Bishop Eddie Long Passes Away

Controversial megachurch leader Bishop Eddie Long has passed away from an “aggressive form of cancer,” according to a statement released by his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Bishop Long took over the church in 1987 and led the church to a membership of over 25,000. The church hosted live recordings of gospel albums and the funeral of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, member of the superstar group TLC who died in a car accident in 2002. In 2006, the church was chosen by the family of Coretta Scott King as the sight for her funeral which was attended by Presidents George Bush, George W. Bush, Clinton, and Carter.

In 2010, long was embroiled in scandal, after being accused by members of his congregation of sexual misconduct. Four male members of New Birth made allegations that Long coerced them into having sexual relationships and provided money and luxury items in return. Long avoided criminal charges because the accusers were all over the age of consent but he ended up settling out of court for an undisclosed amount.

During the closing days of 2016, Long was thrust back into the spotlight after gospel singer Kim Burrell delivered a sermon in which she called out Long and viral sensation Andrew Caldwell for embarrassing the church with their “perverted, homosexual spirit.” Burrell also talked about Long’s health issues and the whisperings that Long may have been suffering from AIDS. According to Burrell, the whisperings were a result of Long’s alleged homosexual relationships with the male members of his church.

Burrell went as far as to say that those “play with it,” it being the homosexual spirit, would “die from it in 2017.” Well, Eddie Long has died. As of yet, there has been no statement from Ms. Burrell. Following the release of her sermon, Burrell was removed from an appearance on Ellen, as well as BMI’s Trailblazers of Gospel event, where Burrell was scheduled to be honored for her contributions to gospel music. Burrell’s radio show was also pulled from a Texas university station.