Georgia

Bishop T.D. Jakes recently responded to the Eddie Long's settlement in the sexual misconduct, saying that Christians should still pray for Long's church because they have no authority to say anything else.

In September, four young men filed lawsuits alleging Long using his position and gifts to coerce them into sexual relationships. Long, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the Atlanta area, told his congregation a few days after the suits were filed that he would vigorously fight the charges.

When the allegations against Long became public, Jakes publicly addressed the case before his own congregation, The Potter's House in Dallas, saying, "Christians should just pray." He also told his flock during the Sunday service, "When all this is over, one thing is for sure – somebody, if not everybody in it, is going to need the blood [of Jesus Christ]." more >>

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is denying rumors that Bishop Eddie Long's wife, Vanessa, has moved out of the couple's house, calling the claims "completely and absolutely false."

"Recently, some blog entries have surfaced claiming to have anonymous sources stating that New Birth First Lady Elder Vanessa Long has moved out of the house. That claim is completely and absolutely false," said church spokesman Art Franklin in a statement Tuesday on behalf of New Birth. "Mrs. Long is very much a loving, dedicated and committed wife and mother."

The rumors surrounding Mrs. Long's departure recently escalated in the weeks following Eddie Long's announcement that his sexual misconduct case was settled out of court. Four young men filed lawsuits last fall accusing the Atlanta megachurch pastor of coercing them into sexual relationships. In May, both parties reached a settlement and the lawsuits were dismissed in court. more >>

Creflo Dollar recently came out in support of his fellow preacher friend Eddie Long and rebuked those who left Long's church, calling them hypocrites.

"I don't know what is with the church. When you have a wreck, you expect for God to forgive you and everybody else," Dollar said as he addressed his 30,000-strong congregation last weekend.

"Don't let the preacher have a wreck now. Then you become self-righteous and you become judgmental and you're going to leave the preacher for his wreck when you [are the one who had] more wrecks." more >>

Bishop Eddie Long defied critics who said his church is collapsing by announcing Sunday that the Lithonia, Ga.-based megachurch is starting a New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.

The announcement of the start of New Birth Birmingham comes just weeks after news broke that New Birth plans to open a satellite location in Denver. New Birth, a predominantly black congregation, also has locations in Charlotte, N.C., and Oakland, Calif.

Besides the Birmingham church announcement, Long also revealed in his sermon that New Birth was audited in 2009 and 2010. more >>

Bishop Eddie Long should reveal the truth about what happened in the case with four young men and seek forgiveness from his supporters, a CNN contributor who formerly attended Long’s church said Saturday.

Long, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., reached a settlement with the men, who accused him of luring them into sexual relationships, last week after three months of private mediation. On the following Sunday, the bishop addressed his megachurch but made no mention of the settlement.

“Sorry Bishop, as a man of God who is the shepherd of an international ministry, you cannot be let off that easily,” said Roland S. Martin in an op-ed for CNN Saturday. more >>

Bishop Eddie Long has responded to the departure of Bernice King from his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, saying he is in "full support" of King's decision to leave the congregation and pursue a new calling from God.

King, the youngest daughter of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., announced Tuesday that she would no longer be a member or serve as an elder at the Atlanta megachurch. After eight years of sharing the New Birth pulpit with Long, King said she felt God was calling her to launch a new ministry and pursue a "pastoral calling."

"Reverend Bernice King has made tremendous and profound contributions to New Birth as an Elder and faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ," said Bishop Eddie Long in a statement. more >>