Bishop Eddie Long Pictures Paint an Uncomfortable Image

Bishop Eddie Long, Bishop Eddie Long Scandal, Bishop Eddie Long Sex Scandal, Bishop Eddie Long Pictures

I woke up this morning expecting the day to be normal, but normal just doesn't seem to visit my house anymore. I am especially convinced of this fact after seeing some really "interesting" pictures of Bishop Eddie Long. These pictures were allegedly sent by Bishop Long to one of his "spiritual sons," who has not yet filed a lawsuit.

After these pictures were released to the public by the plaintiff's attorney, B.J. Bernstein, I am sure she said the word checkmate out loud. One cannot say with complete certainty that these pictures were sent to the young man to convince him of the importance of working out, to show off the latest fashion trends or to simply say, "Hey man, how ya' doin'?"

Instead, the images leave Bishop Long with a lot of explaining to do.

"She's trying to paint him as a predator," says Dr. Christopher Metzler, a Georgetown University professor and highly respected litigator out of Washington, D.C., said of Bernstein. "She's also trying to get a settlement quickly by suing the church, the nonprofit and Bishop Long. Given that Atlanta has such a large gay community, there may be gay people on the jury. He's pushed many gay people out of the church, so the perception of hypocrisy my cause him problems."

Here's the bottom line on the Bishop Long sex scandal:

If Long or anyone else were to send these pictures to any of my kids, I'd be standing in the pulpit with a baseball bat. No "spiritual adviser," teacher or cub scout master has any business sending pictures like this to the young men he is advising. I am also hopeful that the photographic evidence will be enough to wake up anyone in Long's congregation who feels that he might somehow have been framed by another party. While anything is possible, we must also consider that which is probable.

The allegations against Long might provide an opportunity for the black church as well. Why are we choosing to live a lie when it comes to homosexuality in the church? We have gay men in the church, around the church and underneath the church, living on the down low. The question becomes, "If Long happens to be either completely or partially gay, does this eliminate the impact he's had on the lives of millions of people? Should we love and respect him any less?" What's worse is that if it is the case that Long is gay (I am not yet saying this for certain), why in the world would he go out of his way to not only attend a rally against gays, but actively position himself as an anti-gay pastor? It's one thing to be secretly gay, and another thing to go out of your way to attack the gay community, attend rallies against them and even lead the rallies that you're attending. That, my friends, is the definition of the word audacity.

It appears that the Bishop Long sex scandal is just beginning. I am quite curious to see where it goes from here. At the very least, we can say that the attorney for the plaintiffs is going for blood. No, I'm not talking about the blood of Jesus. For Bernstein, the blood of Eddie Long will do just fine.

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Black Spiritual Leaders

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders
People around the world look to pastors, preachers, bishops and reverends for spiritual guidance and inspirational nourishment. In the black community, popular clergymen such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Rev. Al Sharpton are held in high esteem and have much influence over congregations and countless followers alike. Take a look at them and other influential black spiritual leaders.

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Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop T.D. Jakes, The Potter's House
AGE: 51 HOMETOWN: South Charleston, West Virginia ABOUT HIM: The entrepreneur and chief pastor of the The Potter's House, a 30,000 member non-denominational megachurch church in Dallas. FACTOID: Jakes, who was named among America's "Top 10 Religious Leaders" by 'Time' magazine, has recorded Grammy- and Dove Award-nominated music projects. He also produced the movies 'Woman Thou Art Loosed' and 'Not Easily Broken.'

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ
AGE: 67 HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ABOUT HIM: For 36 years, Wright was the Senior Pastor of the Chicago megachurch -- which boasted around 8,500 members. Controversial remarks made during his sermon shed negative light on the popular church, and one of its most well known parishioners: Illinois Senator and U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. FACTOID: Named one of 'Ebony' magazine's top 15 preachers, Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Lincoln University, Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary.

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Juanita Bynum, televangelist
AGE: 49 HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HER: A former beautician, flight attendant and drug abuser, Bynum transformed herself into one of the most popular celebrity clergywomen after being introduced to the masses by Bishop T.D. Jakes. With a highly rated TBN show and a thriving television ministry, she gained national attention in 2007 when her estranged husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks, III, allegedly attacked her in a hotel parking lot. FACTOID: Bynum, a best-selling recording artist and author, has crossed over into entertainment. In 2008, she starred on episodes of the hit ABC Family network TV series 'Lincoln Heights' and will also appear in the big movie adaptation of the off-Broadway musical 'Mama I Want To Sing,' alongside Ciara, Lynn Whitfield and Patti LaBelle.

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Eddie L. Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist
HOMETOWN: North Carolina ABOUT HIM: He first served as pastor in 1987 for a congregation consisting of just more than 300 members. Now the Lithonia, Georgia-based megachurch's membership has totaled to over 30,000 members. FACTOID: Long has authored numerous books, including 'What a Man Wants, What a Woman Needs' and 'The Blessing in Giving.' The bishop is also featured on rapper Ludacris' latest album, 'Release Therapy,' and appeared on the hit Bravo reality show, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.'

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network
AGE: 54 HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York ABOUT HIM: Mostly recognized as a staunch civil rights activist for people of color, the former James Brown tour manager is the founder the National Action Network, a nonprofit, civil rights organization with over 40 active chapters nationwide. FACTOID: A 2004 U.S. Presidential candidate, the divorced father of two daughters has written a memoir (with Karen Hunter) hosted his own TV show (on TV One) and nationally syndicated radio program.

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Noel Jones, City of Refuge Church
AGE: 57 HOMETOWN: Spanish Town, Jamaica ABOUT HIM: In 1994, Bishop Jones founded Noel Jones Ministries (NJM), formerly known as Jesus Alternative Ministries, in an effort to address religion's inability to offer real relevance to the changing climate of the times. His Gardenia, California-based church boasts 7,000 members. FACTOID: One of seven children born to Bishop Robert and Marjorie Jones, Bishop Jones attended St. Jago High School and went on to attain a B.S. in Theology from Aenon Bible College. He is the younger brother of entertainer Grace Jones.

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Jamal Harrison Bryant, The Empowerment Temple
ABOUT HIM: Bryant founded Baltimore's Empowerment Temple in April 2000, which became the fastest growing church in the A.M.E. denomination with over 11,000 members. Prior to his role as pastor, he served as director of the NAACP's youth and college division. FACTOID: Despite dropping out of high school, Bryant later obtained a GED and went on to further his education, receiving a degree from Morehouse College, a masters of divinity from Duke University and doctorate in ministry. Today, his 'Power for Life' broadcast is heard weekly across the United States, the Caribbean, England and throughout the continent of Africa.

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Pastor Cynthia Hale, Ray of Hope Christian Church
HOMETOWN: Roanoke, Virginia ABOUT HER: Hale is the founding and senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, which has an active membership of 5,000 and an average of 1,500 in worship each Sunday morning. FACTOID: In 2004, Hale established a mentorship program to assist in the spiritual as well as practical development of pastors and church leaders. She has been recognized by Ebony magazine as one of the greatest black women preachers in America.

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Larry Trotter, Sweet Holy Spirit Church
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HIM: Since 1981, Trotter has expanded his congregation at The Windy City's Sweet Holy Spirit Church from 22 members to over 5,000. FACTOID: In addition to his preaching ministry, Trotter is also an accomplished musician who was nominated for a Stellar Award in 2003 for his rendition of 'Jesus is the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me.'

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.