The Long Fellow Saga – Case Dismissed “Under Prejudice”

Secrecy is the freedom tyrants dream of. Bill Moyers

 

 

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In case you were distracted over the Memorial Day weekend and missed the breaking news regarding Eddie Long, we wanted to bring you up to date. And if you’re sitting there wondering who in the world is this Long fellow, take a look at the following news clip which aired when the sex scandal first broke. 

 

When Eddie Long, an Atlanta megapastor, first came under fire, TWW was keeping a close watch. Here are just two of our posts on the debacle.  

 

Bishop Eddie Long Accused of Seducing Young Men

 

The LONG Saga – David vs Goliath?    

 

According to an Atlanta Journal Constitution article,   “Documents were filed late Friday in DeKalb County State Court confirming the sexual misconduct case against Bishop Eddie Long has been dismissed "with prejudice," one day after it was revealed a settlement had been reached.The dismissals, first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, prevent the four defendants from suing Long again for the same alleged offense. Reaction to the settlements by current and former members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church was mixed though most were relieved the case had been resolved. Long, pastor of the Lithonia megachurch, which has an international following, has denied the men's allegations through a spokesman shortly after they first became public in September and told his congregation he planned to "vigorously" fight them.”

 

Here are just a couple of reactions by members of Long’s church as cited in the above AJC article:  

“Oliver said it doesn't bother her that she may never know the terms of the settlement. "I'm still steadfast," she said. "I know what he's done in my life, and I know what he has done in the lives of others.”

 

Kamelya Hinson, a Web content editor who lives in Decatur, said the settlement has not shaken her faith. "It doesn't make me think he's guilty or anything," she said. "I decided when this came out that I loved my pastor unconditionally. Even if he came out and grabbed the mic and said ‘I'm guilty,' it wouldn't change the way I feel about him. I wouldn't be angry like a lot of people are. You can't walk away after 15 years of being a member of a church." Hinson said it doesn't bother her that she may never know whether the allegations are true. ‘He's done 1,000 good things,’ she said, ‘and he may or may not have done four really bad things.’’   New Birth Missionary Baptist Church released a statement explaining that the decision was made “to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry.”

 

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Long fellow saga is that the settlement terms are unknown and that the matter will never be discussed.   The Associated Press also covered this important news story in an article entitled “Ga. pastor looks ahead after settling lawsuits”. It begins as follows:  

 

“The crowd still cheered for Bishop Eddie Long as he took the pulpit Sunday, but gone was the air of defiance that defined his appearance eight months ago when he rallied his congregation to battle amid lawsuits accusing the megachurch pastor of sexual misconduct. Just days after settling the lawsuits filed by four young men who used to attend New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, the message was one of progress and prosperity to the several hundred gathered. The choir opened the two-hour 8 a.m. service with the gospel hymn "Moving Forward," which began: "I'm not going back, I'm moving ahead. Here to declare to you my past is over." Long addressed a far smaller group than the one gathered back in September, when he compared himself to the Bible's ultimate underdog and vowed to fight like David versus Goliath against accusations that he abused his spiritual authority and coerced four young men into sexual relationships with gifts including cars, cash and travel. Then, thousands of supporters and observers packed the 10,000-seat sanctuary, which took on the atmosphere of an arena.”

 

The allegations against Long and subsequent “dismissal of the case “with prejudice” doesn’t sit well with some in the Atlanta area. According to the AP article,   “Goldie Taylor, a social commentator on African-American issues who lives near the church, said the subdued atmosphere came as no surprise to her. ‘‘He has fractured a body of Christ’" she said.’"He continues to lead what is a declining congregation. I think he owes it to them to participate, if he can, in their healing. Whether he can or not is really up to his congregation. Leading sometimes means walking away.’’

 

It is important to emphasize that if indeed there was a monetary settlement, Long’s flock will be footing the bill for whatever “sins” may have occurred. The AP article states:   "If it's a dollar or $15 million, it is coming from the community that supports that institution," said Taylor. "Those community stakeholders deserve to see you prove your innocence. By and large, people are interpreting this decision to settle as guilt."

 

Shortly after the case against Long was dismissed “with prejudice”, a high regarded member of the congregation announced her departure. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King., Jr., plans to leave New Missionary Baptist Church to start a new ministry. The Christian Post provides the details regarding King’s decision.   The Christian Post article begins as follows: “Bernice King confirmed during a radio program Tuesday that she is leaving Bishop Eddie Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church after more than eight years as a member. King said her decision to leave comes as she pursues a new assignment from God. Speaking to Praise 102.5, King said she served her last day as an elder and member of Long's Atlanta megachurch this past Sunday. She also clarified that she didn't "resign" from any position since she was never employed by New Birth. "I'm just no longer a member of New Birth," King told Praise 102.5 FM. King, the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said she has spent the past two years praying about her next assignment.”

 

According to the Christian Post article:   “King's departure from New Birth on Sunday came just days after a settlement had been reached in a sexual misconduct case between Long and four young men. Long was accused in the lawsuits of using his position and lavish gifts to coerce the men into sexual relationships. Radio host Lewis addressed speculation that her leaving had something to do with Long's settlement in the case. Although he didn't directly mention the case, Lewis asked King to respond to people who ask why all these "things" were happening at the same time. "I've always followed what I believed to be the voice of God and I've sought to be obedient to that voice," responded King. "I know that I have a pastoral calling on my life and I have to accept it. I'm in the process of pursuing that." She added, "I did what I felt what was appropriate in leadership, which was sit down and talk with him and gave him the timetable of when I would leaving. I didn't just leave." "That was the decision the Holy Spirit placed in my heart, which was Sunday, May 29. I have never wavered from that." What is the calling that King will pursue? "I'm going to launch a ministry … I'm going to spend the next several months preparing and building a foundation for that," she said. King didn't give any further information on her ministry but did say that God has told her to raise "kings for the Kingdom."

 

Maybe that’s the silver lining of the dark clouds that have been hovering over New Birth Missionary Baptist Church these past eight months. We earnestly pray that Bernice King will indeed be able to raise up godly “kings for the Kingdom”.

 

Lydia’s Corner :  1 Samuel 8:1-9:27, John 6:22-42, Psalm 106:32-48, Proverbs 14:34-35

Comments

The Long Fellow Saga – Case Dismissed “Under Prejudice” — 11 Comments

  1. Out here in my locale, in the goodly town of Temecula, a noted large congregation of Bible believing souls hired a convicted felon and registered sex offender as an associate youth pastor. There was quite a flap about it in a local newspaper, but it has since died down.

    Said new hire of this mega-biggie church was glad to be accepted in a Godly spirit of conciliation & forgiveness in the spirit of St. Paul’s New Testament injunctions on such.

    Ironically, it was the same church leadership that crashed city council meetings in Temecula and got into angry shouting matches with council members over the granting of a go-ahead for Muslims in the area to construct a new Mosque.

  2. Muff

    I have a question for those who hire sex offenders to work with youth. Since the recidivism rate is somewhere in the high 80s low 90th percentile, an illustration is in order. If you knew that you had a 80-90% chance of your plane crashing when you flew, how often would you fly?

    Sorry I have been silent, son graduated from high school last nite and I am taking him to orientation at college.

  3. Dee,

    I’m still convinced that society’s reaction and post-conviction treatment of pedophiles is largely responsible for the high recidivism rate. I think that Church is at least attempting to do the right thing, Of course, I also would hope that with compassion they are using wisdom and have constant monitoring and safeguards in place. I would also hope that they make any parents of children who will be in contact with this person aware of the situation in advance…parents still should have the right to say “no”.

  4. Dee,
    There are a number of different recidivism rates, which is why we need to modify how we treat and respond to sex offenders. One is for a one-time offender like a 17 or 18 year old who has sex with a post-puberty girlfriend. There the rate is essentially zero. We also have a low rate of recidivism for a class of more adult offenders who were charged with sex with a 16 or 17 year old — due either to mistake of age (not considered a defense to the charge), by idol worshiping seductive behavior by the 16 or 17 year old, or by false accusation (happens quite a bit — get rid of the strict teacher).

    The literature talks about two distinct types of other offenders: one-timers and predators. It is the latter that are a threat to re-offend. Some experts believe that many of the one-timers are in fact falsely convicted, but others are just as shocked by what happened as we are and are extremely unlikely to re-offend.

    Predators are those “groom” their victims over time, or who abduct a child, and they are highly likely to re-offend.

    Without knowing the specifics of the case, it is impossible to know whether someone will re-offend. The specifics however, can be very useful in identifying the predator, and those are the ones we all need to watch out for.

    BTW, I know of a person on the RSO list who has never re-offended sexually, but is a habitual burglar. His complaint is that he cannot get a job because he is on the RSO list for having sex with a 17 year old when he was 19.

  5. Arce, I was unaware of the details involved, but I suspected the premise to be correct. The media does love to bundle unrelated items when it makes something more sensational.

    Would you also agree though, that like your burglar, without an incentive, i.e. the ability to return to society with a fresh start, that recidivism is even more likely than it would normally be?

  6. @ Karlton: two members of my family were conned by a “model prisoner” (many burglary convictions) whom they’d befriended. Guess whose house he and his buddies hit shortly after he was sprung?

    (I realize that’s only one case, and therefore highly anecdotal, but still… he wasn’t exactly a Jean Valjean type.)

  7. Studies have repeatedly shown the value of pre-release programs, such as education, counseling, work preparation, etc., as well as active parole programs (note few are now, cuts come to the reentry programs and diversion programs (drug rehab rather than incarceration in a prison for low level drug offenders)), and diversion programs result in a lower rate of re-offending, so dramatically lower that they more than pay for themselves in reduced costs for incarceration, courts, DAs, etc. One of the most effective diversion programs is rapid pre-trial release for low level offenders so that they do not lose contact with family, job, community resources while sitting in a cell awaiting determination of guilt and punishment, frequently for months and in some cases years.

  8. Arce

    I agree with you. I am most concerned about the pedophile, not the 18 year old kid who has sex with a 15 year old and gets caught and convicted. You are right. There are two types of offenders. Please read today’s post which goes up in a minute. It is more on this subject.

  9. My remarks about services that can reduce recidivism was addressing Karlton’s point, and was not specific to sex offenders. I am of the opinion that there are many sex offenders who are incapable of being rehabilitated — those who are called predators. That is, those who prey upon the young. It is especially the case with those who prey upon pre-pubescent children that there is a very high risk of recidivism.

  10. The Associated Press also covered this important news story in an article entitled “Ga. pastor looks ahead after settling lawsuits”.

    And every young man who is around Long better keep looking behind.

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