Congress has been investigating the mega-churches of Bishop Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar and Joyce Meyer for over a year now. The initial congressional investigation led by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) ended with an audit last fall and was concluded but with open questions. Funds and property were the lynch pins for queries. All the churches investigated submitted paperwork that was either missing key facts or were cloudy with names and slight misdirections. In response to that Congress gave suggestions to all ministries. Although Grassley’s inquiry is ongoing, his office released some initial findings Monday. Four ministries have declined to cooperate or have provided incomplete information, Grassley said. They are Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church; Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International; Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church; and Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Joyce Meyer Ministries is undertaking internal reforms in the wake of the congressional inquiry into its finances. The extent of the changes is unclear. Grassley’s staff declined to elaborate. And Roby Walker, a spokesman for the Missouri-based Joyce Meyer Ministries, founded by popular TV evangelist Joyce Meyer, said the specifics were being worked out. The action comes nearly a year after Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, launched an inquiry into six ministries including Long’s. Grassley said at the time that he was disturbed by reports about preachers living lavishly while their tax-exempt churches escaped scrutiny. The Finance Committee oversees tax laws and the IRS. Grassley said Monday that Joyce Meyer Ministries and one other ministry, Texas-based Benny Hinn’s World Healing Center Church, had been very cooperative with his inquiry and were taking internal steps to address concerns about their financial dealings. The two ministries have engaged in “open and honest dialogue” with the committee staff, Grassley said in a statement. “Both Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have indicated that they are also instituting reforms without waiting for the committee to complete its review,” he said. RELATED: Bishop Paul Morton Says Eddie Long No Longer Takes His Calls [VIDEO] RELATED: Atlanta Pastor Says Eddie Long’s “Got Problems,” Invites Ex-New Birth Members To His Church [VIDEO] RELATED: Woman Gives Eddie Long Huge Wad Of Cash During Sermon At New Birth [VIDEO] RELATED: Report Says Bishop Eddie Long Settled For $24.8 Million, Gave Private Apology RELATED: Creflo Dollar Tells Former New Birth Members To Go Back, Compares Scandal To Car Wreck [VIDEO] RELATED: Sherri Shepherd Goes In On Eddie Long [VIDEO] RELATED: Eddie Long’s Church Is Collapsing, Says Source
One of the four men who accused Bishop Eddie Long of sexual misconduct — the first one to speak publicly about the allegation — was arrested this week in Miami on suspicion of being a drug dealer. Jamal Parris, 24, was driving a white 2011 BMW in Miami Beach Tuesday evening when a Florida Highway Patrol officer noticed that it had no tags. After pulling the car over the approaching officer approached and smelled marijuana. A search of the car turned up 181 grams of marijuana, which is worth about $1,000 on the street. The officer also discovered 50 clear plastic baggies and a Taurus semiautomatic handgun. Parris also was carrying $1,250 in cash. Parris was arrested and jailed. He was charged with two felony counts: possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. He also was charged with operating a motor vehicle with no registration, a misdemeanor. Read the full story here. RELATED: Fox 5 Releases More Footage Of Eddie Long Accuser [VIDEO] RELATED: Bishop Eddie Long Accuser Speaks [VIDEO] RELATED: Atlanta Pastor Says Eddie Long’s “Got Problems,” Invites Ex-New Birth Members To His Church [VIDEO] RELATED: Did Bishop Eddie Long’s Wife Leave Him? [RUMOR] RELATED: Creflo Dollar Tells Former New Birth Members To Go Back, Compares Scandal To Car Wreck [VIDEO] RELATED: Sherri Shepherd Goes In On Eddie Long [VIDEO] RELATED: Settlement Reached In Eddie Long Sexual Misconduct Case [VIDEO]
One of the four men who accused Bishop Eddie Long of sexual misconduct — the first one to speak publicly about the allegation — was arrested this week in Miami on suspicion of being a drug dealer. Jamal Parris, 24, was driving a white 2011 BMW in Miami Beach Tuesday evening when a Florida Highway Patrol officer noticed that it had no tags. After pulling the car over the approaching officer approached and smelled marijuana. A search of the car turned up 181 grams of marijuana, which is worth about $1,000 on the street. The officer also discovered 50 clear plastic baggies and a Taurus semiautomatic handgun. Parris also was carrying $1,250 in cash. Parris was arrested and jailed. He was charged with two felony counts: possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. He also was charged with operating a motor vehicle with no registration, a misdemeanor. Read the full story here. RELATED: Fox 5 Releases More Footage Of Eddie Long Accuser [VIDEO] RELATED: Bishop Eddie Long Accuser Speaks [VIDEO] RELATED: Atlanta Pastor Says Eddie Long’s “Got Problems,” Invites Ex-New Birth Members To His Church [VIDEO] RELATED: Did Bishop Eddie Long’s Wife Leave Him? [RUMOR] RELATED: Creflo Dollar Tells Former New Birth Members To Go Back, Compares Scandal To Car Wreck [VIDEO] RELATED: Sherri Shepherd Goes In On Eddie Long [VIDEO] RELATED: Settlement Reached In Eddie Long Sexual Misconduct Case [VIDEO]
Oh boy… Word around Atlanta is that after all these months of standing by her trifling, scandalous husband , the first lady of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church has quietly taken herself out of the picture. Well-placed spies for The Mo’Kelly Report and long-time members of New Birth are alleging that Vanessa Long, the First Lady of New Birth has moved out of the house, in fact taking one of the children with her due to the scandal. These are WELL-placed and trustworthy sources. Mo’Kelly has already reached out to New Birth to see if it has any official response or counter narrative. Don’t hold your breath if you expect New Birth to tell the truth and acknowledge any family disarray. The rumors of Mrs. Long’s move have been floating around since early last week, and the fact that no official statement or well crafted photo has appeared probably means something. Does anyone still think the good pastor is innocent? Source
A video has begun circulating the web of a New Birth Missionary Baptist Church member interrupting Bishop Eddie Long during one of his sermons and handing him a huge wad of cash. After handing over the cash, the unnamed woman hugs the embattled pastor and walks back to her seat while the crowd cheers. As we previously reported, despite a public plea to fight the charges Long recently settled for an undisclosed amount with four young men who had accused him of sexual coercion. Watch the video and let us know what you think: RELATED: Atlanta Pastor Says Eddie Long’s “Got Problems,” Invites Ex-New Birth Members To His Church [VIDEO] RELATED: Did Bishop Eddie Long’s Wife Leave Him? [RUMOR] RELATED: Creflo Dollar Tells Former New Birth Members To Go Back, Compares Scandal To Car Wreck [VIDEO] RELATED: Sherri Shepherd Goes In On Eddie Long [VIDEO] RELATED: Settlement Reached In Eddie Long Sexual Misconduct Case [VIDEO] RELATED: Eddie Long’s Church Is Collapsing, Says Source RELATED: Bishop Eddie Long: “I’m Gonna Fight” [VIDEO & PHOTOS]
Pastor Donald Battle of Atlanta’s Divine Faith Ministries addressed the Bishop Eddie Long scandal recently, preaching that the embattled New Birth Missionary Baptist Church pastor has “problems” and needs to “sit down.” Battle also disagreed with Creflo Dollar’s recent sermon chastising New Birth members for leaving the church. Unlike Dollar, Battle said former New Birth members are welcome to join Divine Faith Ministries. “We’re gonna pray for that church,” said Pastor Battle. Watch his sermon below: What do y’all think? Leave your thoughts in the comments box below! RELATED: Did Bishop Eddie Long’s Wife Leave Him? [RUMOR] RELATED: Creflo Dollar Tells Former New Birth Members To Go Back, Compares Scandal To Car Wreck [VIDEO] RELATED: Sherri Shepherd Goes In On Eddie Long [VIDEO] RELATED: Settlement Reached In Eddie Long Sexual Misconduct Case [VIDEO] RELATED: Eddie Long’s Church Is Collapsing, Says Source RELATED: Bishop Eddie Long: “I’m Gonna Fight” [VIDEO & PHOTOS] RELATED: Roland Martin & Boris Kodjoe Battle Via Twitter Over Eddie Long RELATED: Roland Martin & Boris Kodjoe Battle Via Twitter Over Eddie Long
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, the Atlanta church led by Bishop Eddie Long, will be opening up two satellite locations. This leads you think about one thing. Should a man that has had questionable actions continue to branch out? Is this ministry or egotism? The appointment of Darius Wise as the senior pastor of New Birth Denver, the latest satellite church location of Bishop Eddie Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church was announced in April. Today, a new branch was announced for Birmingham. The church is called New Birth Birmingham. Long told his congregation yesterday that the mega-church recently received its certified audit back from 2010 and 2009. He didn’t explain why the audit was conducted. “All your money’s being done right and being calculated right,” he said. He then requested members of the congregation who could make $500 or $1,000 donations to give those seed offerings. Reverend Wise has said, “Over the last 20 years, the church’s reach has extended throughout the globe. We are so excited and grateful to God that we see a door and an opportunity opening in Denver, Colorado,” There is already a website and Facebook page for New Birth Denver. The website shows that Vision meetings for the church will be held on August 20, 24, and 31, 2011, in Aurora, Colo. Discipleship groups will launch in September. The expansion of New Birth in Denver comes as Bishop Eddie Long and New Birth are reeling from a sexual misconduct scandal. Last week, a settlement in the case between Long and his four accusers was reached and the lawsuits were dismissed. In the lawsuits, four young men accused the bishop of using his position and lavish gifts to coerce them into sexual relationships. Make sure to read: Bishop Eddie Long Resolves Case Out Of Court ! and Eddie Long’s Church Is Collapsing, Says Source
An attorney involved in the sexual misconduct lawsuits against New Birth Missionary Baptist Church pastor Bishop Eddie Long told the AJC.com that the parties involved have settled the matter. Barbara Marschalk, who represents New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and LongFellows Youth Academy, told the AJC that she expects the lawsuits to be dismissed by close of business tomorrow (May 27). B.J. Bernstein — the attorney representing the four men who sued Long, New Birth and LongFellows — also confirmed to the AJC that the lawsuits had been settled. Our sister station Praise 102.5 has exclusively obtained a resolution statement from Eddie Long’s spokesman, Art Franklin: Read the full story here. RELATED: Eddie Long Sexual Misconduct Case May Be Heading To Trial Bishop Eddie Long – “No Hands” [SPOOF] Bishop Eddie Long Introduces New Dance To His Church [VIDEO] Lawyers Meet With Judge In Eddie Long Case Fox 5 Releases More Footage Of Eddie Long Accuser [VIDEO] Bishop Eddie Long’s 4th Accuser, Spencer LeGrande, Speaks [VIDEO] Bishop Eddie Long: “I’m Gonna Fight” [VIDEO & PHOTOS] 4th Lawsuit Filed Against Bishop Eddie Long [UPDATE] Lawyer Of Bishop Eddie Long’s Accusers Speaks [AUDIO] See The Legal Documents Filed Against Bishop Eddie Long Lawyer Of Bishop Eddie Long’s Accusers Speaks [AUDIO] White-Gloved Thieves Hit Bishop Eddie Long’s Office
Bishop “Dick Tracey” Long may be cutting a check before the weekend is over. The judge overseeing negotiations between the disgraced Pastor-molester and the four young men accusing him of sexual improprieties says they’re close to reaching a settlement. Panos characterized the settlement as within “field goal range.” Panos met with reporters late Friday afternoon to squelch any false information, he said. He confirmed that marathon mediation sessions have been taking place, some lasting from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next morning. He said the sessions, which have been ongoing since early February, have taken place at several locations, including the DeKalb County courthouse. The mediator in the case is Gino Brogden, a former Fulton County Superior Court judge, according to Panos. At one point, the negotiations reached a stalemate. It was then that Panos intervened and called a meeting to encourage the parties to push through their differences. When asked if the timing of the settlement held any significance this Holy Week, Panos said resolution and redemption have come into play this week. “All these people are Christian people and they need to resolve this,” he said. In later negotiations, “it’s been benevolently intense,” Panos said, likening the talks to a tennis match, “with a lot of back and forth.” At times the parties have been frustrated, even within their own groups. He said the settlement is not done yet, but close. “A few fine details still need to be worked out,” he said. Do you think all four of the accusers will take their checks and keep it moving? Or will at least one of them try to turn this ordeal into a spot in the limelight? Source
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