No, Bishop Long, We Cannot Ignore the Past

When Bishop Eddie L. Long stood before his congregation in Lithonia, Ga., May 29 to declare that he would be looking forward, not focused on the past, his supporters said that's the right thing to do. He had just settled civil lawsuits that alleged he had coerced young male followers into sex.

Sorry, bishop, as a man of God who is the shepherd of an international ministry, we cannot simply let you off that easily.

From the moment Bishop Long was first accused eight months ago, he had the benefit of the doubt. He was innocent until proven guilty, and I wrote in a column that if he was innocent, he should defend his name and character with every fiber in his body.

And he said as much before his congregation.

Yet now he settles a lawsuit, keeps the details private, refuses to speak publicly about the accusations, and expects some form of forgiveness? It's just not that simple.

To my legal friends, I get the whole issue of settling a lawsuit to risk further damage and put it behind you. But when you are a pastor who has preached against gay marriage and homosexuality, has openly talked about the covenant between a husband and wife, and has talked about the importance of men leading their families as strong men of faith, there is an expectation on you that is greater than the one on the average man.

Some have suggested that I and others who aren't members of his church should shut up and that it's up to them to accept him at his word. Again, I disagree.

I remember vividly hearing Bishop Long for the first time in June 1999 and loving the sermon, "A Fresh Anointing for Change," quoting it on many occasions. When I worked on a television project in 2000, I attended Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church for three months, regularly attending services and tithing to his ministry. When I served as news editor at Savoy magazine, we did a photo spread of pastors and fashion and recommended he be a part of it. Last year, my wife and I spoke at a black marriage summit at Hampton University in Hampton, Va. We were the luncheon speakers, and Long was the evening speaker.

I've watched his worship services on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, bought and read several of his books, and purchased numerous videotapes and tapes of his sermons. Lastly, I've discussed his efforts to reach out specifically to black men to get them involved in the church, even writing about it in an essay in my book "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith."

So count me as one of the committed Christians who poured a seed into his ministry and who has a reasonable expectation for the pastor to be a stand-up man and speak honestly about what has happened.

He is someone whom thousands follow, and they should hear the truth and nothing but the truth from Bishop Long.

Not his lawyer, not his spokesman, not his wife — him! He should not have decided on a private mediation; he should have demanded that everything be discussed in public.

Again, count me as someone who believes that if you are truly innocent of such heinous allegations, you don't go behind closed doors. You defend yourself publicly and shame those who try to muddy your name and derail your ministry.

Bishop Long has utterly failed even his own preaching. He has stood in the pulpit and demanded accountability of others but clearly believes that different rules apply to him.

With his refusal to address the issue publicly, openly and truthfully, I don't see how any pastor could participate in a conference with Long on the rostrum. I don't see how any gospel musician could go to his church and stand in the pulpit with him to sell CDs. As a churchgoing man, there is no way I could sit under the spiritual leadership of a pastor who was unwilling to stand before his congregation and address the issue head-on.

I know all about forgiveness. It is one of the tenets of being a Christian. But I am not to forgive foolishly. If Bishop Long wants forgiveness, he needs to be open in discussing what really happened — or didn't happen — with those young men and allow all of us to decide for ourselves whether we are willing to grant it.

If his followers are angry with me for writing this, then so be it. But there is no way that I can sit here and talk about the righteousness of ministers of the Gospel (my wife is an ordained minister) and make excuses for Bishop Long or any other pastor in a similar situation.

As Christians, we are supposed to expose darkness with light. In this case, Bishop Long chose to keep the truth behind closed doors and say, "Trust me; it's all good. Everything is fine."

John 8:32 says Jesus told his disciples, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Bishop Long, I'm not saying you are Jesus, but to your followers, it's time for YOU to reveal the truth so YOU can be set free.

Roland S. Martin is an award-winning CNN analyst and the author of the book "The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin." Please visit his website at www.RolandSMartin.com. To find out more about Roland S. Martin and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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