you know its bad. maybe he had sex with these boys maybe he didn’t? All i know is that his hole family needs pryer
Posted by: nikkirael | December 4, 2011, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm
What does the bible say “men deceived and deceiving. How can he say to people that he is still their father and Vanessa is still their mother, when his house is so out of order. If I was his child I would flee just like the wife is doing. this this black hearted creature is completely deceived he’s a greedy wolf in sheeps clothing. Those people are like a garden planted that supplies his lavish lifestyle.
Posted by: gigimarie | December 4, 2011, 10:43 pm 10:43 pm
Maybe Pastor Eddie Long is not saved… Is he a wolf in sheeps clothes.. to destroy the belief of thousands of his followers… No church should stand on one pastor… there needs to be accountability … Church should not become an entertainment complex with mega stars and personalities.. the preaching of the bible should be first priority.. No need to wear fancy clothes, and walk around with status.. to impress other church goers.
Posted by: Josh | December 4, 2011, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
This bigoted person is just hiding behind religion and taking advantage of the weak-minded and desperate. Like all religious “leaders” he needs to control people; what they think, what they believe, how they act. He is a Jim Jones, but he’s not alone. The Catholic church “leaders” are just as bad. They interfere in medical decisions at Catholic hospitals and impose a purely patriarchal control on everyone even those that aren’t of that religion. Again, the need to control people is paramount because through control you can make yourself rich and powerful. Just like Eddie Long. Just like the Catholic church.
Posted by: GaLiberal | December 5, 2011, 12:00 am 12:00 am
Well you people can just judge Eddie L. Long by what them young men say. They say Eddie touched them but none of you guys was there too see him touch them so who are you guys to jugde ? my point exactly.
Posted by: Kimisha | December 5, 2011, 12:13 am 12:13 am
This only goes to prove that the fiercest anti-gay bigots are closeted gays themselves. This also goes to prove that no matter how much you “pray the gay away” it will never happen since homosexuality isn’t a disease and hence cannot be “cured”. But in this case, the guy threw himself over the helpless youngsters because he could which also shows how profoundly dangerous these sects that are based on a personality cult and call themselves churches really are. I sincerely hope that this case, alongside all the previous ones, will open the eyes of the “faithful” despite having been brainwashed for so long.
Posted by: Andrejs | December 5, 2011, 5:12 am 5:12 am
It is so sad that we STILL live in a society where many cultures and faiths stigmatize homosexuality. This causes many men to be sexually frustated and act out on younger, more vulnerable males. Culture is changing, and being gay is more OK than ever before. It’s OK to be gay, because there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s natural. It’s NOT a “choice”. The only ones who “choose” it are the one’s with the courage to accept it, and be whom they really are.
Posted by: Beegbolt | December 5, 2011, 7:38 am 7:38 am
It only so much a person can take.his wife has to live with this unrepairable damage.while she still trying to hold his hand in shame but with her head up.just thethought now that other people opion count.becuase it was a megachurch.and he EddieLong this may take years to heal.
Posted by: sharon thompson | December 5, 2011, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
If the woman of 21yrs leaves you when you are going through such a pivotal point in life, there is a problem. Wether that probelm is God telling a christain woman to Divorce her husband (the head of a church of God). Are you all following here! Or staying in a marriage with the “head of a church of God” is so much more unbearable that she’d rather defy the “good news” instead. For all that is uncertain, I do believe we know one thing that is, Mr Long hasn’t figured out yet that money can’t save his soul.
Posted by: Doc | December 6, 2011, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
I don’t believe all news, media wants to defame Christianity!
Posted by: peter | December 7, 2011, 5:35 am 5:35 am