Accused megachurch pastor to talk to congregation.
ATLANTA -Sunday’s services at a Georgia megachurch will give its famed pastor the chance to address the congregation for the first time since allegations surfaced that that he lured young men into sex with gifts and travel.Bishop Eddie Long is scheduled to speak at services at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, several days after the lawsuits were filed accusing him of exploiting his authority to push four former members into sexual relationships when they were 17 or 18 years old.The lawsuits claim Long — who is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage — lured them into sexual relationships with gifts including cars, cash and travel.Long has denied the allegations through his lawyer and a Twitter posting but has not spoken publicly about them.Over the last 20 years, Long became one of the most powerful independent church leaders in the country. He led New Birth as it grew from a suburban Atlanta congregation of 150 to a 25,000-member powerhouse with a $50 million cathedral and a roster of parishioners that includes athletes, entertainers and politicians.Three of the young men who filed lawsuits this week live in Georgia, while the other was a member of a satellite church in Charlotte, N.C., run by Long.Two of the plaintiffs were once members of a youth program called the LongFellows Youth Academy, which teaches teenage boys lessons on financial discipline and sexual control. In their lawsuits, the men say Long used the program to groom them for sexual relationships and lured them into trysts with cars, jewelry and cash.The other two plaintiffs make similar claims that Long served as a mentor, gave them gifts, then convinced them to engage in sexual acts.
