Pastor Eddie Long Sex scandal snares mega-church : Two former members of Atlanta’s mega-sized New Birth Missionary Baptist Church filed charges Tuesday of homosexual abuse against their former pastor, Bishop Eddie L. Long. After attorneys for the widely known Long publicly denied those charges, a third man filed a similar lawsuit on Wednesday in DeKalb County Superior Court.
Shockwaves rolled through the church community as early morning news broadcasts reported the story, airing remarks from an attorney and spokesperson who claimed that “photos, emails and text messages” will support the charges against Long.
Local pastors offered varied reaction.
“Not only is Bishop Long susceptible to sins of the flesh, but every pastor and leader in the Christian church must be watchful,” said Dr. William M. Young, executive director of the Emotional Fitness Centers of Tennessee. “I have been in counseling for more than 40 years, and it’s just a fact that pastors are as susceptible to sexual sin as anyone else.”
Young said, “We are praying for Bishop Long’s family and the New Birth congregation.”
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., pastor of The New Olivet Baptist Church, warned against a rush to judgment.
“(First Lady) Sheila and I know what it’s like to go through the crucible of uninformed public opinion based on lies and insinuations,” said Whalum. “We urge Memphians and every Christian to pray. And if you don’t know the facts – and we don’t at this point – just shut up.”
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