Eddie Long

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Eddie Long (born May 12, 1953 in Huntersville , North Carolina , † January 15, 2017 in Atlanta , Georgia ) was an African-American Baptist clergyman and television preacher .

Life

Career

Long grew up as the son of Reverend Floyd M. Long Jr. and Hattie Long. He graduated from North Carolina Central University in Durham with a degree in economics . In 1977 he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration . After briefly working in the private sector as a car salesman for Ford Motor Corporation , he studied theology and received a Master of Divinity at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta , Georgia.

In 1987 he became pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia , Georgia . Over the years, Long's sermons increased the membership of the congregation that became a megachurch . Eddie Long wrote several books during his pastor.

In 1994 he was appointed bishop of the charismatic Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, a Pentecostal movement aimed primarily at black people

In 2006 Long directed the funeral of Coretta Scott King , widow of American civil rights activist Martin Luther King . Four US presidents attended the funeral.

death

In August 2016, Long made a video public on Twitter and Facebook that showed the man, who had previously often been well-trained, showed a drastic weight loss. He cited a strict diet as the reason. He was responding to rumors of a life-threatening illness, which he later admitted. In September, however, he was optimistic that he would be able to preach on television again a month later. Long then continued to be combative, but his physical presence decreased significantly.

Long passed away on January 15, 2017, presumably of an aggressive form of cancer.

Controversy

Financial scandal

In 2005, it was announced that Long had made more than $ 3.07 million in cash between 1997 and 2000 with his nonprofit Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc. He is said to have financed a luxury life with cars, a private jet and a $ 1.4 million villa. In a three-year investigation, the United States Senate Committee on Finance tried to prove that he and five other municipalities had irregularities in their tax returns. However, this did not succeed. However, as a result of the investigation, the willingness to donate decreased in his community and he came under fire.

homosexuality

Eddie Long was considered an opponent of homosexuality and a representative of the view that homosexuality was a sin. Among other things, he supported and led programs that purport to "cure" homosexuals. In his community he promoted programs of “sexual reorientation”, which aim to “heal” gays and lesbians, as well as the therapy program “Out of the Wilderness”, which aims to transform homosexuals into heterosexuals.

In 2004, he led a march with Bernice King to the grave of their father, Martin Luther King Jr., who opposed same-sex marriage and called for an amendment to the Constitution to prevent such marriage.

In 2006 he took part in an event organized by the Interdenominational Theological Center in part, on the James H. Cone , a liberation theologian , should be honored. When he found out that Long should attend the event, he canceled his appearance. 33 former students demonstrated against his participation and questioned his teachings and beliefs, especially his belief that God can cure homosexuality.

The Southern Poverty Law Center named Long in 2007 as one of the worst homosexual haters in black theology and in the anti-homosexual movement.

Suspected sexual abuse

Long got into international media coverage in 2010 after four teenagers filed criminal charges against him for sexual abuse . Long is said to have persuaded the four to engage in sexual acts with him and then bribed them. He is said to have given them money and material gifts and even paid them through the church. Long denied the allegations. The proceedings were discontinued in 2011 after an out-of-court settlement. The parties agreed not to disclose the amount.

anti-Semitism

In 2012, a video was published in which Long and the messianic Jew Ralph Messer make fun of Jewish rituals. Messer wrapped Long in a Torah scroll and then worshiped him as king.

Private life

In 1981, Long married Dabarah S. Houston, with whom he had a son. The marriage was divorced shortly thereafter. His wife blamed his violent temperament for the failure of the marriage. Long vehemently denied this. However, his ex-wife was granted custody of their son in 1985.

Long married his second wife, Vanessa Griffin, in 1990. The couple had three children. The marriage was on the verge of failure after the abuse scandal became public. Divorce proceedings were pending between 2011 and 2012.

Works (selection)

  • 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

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ellen Eldridge, Ty Tagami, Shelia Poole: Bishop Eddie Long dies, church says . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 15, 2017, accessed January 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ Archived copy . Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved on August 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ Christopher Quinn: Bishop Eddie Long donates $ 1M to alma mater . In: Atlanta Journal-Constitution . August 14, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  4. ↑ Blake, John. "Titles from God: What's in a title? Quite a lot, to a new generation of pastors who leave 'the Rev.' behind in favor of more elaborate designations. " The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 12, 2002. SB1
  5. ↑ Melissa McNamara: 'She is deeply missed' . CBS News , February 6, 2017, accessed January 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ Atlanta Buzz Jennifer Brett: Bishop Eddie Long posts video explaining his lean new look. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
  7. ↑ EXCLUSIVE Bishop Eddie Long Reveals He Has Lost More Weight, Assures Congregation He Will Be Back in Pulpit. In: Christian Post. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
  8. ^ FOX: Bishop Eddie Long recovering from 'health challenge'. In: Fox 5 Atlanta. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
  9. ^ A b John Blake and Chandrika Narayan CNN: Controversial megachurch pastor Eddie Long dies at 63. In: CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Associated Press: Eddie Long, controversial megachurch pastor in Georgia, dies aged 63 . In: The Guardian . January 15, 2017, ISSN  0261-3077 ( theguardian.com [accessed February 23, 2019]).
  11. ^ Rachel Zoll: Televangelists escape penalty in Senate inquiry . NBCNEWS.com. July 1, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  12. ^ Bishop Long's church takes financial hit after scandal . In: Michigan Chronicle , March 9, 2011, p. A3. 
  13. ↑ CD Kirven: "Ministering Treachery" The Truth Concerning Bishop Eddie Long's Spiritual Wilderness . lezgetreal.com. September 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 24, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / lezgetreal.com
  14. ↑ Jeff Muskus: Eddie Long, Atlanta Bishop, Denies Accusations Of Sexual Abuse By Male Parishioners , huffingtonpost.com. September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010. 
  15. ↑ Ellen Barry: Atlanta 'legacy' march troubles rights leaders / King's daughter in anti-gay marriage protest . In: Los Angeles Times , December 11, 2004. 
  16. ↑ Bishop Eddie Long tackles controversy - New Pittsburgh Courier | HighBeam Research. November 5, 2012, accessed February 23, 2019 .
  17. ↑ Atlanta pastor says he will answer allegations Sunday - CNN.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
  18. ↑ Uwe Schmitt: Bishop Eddie Long: The arch-conservative preacher and the young boys . Die Welt , September 27, 2010, accessed January 17, 2017.
    Men allege sexual coercion by prominent Atlanta pastor . CNN , September 22, 2010, accessed January 17, 2017.
    Greg Bluestein: 4th Man Sues Ga. Megachurch Pastor. AP announcement on ABC News on September 24, 2010, archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on January 17, 2017 (English).
  19. ↑ Celebrity Preacher Eddie Long Denies Gay Sex Abuse Claims. In: AOL News. September 23, 2010, accessed February 23, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Shelia M. Poole, Christian Boone: Eddie Long case officially dismissed. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 27, 2011; archived from the original on November 23, 2011 ; accessed on January 17, 2017 (English).
  21. ^ Jewish leaders offended by Ga. Preacher's ceremony. In: Fox News. March 26, 2015, Retrieved February 23, 2019 (American English).
  22. ^ Bishop Eddie Long | Ex-wife accused him in divorce papers of abuse | ajc.com. October 1, 2010, accessed February 23, 2019 .
  23. ↑ Katherine Weber: Bishop Eddie Long Divorce 'Storm' Discussed by Wife Vanessa Long. In: The Christian Post. Retrieved February 23, 2019 .
personal data
SURNAME Long, Eddie
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American Baptist clergyman
DATE OF BIRTH May 12, 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH Huntersville , North Carolina
DATE OF DEATH 15th January 2017
Place of death Atlanta , Georgia