Georgia

A federal appeals court in Atlanta maintained an earlier ruling that the rights of a former counselor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were not violated when she was fired for refusing to advise an employee in a same-sex relationship.

On Tuesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Northern District of Georgia dismissed Marcia Walden's lawsuit against the CDC, two of its employees, and the Computer Sciences Corporation, affirming that summary judgment be granted to the defendants.

The panel agreed with a district court that Walden failed to establish a cause for religious discrimination and that her religious and free exercise rights were not substantially burdened when she was removed from her counseling position at the CDC. more >>

A 14-minute video clip showing Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church being crowned by Rabbi Ralph Messer during one of the church's televised services has gone viral, with members of the Christian community expressing complete confusion over the video.

The episode took place during the Sunday, Jan. 29 service, as announced on New Birth's Facebook page as well as Messer's, and was watched by thousands. The YouTube clip, making the rounds on the Internet, was uploaded to the video network Jan. 31.

WATCH VIDEO OF EDDIE LONG BEING CROWNED KING HERE more >>

A popular political and economic analyst and African-American culture critic has stirred controversy with a column bashing Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church over his multiple sexual misconduct allegations, calling the Atlanta, Ga., minister a "bold-faced liar."

Dr. Boyce Watkins, a published author and Scholar in Residence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Syracuse University, bashed the Georgia minister, known for multiple controversies including alleged sexual misconduct with male church members. The critic expressed admiration that the young men who accused Long have been speaking out, "in spite of the consequences for doing so," which he expressed in a column in his online publication, Your Black World.

"They've been ridiculed and attacked by Eddie Long supporters, dealt with the stigma of being involved in a homosexual relationship, been publicly chastised by their attorney and lost hundreds of thousands (some say millions) of dollars by telling their secrets to the world," Watkins wrote. more >>

Bishop Eddie Long’s church in Georgia announced on Sunday that New Birth Christian Academy, which was expected to close down after the Christmas break, will reopen this week.

The academy in Lithonia in eastern DeKalb County will reopen through a cooperative agreement with Aurora Day School, Art Franklin, spokesman of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, said, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Franklin said the announcement was made during the Sunday worship service. Details of the agreement with the Aurora Day School, which has campuses in Tucker and Roswell, will be released during a press conference this week. more >>

Parents of third-graders in a Georgia suburb were shocked last week to find their children’s math homework laced with references to slavery and beatings.

The homework assignment, created by one teacher but passed out to others, was handed out at Beaver Ridge Elementary School in Norcross, Ga., and the questions were alarming.

“Each tree had 56 oranges. If 8 slaves picked them equally, then how much would each slave pick?” the homework assignment read. more >>

Bishop Eddie Long has apparently returned to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church after a month-long absence. The senior pastor had announced that he was stepping away from the pulpit to spend time with his family – an attempt to save his marriage with Vanessa Long, who has recently filed for divorce.

Long welcomed the New Year on the eve of 2011 with what appeared to be enthusiasm and vitality – telling his congregation "2012 is here! Shake off the remorse, shake off the depression, shake off the financial burden, start using your hands again and reconstructing!"

"God is more about your future than he was about your past," he urged at the "Watch Night Service." more >>