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Bishop Eddie Long: What does Eddie Long scandal mean for authoritarian mega-churches?
Baptists — posted by anika palm on September, 24 2010 9:47 AM
Discuss This: Comments(1) | Add to del.icio.us | Digg it
Atlanta’s Bishop Eddie Long has yet to speak on the record since three young men alleged that he seduced them into
sexual relationships, but pundits are speculating that this scandal could mean the death knell for authoritarian
mega-churches.
The lawsuits filed by the men accuse Long of using his money, power and authority as the head of New Birth Missionary
Baptist Church to seduce and confuse them. The men, who are now in their early 20s, said their relationships with Long
began when they were in their late teens.
Long built the church from 300 members to its current congregation of more than 25,000. He is the unquestioned head of
the church and its affiliated operations, so much so that a mentorship program affiliated with the church has been named
after him and called the LongFellows program.
At The Root, writer Craig Washington declared Long’s scandal a warning to pastors who deem churches their castles and
suggested that people who doubt the stories of his accusers should think twice:
For many young people, the reality is that they are sacrificed on the altar built for pastors we have deified. We must
dismantle the cult of the clergy and other leadership frameworks that place male leaders above reproach. We must stop
regarding our cowardice as loyalty and take the risks to support our young when they are victimized.
Roman Catholic churches, in the wake of a sex-abuse crisis that has embroiled church leaders in dozens of countries,
have in many places worked to empower lay people to recognize and report abusive clergy.
Other analysts have called for large Protestant churches — and particularly large churches with overwhelmingly black
congregations — to be inspired by the scandal to end homophobic teachings and practices.
Long has not been seen publicly since news of the lawsuits broke. He reportedly will not speak publicly until Sunday,
when he preaches the sermon at New Birth.
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File under: abuse,Atlanta,Atlanta Journal-Constitution,Christian Leadership,clergy,Craig Washington,crisis,Eddie
Long,gay marriage,homophobia,mega-churches,New Birth Missionary Baptist Church,Religion
Dispatches,scandal,sex,The Root
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They will come out with a new song to sing in church. “Don’t Blow Me Bro.”
Reply Posted by: RockfordFiles | Friday, September 24, 2010 at 4:22 PM
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