There was an article recently published in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution about Bishop Eddie Long who is the pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church located in one of the suburbs of Atlanta. Some of you may be familiar with Bishop Long. He is on the Christian channel frequently and does quite a bit of touring and preaching around the country. His Church is one of the largest in the State of GA if not the largest. The article was about the money and benefits he received through a non-profit charity organization he set-up.
Now I will state my feelings about Bishop Long up front. I truly enjoy the message that Bishop Long brings. I actually think he does a great job of tying scripture into his sermons. My issue with him has been his attire. His attire you ask? The brother obviously works out. I am not mad at him for that. But, to go around wearing muscle shirts and tight fitting suits all the time is a bit much. He has taken it as far as getting the church’s logo printed on the under armor (fitted athletic shirts) shirts he wears and even has worn them under his suit, with just the fitted shirt under. Now, that’s just me and the clothes he wears is neither here nor there to be honest when it gets down to it. But, those were my only real feelings about him until I read this article. AJC Article Link
Once I read this article, I became disturbed. It was frustrating to read some of what he said in response to the article as well as the lifestyle he is living. Now, I am not a person that believes a Pastor should be poor, or make a median salary for that matter. However, I think it is very excessive what the good Bishop is bringing in.
BISHOP EDDIE LONG’S COMPENSATION
Between 1997 and 2000, Long received $3.07 million in compensation from Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc.
• $1,450,000 — House
• $1,037,992 — Salary
• $350,812 — Use of Bentley
• $195,145 — Home improvements, including $135,560 for landscape improvements, $3,286 for a parsonage pool table, $35,169 for a built-in hutch, plus other items.
• $13,074 — Property taxes
• $16,000 — Expense account
• $9,600 — Benefits, deferred compensation
$3,072,623 — Total
Sources: Form 990 income tax returns filed by Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc. and DeKalb County tax records.
Now I distinctly remember one of New Birth’s members telling me how the Bishop wasn’t receiving a salary. I remember thinking how great it was that a minister of the cloth wasn’t all about his status. Well, he wasn’t taking a salary from the church. That was correct. What he was doing was getting taken care of through the non-profit he set-up, Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc. Through the non-profit the things listed above were his compensation.
For me, I can actually be ok with them buying him a home; even one of 1.4 Million in value. Paying his property taxes and even an expense account I can live with. But, once you add on a $350,000 car and $1,000,000 million in salary then I start to get concerned. But, when I really get pushed over the edge is when the good Bishop still gets “love offerings” from the congregation. For those that may not be familiar with love offerings. They are special offerings collected during service especially for the pastor(s). Now at my church we did love offerings once a year at Christmas time and our senior pastor would recommend that we not give a love offering to him, but to one of his staff members. I was always very comfortable with that, and would usually give an offering to one of the associate pastors that may have assisted me in Bible study or something to that affect during the year.
But, to have your house, car, and salary to be taken care of and for you to still get a love offering. That is way over board. Especially considering his church is listed as having 25,000 members. With that in mind you can bet that 10,000 of those would be willing to do a love offering. I can bet he makes a minimum of $100,000 on the love offerings that are collected throughout the year on his behalf.
In this article the Bishop goes on to make these comments:
“We’re not just a church, we’re an international corporation,” Long said. “We’re not just a bumbling bunch of preachers who can’t talk and all we’re doing is baptizing babies. I deal with the White House. I deal with Tony Blair. I deal with presidents around this world. I pastor a multimillion-dollar congregation.”
“You’ve got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that’s supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering.”
Bishop I honestly don’t give a damn that you deal with the White House or Tony Blair. What kind of pompous crap is that? Why should you be put on a different scale? Does God see you differently than other men of the cross? Does God judge you differently? Based on the Bible I read, you sound like one of the Priest that Jesus could not stand. You are acting as an eliteous asshole if you ask me. Nothing in your statements has to do with the uplifting of the body of Christ. Why not lift up the little black preacher who is not concerned about hanging around with dignitaries, but is concerned about the community. Maybe you are right, you should be on a different scale. But, I believe that a preacher who is not concerned with his social status, but leans on the Lord to provide his needs is the one that should be given the higher value on that scale and not you. Him leaning on the Lord does not mean him being broke and scrapping by in my eyes by the way.
“I have great integrity with my congregation,” Long said. “I would never take their money and use them to build my own personal happiness.” Also, a single donor accounted for 90 percent of the charity’s income in 1999 and 2000, tax records show. One donor gave $1.9 million in 1999 and one donor gave $1.6 million the following year. As allowed by law, the records do not identify the donors. Long would not say whether New Birth was the donor nor talk about the church’s decision to donate land to his charity.
It is clear that the Church has donated most of the revenue that went into the coffers of his non-profit, whether it was through land purchases or direct monetary donations from the church. Now he says that we would not take the congregations money for his own personal happiness. If that’s the case why is he accepting love offerings? Even if he takes a salary he is taking the congregations money for his own happiness and to take care of his family. Which I don’t have a problem with, but for him to make that statement, seems backwards as hell to me.
In his book “Taking Over,” Long described the event (him getting rid of the church’s board) in more detail. He wrote that after seven years at New Birth, he was frustrated by its deacon board because it was “gripping the purse strings” of the church and “telling the man of God when to jump and how high.” He said he received a revelation from God, who encouraged him to get rid of the “ungodly governmental structure” at New Birth.
“That was the day I became pastor,” Long wrote. “Up until that time, I was the hired preacher …”
Now I know that church politics can be some of the worse ever. But, to not have a governing body over a multi-million dollar entity is just ridiculous.
Long said he represented a “paradigm shift” in the black church. He said he won’t be like other pastors who died broke while giving everything to congregations that “wanted them to live in poverty and preach to them about prosperity.” Any problem people may have with his charity, Long said, was rooted in some people’s expectations that pastors should be poor.
“I would love to sit with you and walk with you through the Bible to show that Jesus wasn’t poor,” he said.
I wish he would sit down with some people and let them go through the Bible and show him that Jesus didn’t live in excess. How dare he say “Jesus wasn’t poor” as a half ass reasoning behind the money he is receiving. I don’t know one person or have ever heard a person say that a pastor should be poor, not one. Now I have heard plenty of disgruntled Christians get upset with a pastor that is living the life while a good portion of his congregation is struggling to get by day to day. Does that mean that these disgruntled people want their pastor to be poor? It doesn’t mean that at all. They just want to see some financial resourcefulness if they are going to entrust their 10% with you. Of course you will hear the faithful say that you have to trust God to oversee your money and obey the commandment of tithing.
That is true to an extent, but God doesn’t want a fool. If there is excess and lack of financial responsibility being shown at the leadership of the church, someone should make a statement. The only statement that most of us can make is by withholding their tithes or taking them to another church. At New Birth, there is no one that can make a stance, because Bishop Long is the final say so.
As a Christian that is going through a wilderness experience of trying to figure out where I am to be in my Christian walk. Articles like these only emphasize my disdain of the direction of the Church. We have to have more responsible leaders. I don’t want you to be poor Bishop Long. I don’t even want you to be an average bread winner. But, the way you are living in my opinion is not very Christ like. As the little t-shirts and bracelets use to say W.W.J.D. (What Would Jesus Do)? If a person puts that simple test to Bishop Long, I don’t think you can comfortably say that his lifestyle is very Jesus like.
Some may say this is a little harsh, but I believe that the Bishop is creating 3 of the deadly sins:
Pride is excessive belief in one’s own abilities, that interferes with the individual’s recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
I just stumbled onto your blog from Negrophile.
This Eddie Long story is very disturbing. I too am a Christian who is struggling to find his way in this church jungle here in Atlanta. I’ve run into several people here in the city who have spouted out all of the “bishop’s” accomplishments.
I too am appalled at his display of muscles on the tv show. How can anyone justify the man of God driving a bentley?
If you put a pimp and the “bishop” side by side, could you really tell the difference in their attire.
Why has there not been more of an outcry here in the city?
I found his response to the charges even more offensive. His publicist says that the expenditures are justified because of our culture’s preference for our preachers to drive nice cars and wear nice clothes.
How stupid does he think we are?
This is a very good blog.
August 31, 2005 5:03 AM
Comment by grip — September 12, 2005 @ 9:06 pm
Wow…very interesting write up.I wont get into too many details on my ideas of the church and pastors such as Bishop Eddie Long. But I will say that you were a lot nicer in your writer up than I would’ve been. Thats for sure.
Jia Uncut
August 31, 2005 9:15 PM
Comment by Jia — September 12, 2005 @ 9:07 pm
This is really sad. What is our world coming to??
September 01, 2005 8:09 PM
Comment by AngieMD2007 — September 12, 2005 @ 9:07 pm
I think that your write up on Bishop Eddie Long was straight to the point and interesting. While I dont believe that a pastor should have to live the life of a “dirt poor bum” ,to prove his love of God and for his congression, enough is enough! The average church attendee is not wealthy! Infact Ill say that the majority are working middle class to poor people struggling to make ends meet. When you see a congregation of people struggling , and leaving church to go back to poor innercity or average neighborhoods,while the pastor thrives on “love offerings and overly indulgent salaries,expensive gifts,etc”at the expense and sacrifice of those getting by on meager wages, it makes you wonder!When he leaves the church he drives off in his $300,000+Bentley to a (im sure) wealthy neighborhood and a mansion to live the good life! The cares of those church parishoners who can barely afford to pay next months rent is out of sight and mind! I have seen him on tv wearing muscle shirts! There is nothing wrong with a man of God working out and taking pride in his outer appearance,but there is a time a place for everything,and while in church ya should look like your at church and not a local body building convention or night club!
Its obvious by his comments that hes feeeling a lil high on himself right now! Self esteem and pride in ones personal acheivements is one thing.However going the route of belittling others who may not have as much as yourself and name calling when your supposed to be a true man of God is something altogether different! I agree that every ministry ,esp those large ones,should have a board or group of individuals outside of just the pastor to discuss and decide how church funds are spent.Its obvious that the board was done away with to grant Bishop Long greater control over the church and monetary assets.He stands as a current example within church community of what excessive money and power can do to a persons ego! Im noticing this current wave and crop of new Televangelist ministries inwhich popularity and wealth is generated through massive exposure and funding from an alltop eager public.One one hands its good, that word of God is being broadcasted for all to hear and see, but does it always serve the greater good of Godand the average Joe?
Comment by Kai — September 12, 2005 @ 9:08 pm
great post. Just passing through, I’m liking the blog by the way.
September 06, 2005 7:59 PM
Comment by The Humanity Critic — September 12, 2005 @ 9:09 pm
I hated Eddie’s comments as well…and I used to just be offended by the tight clothes…lol. But, what also bothered me was Frank Ski’s response that Eddie was entitled to all of that money because Eddie represented “God” to him. That didn’t sit well at all, because pastors are supposed to be teachers and not representatives. We can represent God thru our own right…and NOT by our material possessions. Great post.
Comment by Beloved — September 15, 2005 @ 5:57 am
as a member of New Birth - I have to admit that some of the information in the article rubbed me the wrong way too. However, there are some things that weren’t stated correctly. For instance, the monetary ‘donations’ to the non-profit from the church are from the love offerings taken at the church. Second, the non-profit was used as a pass through for the land donation. The profit made on the sale was used as a down payment on the existing location.
But I understand how folks could have a problem with him based on the article. But to have a problem with his muscle shirts - now I think thats a little petty.
In the end - I can’t get the word he delivers from anyplace else. And I think he deserves a $1 million per year salary. And truth be told - a lot of folks feel the same way about the small preachers, they just don’t say it. How do I know - because folks aren’t attending that small preachers church and giving offering there.
Finally, what angers me most about articles like this one and the one after the march is that we never hear about the good Bishop Long has done.
He’s a man - I never view him as representing God (frank ski is an idiot) - and I think he got caught up. But I don’t think that takes away from him being a man of God. Countless examples in the bible show us that (Moses, David, Saul/Paul).
But I’m not trynna argue on your spot - just presenting another point of view.
Comment by Tazzee — September 22, 2005 @ 12:06 am
I appreciate your post. I was hoping to hear from other members of New Birth to get their take on it as well. Thank you for being honest about what you read and your feelings. It is without question that Eddie Long does some wonderful things in the community. You mentioned about people doing something. I think you will find that a reason you have so many small churches popping up is because they were frustrated elsewhere and decided to branch out on their own. It’s not that people aren’t going against the system and not doing it, they are doing it as a grass roots campaign. But, instead of them banning together, they do their own thing in their own little word. Which continues to splinter the church. I can guarantee you, there are probably 50 churches in Atlanta that have broken off from New Birth. Some that have broken off on good terms and some on bad. Remember, New Birth started off small. Some of these small chruches he is clowning will be the New Births of tomorrow.
Comment by freakygoodman — September 22, 2005 @ 12:54 am
hmmm…Bishop Eddie LOng. and money..well it seems to me that folks hate on Bishop for God making him rich.. but people dont hate on oprah, mr trump, or others..now last time i read the bible..God said everything was his the earth and everybthing in it. and we all say that he loves us..but we cant believe that he will make us rich..? actually bishops life testifies of his relationship with God, remember people didnt make him rich..God did. so is it that folks juz really dont believe that God makes his workers rich. but u will believe that its ok wen we all make ourselves rich by work..? so then your faith is in work and not God? everybody knows how hard it is for man to serve god. and dont say that you dont..cos if u did..you would be serving him right now instead of sex in the park, at the club etc.. so simply..yall is hating on the man. and to prove my point..Bishop has taught me a lot of things that was true to Gods word. his television ministry blessed my life many days..as opposed to music videos? havent blessed my life at all!!! so he is real and God has showed himself faithful to that man! and dont hate on the mans clothes..God knew it when he made the man sexy..or did yall think that real church folks wasnt supposed to be sexy..especially since God made Sex?? and some of yall betta hope that u r in as good as shape and looks as good as he does wehn yall get his age…later! besides its very dangerous to talk about Gods people. yall read Gods word and wat it says about messing with his folks. this whole article was in ill taste.. and for the record..I bless Bishopo Eddie LOng!
Comment by glzz36 — April 16, 2006 @ 12:52 am
I am a christian and i do not attend New Birth. and to be honest with you we all have a right to say what we think is right and what we think is wrong. You talked often in this passage about God and how disappointed he would be with Bishop Long. But truly sir how disappointed do you think God is with you for publishing some mess like this on the internet. the same Bible that you believe in says in the book of Psalms,”Touch not my annointed to ones and my prophets no harm.” how dare you be a christian and dawg out a man of God like that. That leads me to believe that you might not necessarily be a genuine christian. The problem that we face is that not enough people will stand to the defend most black preachers. Instead you scope them out and what for a flaw or a imperfection to be exposed so you can pounce on them and destroy their reputation. I think what you have said was very unnecessary. Even if Bishop Long has done something wrong, whether it was stealing money or using the money he was paid from the church to buy something that you thought was stupid; it’s not your call to judge him. He is a Man of God, sent by God to declare God’s word. besides it would be just as easy for us to degrade you for this site. you have cursed on this site and even have a sex section listed on this site, but that was all done in the name of I am a Christian. I think you need to check the God you serving and pray for some guidance cause obviously he is not the same God I serve. God Bless You.
Comment by Chaz Afzal — May 1, 2006 @ 5:26 pm
This site is full of a lot of non-sense. How dare you degrade a man of God like that. You and everybody else that feels like this to bishop Long and any other pastor really need some help. God is the ultimate judge. Even if he’s guilty let God discipline him not you. You need to be asking for forgiveness because now you will be judged. this article was petty and very unprofessional. “You don’t like his clothes”, see you just picking now. May God have mercy on you and everybody else you dragged into this cynical hole of mess.
Comment by Pia Bhatti — May 1, 2006 @ 5:39 pm
I just HAVE to step in and respond to the previous 2 posts on several points. I do want to start by saying that in general, big mega churches like Eddie Long’s and Creflo Dollar’s DO do alot of good things. They are not all bad. However there are several problems with those ministries and FGM just highlighted them. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Now to respond to the specifics in the previous post:
1-The writer states that Eddie Long is a prophet sent by God…Just as the bible talks about not harming prophets- it also talks about FALSE PROPHETS over and over- For instance- Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves and Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.—Who says that either of these men are TRUE prophets?
2. Yes. God is the ultimate judge, but we can’t just shrug our shoulders and keep handing over the tithe to the millionaire preachers! The biblical warnings about false prophets are meant to make us AWARE and be willing to seek out the truth- 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. How is it degrading to QUESTION the wealth of these preachers or to question the things they teach?
3. Preachers are NOT supposed to be living like rap stars, riding on 20 inch rims, flying on private jets and wearing the latest fashions. Jesus and his apostles did not live like that they walked around not even riding donkeys and they lived on charity. Most of the time, everything given to them was then shared with others…not hoarded so their children could inherit tv ministries and never have to work a real job. 2 Corinthians 8:9- For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor. Titus 1:7- For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money.
4. I do agree that FGM is a sinner. So are you and me. We are all doing things that need to change. He just happens to blog about his. The bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1- To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. We are all growing, changing, maturing in faith snd action over time and over the seasons of our lives. He will do the same. I Corinthians 13:11- When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. As we grow up in our faith and relationship with God, our actions will change as well. This is an individual journey for everyone. I am sure you weren’t ALWAYS as “saved” as you are now…the rest of us will get there soon.
In the mean time, just pray for us.
Comment by sinnertoo — May 2, 2006 @ 1:40 am
Response to Suggestion #12.
Yes we all are sinners but we should not allow others to stand by and dawg out those that God Have put in place to have authority over us. If we sit by and allow people to talk about our pastors and not comment on that we will be held accountable. I think FGM was very critical and cynical. Bishop Long is living like a rap star he is simply enjoying life. Now you tell me that if you had the money Bishop lOng has that you wouldn’t splurge on the things that you like. Where in the bible does it say that you can buy things that you desire. The Bible says he’ll give you the desires of your heart. If you are a good steward of those things he gives you and pay your tithes and offerings why can’t you but those things you want.
But yet in still To God be the glory for the great things he’s doing and the great things he will continue to do….
Let GO and Let GOD!!!!!!!
Comment by Chaz Bhatti — May 2, 2006 @ 11:23 am
I think it’s amazing how Bhatti and Afzal believe that a pastor can not be held accountable. Where in the bible does it say that a pastor can not be held accountable for his actions and that he can do whatever he wants.
As a Christian we have to understand that we have as much of a responsibility to uplift the Kingdom of God as some “Man of God”. If we allow someone to have free reign to do any and everything we will continue to see the Christian Kingdom dwindle. If you have been living in some cave, the number of Christians in the world are decreasing.
The average person does not appreciate the thinking off people like Bhatti and Afzal. They don’t feel that a pastor should be able to do whatever his heart desires without there being any checks and balances.
He is still a man. By being a man he has flaws just like every single man that has walked this earth. He still has free will to make decisions and not all of the are correct.
I think it’s amazing how you say that I will be judged when Eddie Long judged the small black preacher: “You’ve got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that’s supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering.” Why is it that you didn’t chastize him for judging those preachers. The “small black preacher”s do more for the Christian Kingdom than one Bishop Long. So for him to marginalize what they do is sad.
Lastly, its amazing to me that you only focused on the negative. I mentioned a few things that I felt he does well. This was not a bashing of him. I have no ill will towards him or his ministry. However, unlike you i feel that as a fellow Christian I have the right to speak my mind.
As far as your very weak bible quotes I could easily have a rebutle. But, I learned a long time ago that people that go around throwing bible verses out typically have very limited bible knowledge. They usually have a few quotes in their memory bank to use in certain situations. Those quotes typically don’t tell the whole story just like the ones you used didn’t. There is enough in the bible to make Bishop Long look very bad, but that’s not what my intent was.
People like you that feel that Pastors are untouchable really hurt Chritianity. The average person wants accountability. There is no way that you should give your complete trust to any man. You give your complete trust to God and God only. Men will disappoint you everytime. We are not perfect.
Comment by freakygoodman — May 2, 2006 @ 11:39 pm
Yo its like this Jesus said that in the last days offences would come easy. We need to focus on the finish work of the Cross so then we could understand scriptures, like tax collecters and harlots will enter the Kingdom of God before those who think they can see. jesse_sanchez@yahoo.com
Comment by Anonymous — September 19, 2006 @ 5:30 am
Mankind is deserving of what it recieves!I love how these “god fearing people”would give any man ,much less a man of the cloth(or in this case a $3,ooo suit)a donation of 5,ooo dollars.But would refuse to give up one nickel to a homeless or sick man on the averege street corner.These people truly are sick people.And they are in the millions.I’m quite thankful i am not brainwashed to think that certain lifestyles are appropriate and some are not.The bible is a horrible book,much like the Qua’ran or the Torah.Rich pastors are rich because of the sheer stupidity of mindless and Hypocritical sheep that when told to jump they say how high?Rich are those who give to those who have little or nothing.As for Trump Or Oprah..They aren’t Pastors…They’re sin might be greed but it’s worse for a pastor so don’t compare.The pastor is seen differently because he’s spreading the gospel supposedly made by the god they worship.God”chose”them specifically to preach and touch the minds and hearts of the people.This is what religion is about…It’s what you religious folk believe don’t you?Do you actually believe for one nano second that in his million dollar mansion he would invite a hungry homeless man to dinner?Or lodge the homeless in his silk sheeted beds?Or bathe in his oil-scented luxurious bathrooms?If you think for one second he does any of these thi9ngs then you prove my point correctly.Religion is about absolute love for the living being of any race and to provide for those who need.The sharing of communication with mankind….For those who think i speak like a TRUE religious man..I’m athiest.Sad isn’t it.
Comment by Poor in World-Rich in Life — March 18, 2007 @ 11:58 pm
To all the naysayers this is a man as you and I are. Yes the Bishop is not on salary and yes those of us who choose to give him a love offering give him one. It comes from the bible and it is the truest scince in how any minster or pastor should be paid. If you have been blessed by the principles that the man or woman of god has spoken in and throughout your life then why not share some of the blessings that God has given you by giving back unto the one who brought forth the revalatory word that allowed you to be blessed in the first place.
Comment by Treymaine — May 10, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Hello world,
I believe it is God’s will for all who believe to live rich
the bible says in IIIJohn 1:2 “beloved above all things i pray that you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” i watch people go to church week after week and hear what the word says but allow FEAR to stop them for having the desires of there heart. if the desire of your heart is to live rich by all means activate the to most strong words to get you there and that is how to! people want things but don’t want to pay the price it takes to get them there the next two important words faith and work! without both you will never see your dreams come alive! god is rich the street in heaven are pave with gold it don’t get no richer than that and so am i i thank God i believed the word listened and learned that wealth is for me no im able to help lots of people including my church family and the community. If you don’t want wealth for yourself consider being wealthy and giving it to some one else because it’s not all about us all the time there are many people who need help and don’t know god but if you do and follow his word you will be a giver and meet some of the natural needs of people who are lost like paying some gas, light, rent, mortgages,and telephone bills start your own charities and don’t waste time worried about some elses charity. I love you with the love of God and remember you can do all things through christ who strenthens us!
Comment by D'TYCOON — November 1, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Is it true that GOD give wealth. And there will be false
MAN of GOD and try the spirit. we can on and on,but that not the answer,the real answer is PRAYER. We have a greater fight flesh and blood EDDIE LONG.IT HIS FIGHT LET GIVE IT TO GOD
Comment by WILLIE PIERCE — June 30, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
TOUCH NOT MY ANNOINTED AND DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM.
Comment by pat herndon — November 15, 2008 @ 11:24 pm