Another scandal hits... how should we respond?

Another scandal hits… how should we respond?

Posted on September 23, 2010
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Bishop Eddie Long has had a rough 48 hours. First two men, then one other young man has filed civil suit against the Bishop and his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, alledging that Long coerced the young men into sexual relationships. The details are sordid.

The secular media is all over this story. The Christian media, not so much. I haven't seen any blog (at least in our circles) touch the story. I'm not sure anyone knows what to say. If the allegations are true, it is horrible. If the allegations are false, its a whole different kind of horrible.

Here are some random thoughts:

1. Maybe the reason we're not talking about this (yet) is that Bishop Long is not in most of our camps. But Long is a huge figure in the African American church. Do a twitter search on Bishop Eddie Long and watch the tweets float past. They are all over the place, but the African American community is all abuzz, especially the African American Christian community. I saw one tweet last night from a women saying something like "Not my husband will never go to church with me... and I was so close". This story has huge implications, not only for the black church, but also for Atlanta and the church in general. Whether true or false, it's another black eye on the church that the media loves to report.

2. As I said, it's too early to know if these allegations are true. Our culture today requires that you only have one person make an accusation. That's all you need. There doesn't need to be an ounce of truth to it... the story still goes public and ruins your reputation. The difference here is that there are three different people making the same accusations. Sure, there could be some conspiracy here; but it makes it more difficult when you have three people saying the same thing. That's a problem.

3. To complicate things in this case, you also have alleged lavish trips on private planes to exotic places, money changing hands, and a twisted spiritual justification aspect. When you add in each of these elements, it just makes the story that the alleged victims tell, as a whole, seem more believeable. Suddenly, 'you took the kid to New Zealand for his birthday on your private jet' (which should be easy to prove/disprove) makes 'you coerced him to have sex with you' seem more believeable.

4. One of the lawyers filing the case yesterday also released a few pictures of Long that were, well... weird. These pictures were allegedy sent to the victims on their cell phones. They picture Long, looking buff, in really tight shirts. Again... could be totally innocent... but just weird.

5. Some would argue that this is the secular media going wild on a story. I would say... not really. This is they type of story the media loves, not because it's about a Christian, but because of the duplicity and conflict in the story. Bishop Long is an outspoken advocate against homosexuality and gay marriage. To have allegations that he's been involved in homosexual relationships IS a news story.

6. For the record, I was able to be on a short group conference call with Bishop Long a couple of years ago. A mutual friend is a close friend of the Bishop. Bishop Long talked briefly about the program that is now in question. To hear him speak of the program was exciting, to be honest. He told how they find the young, underpriveleged boys and identify their future potential. They pay for their education, mentor them in the Word, and prepare them to be pastors. He (Bishop Long) would pour his life into these young men to help prepare them. He was very passionate about the program and about the results they were getting. If any (ANY) of these allegations are true... something went terribly wrong.

So... what can we learn from today's situation, whether it is true or not?

1. (And this won't affect 99.9% of us). I've said it before, and I'll say it again... lose the private plane. Nothing good has ever come from a private plane (as far as I can tell) for a pastor, other than saving a few minutes at the airport, and making yourself look elitist.

2. Prepare yourself for allegations. Allegations about pastors come all the time, in all size churches. People will allege anything from sexual relationships to lying, cheating, and theft. That's why it is so important to live a life far above approach. As a pastor or church staff member, someone is watching you at all times... when you mow your yard, when you shop at Walmart, when you're driving your car. Don't give them any ammunition. I just ran a story about a pastor who left because he put personal expenses on the church credit card and kept the points for his personal use. Even something like that is a crack in the door that can ruin you.

3. Show others that you're accountable. Part of the lawsuits in this case are pointing fingers at those around Long that should have stepped in and done something. The allegation is that Long's people knew and allowed these relationships to happen: They were enablers. For example, one case states that Long's people knew that he shared a hotel room with these young boys. Big mistake. Surround yourself with people that have your best interests in mind. Surround yourself with people that will tell you no. Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable, not cover your tracks.

4. Have a plan for how your church will deal with allegations when they come up. What if someone in your congregation accused you of having an affair? How would your church structure handle the situation? In my church world experience, there are hardly any churches who know how they would handle a situation like this... and because of that... when the situation hits, they handle it poorly.

5. Tell the truth. When allegations come, please... just tell the truth. The only thing worse than the allegation being true is trying to cover your tracks and being found out to be a fraud and a liar ON TOP of the allegations. I don't know that this is the case in the Eddie Long story... and I pray it's not. Long cancelled a radio interview and press conference where he was to speak today, and instead sent his lawyers out to do the press junket. That only stirs up controversy more.

Those are my thoughts this morning, as blurry as they may be. I truly hope this story is proven wrong. Time will tell, I guess.

Here's the latest CNN story...

Todd

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Comments

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jud on Thu, September 30, 2010

Should read “engagements”. Saw it as I was sending it !
Steven on Fri, October 01, 2010

Ok if Pastor A. lives in a town of 15,000 people and pastors a church of 300 adults on Sunday morning not counting youth and kids and preaches 3 times a week in his church.

Pastor B. Lives in a city of 1.5 million people and pastors a church of 20,000 on Sunday morning, and also preaches 3 times a week in his church.

Both put in over 60hrs a week at the office Pastor A. has 3 staff members Pastor B has 150 full time staff members.

What would you expect each pastor to recieve from their church in terms of salary, housing and automobile/ transportation compensations from his/ her church?

Just curious to see where you would draw the line… if there is indeed a line that should be drawn between the two.
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 01, 2010

There is no line to draw, except for each man’s line in his own heart that determines what he thinks is reasonable.

But, I will say, it is never reasonable for a pastor to enjoy a super-luxury item like a Bentley. sorry… never.
Rev. K. A. Christian on Fri, October 01, 2010

I haven’t commented on this site in a while. I tried to evaluate the info before responding… It’s been 2 weeks and Bishop Eddie Long hasn’t really denied the allergations… With that being said… It’s equally more responsible for every church/pastore to have somebody that they’re accountable to besides God… I’m a Baptist preacher and understand how the Baptist Church is constructed… The way it’s constructed today there’s no real accountablility…Because there’s no accountability… the church and her leaders are open for attack and misttakes…
Steven on Fri, October 01, 2010

Personally I know very little about Eddie Long, i met him once at a church in Las Vegas and he seemed very down to earth, did not travel with an entourage, had no security accompany him it was him his wife and their ministry consultant and they arrived on a commercial flight not a private jet. I hope and pray that these allegations are false, only because the body of Christ doesn’t need another black eye, I believe most would agree.

But pointing fingers at this man of God because he lives at a level some would consider luxurious or what not sure isn;t going to solve the problem, personally I could care less if he drives a Bentley or if Ed Young drives a Ferrari… who cares! Let’s stop majoring on the minors. Whether they drove a high end vehicle or some run of the mill SUV people would still find something to complain about. Let’s look at the greater good these ministries are able to do for the Kingdom in the scope of eternity and not the trivial tangibles that don’t really matter.

I don’t think God is up in heaven upset becaue a preacher drives around in a $100,000 car he’s probably saying that would like better with some 22’s on it. Ahh come I’m JK
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 01, 2010

[I don’t think God is up in heaven upset becaue a preacher drives around in a $100,000 car…] I think maybe he is.
Leonard on Fri, October 01, 2010

If God is upset that a pastor drives that kind of car we must say he is upset anyone does.

I have chosen to be underpaid most of my ministry so resources could go elsewhere. I have no trouble with a pastor earning a great living as a minister. I hope that someday some of the other things I work on will ease the pressure on my family and on my church.

I drive a 2002 f150 and my wife drives a 2000 corolla. both paid for years ago and keeping them both running is always a challenge, but cheaper than buying another. My bentley is in the shop…
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 01, 2010

We KNOW that God is upset when people place too much value on these temporal things. We even have the parable of the guy building the storehouses to prove it.

I think a Christian leader setting the example of living a luxurious lifestyle is problematic at best, sinful in some cases…
Leonard on Fri, October 01, 2010

you don’t have to be rich to do this. I know musicians whose houses and cars are modest but have thousands upon thousands of $ invested in guitars. Computer geeks who have ton-o-bucks in gaming and computer equipment. This is a slippery slope.

I have a boat for skiing, people find out and judge me as lavish. I traded for it. I live in a 2000 square foot house… people say wow, you must make a lot… it is 102 years old and was remodeled in 1949 by turning the attic into upstairs. We have 6’11’ ceilings upstairs.

Both of these situations have given criticism to me.

I use the iphone, but people think I as a pastor should use the cheapest phone. I took a few days off for hunting this last week and someone commented… don’t you ever work. Never mind that I went with 4 guys from my church that I have been mentoring.

It is just a slippery slope. I would never buy the stuff some pastors do, but that is because in my heart I cannot justify it. I also think there are lines people cross as ministers.

I loved what warren did when his books took off. He stayed in his house, paid back his church for all the salary they had given him, did not go buy luxury cars and reverse tithed. This is awesome!

The question people often ask is… Can I trust God? If I read the bible correctly the real question is… Can God trust me? With whatever he places in my hands, am I trustworthy? This is the question I use to decide how I spend, give, save and live.

This is what it means to be a faithful steward. Can you be a faithful steward with a Bentley? I can’t but I don’t know about him. I have figured it out on an F150. I am content with that.
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 01, 2010

Leonard writes [I know musicians whose houses and cars are modest but have thousands upon thousands of $ invested in guitars.] This is an excellent point, and why it’s so hard to make this call (although I still think the Bentley is a no-brainer). I probably have more in my guitars and amps and stuff than I do in both my cars combined. But music is a HUGE part of my work, and when it wasn’t, I had a pretty small fraction of that invested (plus, some REALLY nice stuff has been given to me, too). I thank God I don’t play violin or reeds, or I’d have to invest even more, as those instruments can be SO seriously expensive, at least professional quality ones.

There are some common-sense things, though. Sorry, I just can’t stretch myself to think that a Bentley is a wise use of what we’ve been given… for anybody…
CS on Fri, October 01, 2010

After reading so many stories about the levels of compensation given to people in ministry, I believe that there is an inverse correlation between a pastor’s salary and their diligence in preaching the true Gospel.

When I see people like Osteen, Copeland, Hinn, White, and others who are paid lavishly for their speaking, it seems more than coincidence that they avoid preaching the tenets of the Christian faith.

Not to say this applies to Long, because I have a lack of knowledge in his specific ministry, but from what others are saying, it may apply here, too.

—
CS
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 01, 2010

CS writes [After reading so many stories about the levels of compensation given to people in ministry, I believe that there is an inverse correlation between a pastor�s salary and their diligence in preaching the true Gospel.]

CS, you know I often get annoyed at your generalities, but in my experience, this one is hard to argue with…
Steven on Fri, October 01, 2010

Peter what about the folks that sit in your church whose average debt is $50,000 more than their annual income who live life styles far above their means. What about the guy who drives a 20k vehicle he will be paying for for the next 6 years at 10% interest, when he should be driving a 5k vehicleI. I believe God’s word places far greater emphasis on not being slave to the lender than it does about what kind of car a man of God drives. I bet the bishops Bentley is paid for and he doesn’t owe anyone anything except to love him” Romans 13:8

But it’s hard for high profile preachers to let people into their lives when they turn around and slander you in the news.

Just a thought
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 01, 2010

Steven, your point about debt is a good one. I’ve never been in that much debt, but was, once in more debt than I was comfortable with. (Living with my only debt being a mortgage is WAY better, btw…)

I still stop short of the Bentley. That’s just common sense to me.

BTW, consumer debt is plummeting in this country. Most of the people in my neck of the woods don’t have that kind of debt anymore. Consumer Reports recently found that more than half of us are not paying our Credit Card bill in full every month. That’s some good news for people’s personal economies. Unfortunately, in this ridiculously extravagant society, it’s bad news for an economy that only seems to be growing when people are in debt up to their eyeballs.
Steven on Fri, October 01, 2010

Peter said- “Unfortunately, in this ridiculously extravagant society, it�s bad news for an economy that only seems to be growing when people are in debt up to their eyeballs.”

Peter this is way off subject but still one I am personally passionate about and that is the fact that the current structure of our currency system is in this country can only continue when more debt is being made.

That’s how our wonderful Federal Reserve System :-(... (sorry just saying that made me a little sick to my stomach) meassure how much money Ben Bernanke decides can go into cirrculation based on how much money (debt) banks are loaning out. So when Americans aren’t borrowing any money then guess what no more money for you. It’s a sickk cycle of cat and mouse only we the american people are the mouse and as i recall; it never turns out very well for the mouse.

I would encourage you all to got to http://www.moneyasdebt.net and watch the animated histroy of our current financial structure. It will drive you to get out of debt and not be apart of this world system. Talk about a slippery slope?