Eddie Long

Eddie Long profile,

Bishop Eddie Lee Long
Born	May 12, 1953 (age 57) Huntersville, North Carolina
Residence	Lithonia, Georgia
Nationality	American
Citizenship	USA
Alma mater	North Carolina Central University
Occupation	Pastor
Employer	New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Religion	Baptist
Spouse	Vanessa Griffin
Children	Eric, Edward, Jared, and Taylor
Awards	Trumpet Award

Eddie Lee Long (born May 12, 1953) is the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lithonia, Georgia, United States. Long first served as pastor in 1987 for a congregation consisting of just more than 300 members. Since his installation, New Birth’s membership has multiplied to well over 30,000 members.

Several men have filed a civil complaint that he has used his pastoral influence to entice or coerce them into sexual relationships. Mr. Long has denied all allegations made by the men.

Education

Long attended North Mecklenburg High School before attending North Carolina Central University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Long is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and he received his Master of Divinity degree from Interdenominational Theological Center. He holds a PhD in Pastoral Ministry from the International College of Excellence, a Bible college accredited by an organization not recognized by either the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or United States Department of Education, the two institutions responsible for recognizing educational accrediting institutions in the United States (see Accrediting Commission International). He has received honorary doctorates from North Carolina Central University, Beulah Heights Bible College, and the Morehouse School of Religion.

Career

After getting his undergraduate degree, Long worked in sales for Ford Motor Corporation but was fired due to inaccurate expense accounts. "He moved to Atlanta to study theology and became the pastor of a small Jonesboro, GA church". In 1987 he became head of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, which at the time at 300 members; under Long, membership grew to 25,000.

In addition to serving as the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Long has been active in the metro Atlanta community since the 1990s. He serves as a member on several boards, including the Morehouse School of Religion Board of Directors (Vice Chair); Board of Visitors for Emory University; Board of Trustees for North Carolina Central University; Board of Trustees for Young Life; Board of Trustees for Fort Valley State University; Board of Directors for Safehouse Outreach Ministries; and 100 Black Men Of America (honorary). In 2006, Long was unanimously voted as Vice Chair of Beulah Heights Bible College’s Board of Trustees. He’s also served as co-chair for the “Hosea Feed the Hungry” project since 2001.

Long was honored in 2005 at the Trumpet Awards for his leadership, dedication and service around the world.

In 2006, Long was chosen by the family of Martin Luther King, Jr. to host and officiate the funeral for Mrs. Coretta Scott King, wife of the late civil rights pioneer. The event was attended by four Presidents (George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter).

CNN has said "Long frequently denounces homosexual behavior." Long has ministered “homosexual cure” programs to recruit gays and lesbians for what he called “Sexual Reorientation” conferences and his church offers an ongoing “Out of the Wilderness” ministry to help convert homosexuals into heterosexual. In 2004, Long led a march with Bernice King to her father Martin Luther King, Jr.'s grave against same-sex marriage and to support a national constitutional amendment to protect marriage "between one man and one woman." A 2007 article in the Southern Poverty Law Center's magazine called him "one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement."

Long was a prominent supporter of George W. Bush's faith-based initiatives. His ministry received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Administration of Children & Families. Rev. Timothy McDonald suggested a link between Long's anti-gay activity and the grant saying "If you look at the black pastors who have come out with the faith-based money, they're the same ones who have come out with campaigns on the gay marriage issue".

Long features on rapper Ludacris' album Release Therapy where he delivers a speech about God and faith on the track "Freedom of Preach".

Controversies

On August 28, 2005 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution printed a front page spread accusing Long of mishandling funds that were funneled through a charity started by Long. The article reports that from 1997 to 2000, the non-profit charity, Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc., provided him with at least $3.07 million in salary, benefits and the use of property. Long contended that the charity did not solicit donations from members but instead gained its income from royalties, speaking fees and several large donations.

In 2006, Long's appearance at Atlanta's Interdenominational Theological Center's graduation stirred up controversy, and led to some students discussing a boycott. Long's invitation prompted Black liberation theologian James Cone—who was scheduled to receive an honorary degree—to boycott the ceremony. Thirty-three graduating seniors sent a letter to the seminary's president "questioning Long's theological and ethical integrity to be their commencement speaker." Many students did not agree with Long's beliefs that God can "deliver" homosexuals and his teachings on prosperity.

Sex scandal lawsuit

On September 21 and 22, 2010, Maurice Robinson, Anthony Flagg, and Jamal Parris filed separate lawsuits in DeKalb County Superior Court alleging that Long is a sexual predator who used his pastoral influence to coerce them into a sexual relationship with him when they were teenagers. On September 24, Spencer LeGrande, a member of a New Birth satellite church in Charlotte, North Carolina filed a similar suit, making him the fourth man to file a lawsuit claiming sexual misconduct by Long. Father Edward Beck of Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church has said because the plaintiffs were adolescents, generally ages 15 to 19, when the alleged sexual improprieties occured, that the illness of the sexual preference of adults for mid-to-late adolescents is ephebophilia, not pedophilia.

The plaintiffs state that Long placed the men on the church’s payroll, bought them cars and other gifts, and took them separately on trips to desinations such as Kenya, South Africa, Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad, Honduras, New Zealand, and New York City. The lawsuits read "Long would discuss the Holy Scripture to justify and support the sexual activity." Flagg's suit claims that Long presided over a "covenant" ceremony between the two of them. Flagg's attorney said "it was essentially a marriage ceremony, with candles, exchange of jewelry, and biblical quotes".

Long has denied the allegations through his attorneys and spokesman. Long had scheduled a news conference and was to be interviewed by Roland Martin during a segment on the Tom Joyner Morning Show on September 23 to discuss the two lawsuits. However, the lawsuit filed by Parris on September 22 prompted Long's team to cancel his appearance at both events. Martin did speak with Long's attorney on the Tom Joyner Show. The revelation of of the fourth lawsuit caused Martin to say "for the sake of the church, Long and his family, he needs to remove himself from the pulpit as the leader of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in order for the issue to be resolved to its conclusion".

Georgia gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes canceled a fundraiser that Long was to co-host. Ted Haggard, who pastored a megachurch until a gay sex scandal forced him to resign said "Long deserves a fair hearing and ... if the accusations are false, he will survive the ordeal."

Personal life

Long was born in Huntersville, North Carolina, to Floyd and Hattie Long and graduated from North Mecklenburg High School in 1972. Long is the husband of Vanessa Griffin Long and the father of four children, Eric, Edward, Jared, and Taylor.

Books

I Don't Want Delilah, I Need You

Power of a Wise Woman; What a Man Wants, What a Woman Needs

Called to Conquer

Taking Over

It's Your Time!

Gladiator: The Strength of a Man

The Blessing in Giving

Deliver Me From Adam

(source:wikipedia)