Popular Televangelist Bishop Eddie Long Accused of Sexual Relations

This time the accused turns out to be Pastor Bishop Eddie Long of the expansive New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in Lithonia, Ga.

The church is outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and has a congregation of 25,000. The church is often referred to as a “megachurch” because of its large congregation and huge accommodations.

Long a popular televangelist-bishop denies the allegations. In a lawsuit, however, two young men, 20-and 21-years-old, who belonged to the congregation, stated that Long coerced them into a sexual “relationship.”The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in DeKalb County Court.

The men who were 17- and 18-years-old at the time and members of the church are accusing Long of taking advantage of his position as a well-known and popular Bishop. He sought to exploit the young men through his spiritual authority by seducing them with lavish gifts such as cars and jewelry, money and trips to exotic places around the world.

Long’s attorney Craig Gillen said that Long has “categorically” denied the allegations brought forth in the lawsuit, adding that he found it unfortunate that the young men would try and gain from a lawsuit without merit.

B.J. Bernstein, the lawyer representing the two young men, said that at the time the “relationships” began the two were of consenting age. In Georgia legal age of sexual consent is 16. So their decision to become involved with Long as friends and lovers does not constitute rape of a minor.

But what the two men are trying to pursue in the lawsuit is that Long uses his influence as a popular and well-renowned pastor of a well-renowned church to coerce young men into sexual encounters for his own personal needs and gratification.

It should be noted that one of the young men has been charged with criminal burglary after he broke into Long’s office this past June, which may have been a motive to pursue the lawsuit against Long.

Attorney Bernstein said that the break-in was perhaps his way of acting out his anger and mixed emotions toward Long.

At this time the DeKalb County district attorney's office, has no information that a lawsuit against the Bishop had been filed and has no information about an investigation into the allegations.