Two men have filed lawsuits accusing Bishop Eddie Long of using his position as a spiritual authority to coerce them into sexual relationships when they were members of his megachurch congregation.

Lawyers for the men, now 20 and 21, say they filed the lawsuits on Tuesday against the pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, which draws around 25,000 worshipers every Sunday.

 "Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship," the suit alleges. more >>

The growing prevalence of the prosperity gospel around the world, and particularly in Africa, has prompted a group of theologians to release a statement of concern and a call for further reflection.

While recognizing that "there are some dimensions of prosperity teaching that have roots in the Bible," the Lausanne Theology Working Group says its overall view is that "the teachings of those who most vigorously promote the 'prosperity gospel' are false and gravely distorting of the Bible."

The statement was released this month through Christianity Today and is derived from a number of papers that were discussed at the group's meetings in October 2008 and September 2009. more >>

More than a year after the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee of Finance called out six televangelists suspected of opulent spending and possible abuse of their nonprofit status, one has gone to great lengths to clear her name while one still refuses to turn over information, according to the latest update this past week.

The remaining four of the “Grassley Six,” meanwhile, still lie somewhere in between.

“My staff and I continue to review the information we’ve received from the ministries that cooperated, and we continue to weigh our options for the ministries that have not cooperated,” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa stated Thursday after a long period silence regarding the probe of the Joyce Meyer Ministries, World Healing Center Church, Without Walls International Church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church/Eddie L. Long Ministries, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, and World Changers Church International/Creflo Dollar Ministries. more >>

Gregory Dollar’s story is unlike those of most PKs (Preacher’s Kids).

For starters, Dollar is the white adopted son of controversial prosperity televangelist Creflo Dollar, founder of World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga.

He is also a single parent of three who works in his father’s ministry and has Marvel Comics' Punisher darkly casted over the black background of his MySpace page. more >>

An independent organization that reviews Christian ministries for financial accountability and transparency has released its annual list of the top 30 most exemplary ministries and, for the first time, a list of 30 “donor alert” ministries.

Though Matthews, N.C.-based Wall Watchers for years has released its list of “Shining Light” ministries and a regular bulletin of "donor alerts" concerning potential frauds and pitfalls for donors, this year marks the first time it has released an official list of “30 Donor Alert Ministries” through its website, MinistryWatch.com.

“Most donors expect charitable organizations to act on behalf of others and not for greed, personal aggrandizement, or other reasons; however, ministries are operated by human beings who are subject to the shortcomings common to man, including what some may call the ‘principle of ethical entropy,’ or as Christians call it, sin,” the evangelical organization states in introduction of the newly released list. more >>

Two prominent mega-ministries under a Senate probe for opulent spending indicated they would institute reforms even before the investigation is complete, according to a new report.

Charismatic preachers Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn are the only two that have fully cooperated with an investigation that is currently scrutinizing four other popular ministries and they are now reportedly taking their own action to ensure proper financial standing as a nonprofit.

"Transparency has been and will continue to be a standard of this ministry," said Joyce Meyer, who was the first to turn over requested papers, in a statement Tuesday. "We hold a deep commitment to our ministry partners and friends, and this is why we have a tradition of going above and beyond what is required by law. We are committed to the truth and to our purpose." more >>