The Atlanta megachurch, the New Missionary Baptist Church, was crowded with nearly 10,000 faithful supporters as its senior minister, Bishop Eddie Long stood to address his congregation. Long stands accused of luring four men into sexual relationships, a claim Long says he will fight.
Long promised to fight the allegations with everything he’s got "I feel like David against Goliath. But I got five rocks, and I haven't thrown one yet," Long said; this was his first public speech since the lawsuits against him was filed.
Long didn’t go so far as to deny the claims, but implied he had been wronged by them, “I am not the man that's being portrayed on the television. That's not me. That is not me,” he said.
Long has taken the congregation from a meager 150 to well over 25,000 over the 20 years he has headed it, and there was no sign that his faithful followers were about to turn on him. The congregation includes many athletes, entertainers and politicians and the loud applause that followed Long’s address was a sure sign that his popularity had not wavered.
Members of the press were instructed not to interview congregational followers outside the church, nor were they allowed in the main sanctuary of the church to listen to the address. An Associated Press reporter was escorted off the premises for failing to comply with the church’s request.
It is not clear whether Long is at risk of being removed from his position by the church’s board, but he is certainly up for a time of intense observation as the lawsuits get under way.
