Long rebuts criticism at graduation
Bishop's defense gets both cheers, eye rolls at seminary
John Blake - Staff
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Bishop Eddie Lee Long confronted his critics Saturday when he delivered a passionate defense of his ministry during his commencement speech at an Atlanta seminary.
Long, urged on by cheers and shouts of "Sho' yo' right," compared his plight to that of a persecuted prophet. The senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Church in Lithonia had been snubbed by two commencement dignitaries who refused to appear with him on stage and criticized by seminary students questioning his integrity.
Long told the audience at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on Morehouse College's campus that he wasn't a "snake oil" preacher preaching prosperity and bashing gays, as some have charged. He was doing what a pastor is supposed to do.
"We come to cause conflict," said Long, his voice rising as he faced the graduates. "We come to challenge. When I preach a message and people say they enjoyed it, I feel like I've failed. I'm not up here for entertainment."
Long's remarks were addressed to his alma mater, the Interdenominational Theological Center. ITC, near the Georgia Dome, is not run by one denomination but is a consortium of six seminaries from various church traditions. Long appealed to ITC's ecumenical tradition to find common ground with his critics. He said he was also "disturbed" about issues such as the Iraq war and black poverty --- he wasn't concerned only with people prospering.
"We agree on far too much to be divided," he said.
Long's message --- like his ministry --- divided the crowd anyway. While plenty of people in the chapel bolted from their seats to cheer him, other sat stoically in their seats rolling their eyes.
A group of ITC students also wore green cords around their necks along with their family members to protest Long's appearance and handed out fliers before the ceremony.
The controversy began with ITC's students. They publicly released a letter this week protesting his appearance.
The six-page letter, addressed to Michael Battle, ITC's president, said Long's public remarks displayed arrogance, denigrated women and demeaned the value of theological education.
The controversy thickened when James H. Cone --- a prominent theologian who believes God identifies more with the poor than the prosperous, and so should church leaders --- announced that he would boycott the ceremony rather than appear with Long. The letter, along with the withdrawal of Cone, who was supposed to receive an honorary doctorate from ITC, and another boycott from a longtime ITC board of trustees member, loomed over the entire service.
Victor Cyrus-Franklin, one of the student leaders who wrote the letter, said Long's speech didn't change his stance.
"He said at the very beginning of his message that this ceremony was about us but he spent the majority of the time talking about himself," Franklin said.
The Rev. Amos Brown, a Morehouse graduate whose portrait hangs in the chapel along with that of King and others, said Long's presence "insulted" the founders of ITC.
His view of Long is that he claims to be a prophet but never takes an unpopular stand that would offend the political or economic power structure. Brown said Long will lead a march against gay marriage but wouldn't dare lead a march against President Bush protesting the war.
"If you're going to be disturbed about it, what are you going to do about it?" Brown said.
"The prophet has always been on the outside, speaking the truth to power. His [Long] is a muted voice. It has been uncertain."
Long's remarks also did not touch on the first concern raised by students in their letter --- his charity. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution article reported last year that a charity Long created to help the poor provided him with at least $3 million in salary, benefits and property --- making him its biggest beneficiary.
But graduating senior Sandy Maclin, who joined the 25,000-member New Birth church, said that he's not disturbed by the claims in his classmates' letter.
As he stood with his family outside the chapel following the service, he, too, compared his bishop to a prophet.
"A prophetic voice is often criticized and misunderstood," Maclin said. "They often have to stand on their own because they speak things the masses don't want to hear."
John Blake - Staff
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Bishop Eddie Lee Long confronted his critics Saturday when he delivered a passionate defense of his ministry during his commencement speech at an Atlanta seminary.
Long, urged on by cheers and shouts of "Sho' yo' right," compared his plight to that of a persecuted prophet. The senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Church in Lithonia had been snubbed by two commencement dignitaries who refused to appear with him on stage and criticized by seminary students questioning his integrity.
Long told the audience at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on Morehouse College's campus that he wasn't a "snake oil" preacher preaching prosperity and bashing gays, as some have charged. He was doing what a pastor is supposed to do.
"We come to cause conflict," said Long, his voice rising as he faced the graduates. "We come to challenge. When I preach a message and people say they enjoyed it, I feel like I've failed. I'm not up here for entertainment."
Long's remarks were addressed to his alma mater, the Interdenominational Theological Center. ITC, near the Georgia Dome, is not run by one denomination but is a consortium of six seminaries from various church traditions. Long appealed to ITC's ecumenical tradition to find common ground with his critics. He said he was also "disturbed" about issues such as the Iraq war and black poverty --- he wasn't concerned only with people prospering.
"We agree on far too much to be divided," he said.
Long's message --- like his ministry --- divided the crowd anyway. While plenty of people in the chapel bolted from their seats to cheer him, other sat stoically in their seats rolling their eyes.
A group of ITC students also wore green cords around their necks along with their family members to protest Long's appearance and handed out fliers before the ceremony.
The controversy began with ITC's students. They publicly released a letter this week protesting his appearance.
The six-page letter, addressed to Michael Battle, ITC's president, said Long's public remarks displayed arrogance, denigrated women and demeaned the value of theological education.
The controversy thickened when James H. Cone --- a prominent theologian who believes God identifies more with the poor than the prosperous, and so should church leaders --- announced that he would boycott the ceremony rather than appear with Long. The letter, along with the withdrawal of Cone, who was supposed to receive an honorary doctorate from ITC, and another boycott from a longtime ITC board of trustees member, loomed over the entire service.
Victor Cyrus-Franklin, one of the student leaders who wrote the letter, said Long's speech didn't change his stance.
"He said at the very beginning of his message that this ceremony was about us but he spent the majority of the time talking about himself," Franklin said.
The Rev. Amos Brown, a Morehouse graduate whose portrait hangs in the chapel along with that of King and others, said Long's presence "insulted" the founders of ITC.
His view of Long is that he claims to be a prophet but never takes an unpopular stand that would offend the political or economic power structure. Brown said Long will lead a march against gay marriage but wouldn't dare lead a march against President Bush protesting the war.
"If you're going to be disturbed about it, what are you going to do about it?" Brown said.
"The prophet has always been on the outside, speaking the truth to power. His [Long] is a muted voice. It has been uncertain."
Long's remarks also did not touch on the first concern raised by students in their letter --- his charity. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution article reported last year that a charity Long created to help the poor provided him with at least $3 million in salary, benefits and property --- making him its biggest beneficiary.
But graduating senior Sandy Maclin, who joined the 25,000-member New Birth church, said that he's not disturbed by the claims in his classmates' letter.
As he stood with his family outside the chapel following the service, he, too, compared his bishop to a prophet.
"A prophetic voice is often criticized and misunderstood," Maclin said. "They often have to stand on their own because they speak things the masses don't want to hear."
posted by ITC Seniors 2006 | 9:30 AM
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