Eddie Long will take leave from New Birth

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Eddie Long will take leave from New Birth

By Glenn Burkins – December 4, 2011

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In this image taken from television footage, Bishop Eddie Long announces plans to take a leave of absence Sunday.

Bishop Eddie Long, the beleaguered megachurch pastor, is stepping aside temporarily to focus on family.

Long announced the move Sunday to members of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in suburban Atlanta. On Friday, Vanessa Long, his wife of 21 years, said she had filed for divorce.

"I'm still your pastor. You'll still receive my direction," Long told the congregation. "You've given me some weeks to take care of some family business."

Long has been under growing pressure since four young men, including one in Charlotte, filed lawsuits this year alleging that the preacher used gifts, trips and pastoral influence to coerce them into sexual relationships. Although Long persistently denied wrongdoing, the lawsuits were settled privately and later dismissed.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, some of his critics are saying that Sunday’s move was not enough and are demanding that Long resign. A small group gathered Sunday outside the church carrying signs denouncing Long.

Long, who grew up in Charlotte, is credited with growing New Birth from a membership of about 300 to one the largest congregations in the nation, which at one point was said to exceed 25,000. He also founded New Birth Charlotte, which has one of the city’s largest memberships.

On Friday, Vanessa Long issued a statement announcing plans to divorce her husband, but hours later a second statement was issued saying that after prayerful consideration she had changed her mind. By day’s end, however, her lawyer had issued another statement saying the divorce would go forward.