READER RESPONSE: Where Will Bishop Eddie Long’s settlement Money Come From?
June 13, 2011 by Admin
Filed under Church, Leaders, Ministry Today
Devin Robinson
info@180gatg.com
Word has now been released that Bishop Eddie Long settled his case…
but what does that mean for the economy of New Birth? One of mistakes we tend to make in our community is failing to realize that churches are businesses. True they may be organizations that foster spiritual growth and development in our communities, but when the pastor leaves the pulpit and the choir removes their gowns, money is counted in the backrooms and decisions are made on what to do with it.
Like any other business, churches have utility bills and capital expenditures to satisfy. However, the uniqueness of a church is it is also a non-profit; which means there are regulations to abide by in order to keep its tax-exempt status. I recently asked a question to my Facebook friends, “Which is more important, the comfort of the pastor or the growth of the church?” Ironically, many felt the comfort of the pastor was more important. However, here’s the trick. A responsible non-profit allocates at least 70% of its revenue towards the programs it was formed to develop. The other 30% would go towards administrative costs. The pastor’s well-being should be in that 30%. Unfortunately we catch a case of spiritual vertigo and slide the pastor’s well-being into the 70%; programs the organization was built to build.
In that 70%, churches are to train drug users, convicted felons, orphans, domestic violence victims, and the homeless on Interviewing Skills, G.E.D. preparation, and financial literacy. In some cases they even provide jobs, housing, and good to those who need it most. These people then go on to become taxpayers, business owners, and voters within the Black community. We must admit, churches are a lifeline to the Black Economy. But what happens when that 70% is disrupted?
According to a study by Livesteez, Black churches have generated over $420 Billion since 1980. Based on these numbers, we would assume that $336 Billion went to building the Black community. Conversely, if we scale back those numbers, we would see that Black churches also claim to support relief efforts internationally, which throws up a severe smoke screen because most congregants are unable to personally travel to a small village in Angola to validate the church’s claims. Okay, I digress.
I painted this illustration for us to grab the concept that sometimes when churches claim to be Black, really aren’t if that 70% never makes it to the microcosmic Black community. Instead some of them are just half-baked Imperialistic organizations with Black preachers and Black people in the pews with much of their funds being filtered up to scratch the backs of its leaders; leaving the community itching.
Bishop Eddie Long allegedly used his influence to satisfy some twisted urges. Immediately after the allegations were made public, Long boastfully declared himself to be David with a satchel full of stones. Yet, as I remember the story in the Bible, David never settled! Long did. Long may now be slightly at rest, but the congregation and the on-the-fence believers are not.
Imperialism is when the benefits are consumed by the leaders. To me, here is where Long is demonstrating his leadership style to be as such, more about his comfort than the comfort and the image of the church body. The question is, where will the settlement money be taken from, the 70% or the 30%? Will it come from the serving of the community or the comfort of the leadership?
What we can expect to now see is skeptic corporate giving, members’ doubt in tithing, and the person who was heading to church the very next Sunday to become a part of the largest industry that brings relief to the Black community become discouraged. Even though there are church’s whose relief to the Black community falls below the 70%, the church’s are often the last hope for restoring the Black community and survival of its economy, but with self-centered decisions made by apathetic pastors we can only continue to expect the offering we put in the plate to go the stones in the pastor’s satchel but those stones may actually be Viagra.
What Do YOU think? Should Bishop Long’s Church pay for the settlement? Who should pay?
I’m not sure if settling was the correct thing to do however the blogger talking about the 70% versus 30%, where is he getting his numbers because from what I understand Bishop Eddie Long is idependently wealthy, so I would assume the money is not coming from the church at all or at least I hope not.
I would assume the money is not coming from the church, but from the Insurance company that covers the church. Being a Pastor of a church that has been sued, not for anything like this, but sued none the less, that’s where the money comes from. That being said, please understand that if the church and/or Bishop Long is covered under the insurance policy, then the decision to settle is not up to the church or Bishop Long, that decision is solely a decision made by the Insurance company, and they are going to make a “financial” decision based on their best interests since they are going to be the ones ultimately dishing out money. So, although the case has been settled, we don’t know, and won’t know because of confidentially clauses in the settlement agreement who initiated the settlement, Bishop Long or the Insurance Company.
wow, where do you actually think his “independent” wealth came from! The church needs to wake up and smell the coffee, as no where in the bible does it say that when you give to your church, its not your business as God here is exposing Bishop Long as that’s what God does, and enough was enough, what a shame for all these believers whom I’m sure will have to heal hopefully and will they ever trust another pastor, or will they just realize that we all are pastors, and that 2 Timothy 2:15 has come into reality more so of today’s living as a true Christian, know him for yourself, which I know believes does not necessarily require us to go and give a church our money, just so they can pay off their debts for not seeking deliverance at God’s expense, but instead at ours!
I am quite disappointed Bishop Long decided not to stand and fight in the face of his accusers but rahter chose to settle. Unfortunately “settling” has a bad connotation in our society and often has with it a sense of guilt to some degree. Only God, Bishop Long and his accusers know what REALLY happened behind closed doors and in front of opened camera shutters. Since the alleged trouble Bishop Long got into was from his own actions and perhaps ill-timed decisions, the responsibilty for paying off this settelement should be his own as well. If people desire to help him it is their right to do so, but never should anyone, especially his congregation, be expected, coerced or pressured into covering his personal expenses related to this ordeal. I wish him well, pray for his recovery and trust him to fully return to preaching and living the unadultered Word of God moving forward!
Don’t churches carry insurance for things like that? If not, they should.
Settlement in cases like this is often the result of the insurance companies agreeing to pay out their policy “limits.” There are multiple insurance policies at play here:
1. Long’s homeowner policy
2. Long’s pastor’s liability policy
3. New Birth’s liability policy
4. New Birth’s School’s liability policy
5. Officer/Directors Liability Policy (church and/or church-school)
6. Professional (Errors & Omissions Liability Policy
Essentially, the insurers get together and they say “We have $25,000,000.” We will pay this amount to the plaintiffs to settle this case. The plaintiffs sign a release pick up their checks. (Don’t forget that 1/3 of the $25,000,000 goes to the plaintiff’s lawyers – after they take out expenses. So, if fees are $1,000,000, only $16,000,000 is available to be shared equally among the plaintiffs.)
The 70-30 breakdown is revealing for the Black Church because it demonstrates that church is not necessarily a “charitable agency.” Most churches are NOT sharing 70% of their income in programs that benefit their congregants. Period.
In too many instances, churches are money-laundering institutions that promote the personal profit of the resident prophet – salary plus expenses plus allowances plus anniversaries….There’s something wrong when the average household income is $50,000 and the pastor is making $150,000…very wrong.
My comment is, if u don’t attend newbirth, never attended or planned to attend… And have never donated any money to new birth then rest assure however, this money is paid it’s not yours… Why comment about the money when it’s not your money being used to pay the bishop, to support the community of anything that newbirth does… The church does a
Lot for that community… Talk about that… Oh wait I forgot all of you were perfect and never made a mistake… The bible says not one sin is greater than the next… Forgiveness try that… Btw his independent wealth came from him not newbirth… Get your facts straight… Oh I forgot we are not basing anything on fact… Only opinions or assumptions… Additionally, the bible says judge ye not that ye will not be judged…
Long should pay. And, the church is like a baby–this is no fault of the church. And, actually Long should resign–step down or at least go on a sabbatical for a while, and seek forgiveness for putting the Body of Christ into this situation whether guilty or not. Fact is, something happened–otherwise why wouldn’t he fight for his innocence? God’s church not Long’s church. In fact, I think Creflo Dollar’s members ought to hold him accountable as well for his bold–arrogant–and bullying tactice. I, personally, won[t belong to or associate with either one of these people. I believe that accountability is very important.
As a former insurance adjuster, insurance companies DO NOT settle in cases in which there’s no liability. Especially, when a defense trial would be more cost-effective..
People love to quote “judge not”. I really don’t think they know what it means.
People know when they get up in the morning they are not perfect.
No matter how sorry you are and who forgives you, there will always be “CONSEQUENCES” for bad behavior. Ask all the people who are so sorry who were judged by our legal system and sent directly to jail.
Don’t ever believe the quote “You cannot legislate morality”. Why do you think we have some many laws againts murder, theft, child abuse, deviant sexual behavior, fraud, corruption, etc.
I believe in the birth, death, and resurection of Jesus Chirst. These events and silly doomsday prophets really hurt the testimony.
I am glad that the lady cleared up the silly notion that an insurance company paid off that settlement; what craziness; i was about to find me one of those policies. I did a terrible thing as a minister of music in a church that i paid a big price for; i spent a year in prison; not that what Bishop Long did was criminal it was immoral and as i had to answer to the US Government for what i did and God; he will have to answer to God for what he did; i am sure that God is angry at the mere fact that what the Holy Spirit was given to us for has been tarnished; and that is that we be a witness to the world; what a poor witness and woe to him that falls into the hands of an angry God!!! Men that i witnessed to in prison heard about this story and were so disappointed and all i could tell them was to look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of their faith. Bishop Long needs to take a year sabatical and get with God and seek His face a repent and never return to that behavior that got him in this place!!! He is faithful and just to forgive “ONLY” if we ask for it: God will not forgive this unless he calls it by name and ask for it!!! Even if he did no wrong; he put the body of Christ in a bad light; that needs forgiveness!!!
Haha all of you who are saying the insurance company made long settle are wrong. I am a lawyer from Maryland and if those boys sued Long, then only long can decide what to do! The defendant makes his own decision don’t be fooled. long was guilty, and settled. If he would admit it and resign temporally it would be okay but he is calling them boys liars all over tv. If you have God and innocence you don’t have to settle. The words teachers you who is greater than our God? You plus God can beat any enemy.
A man is responsible for his own choices and he made his. He has a family who have been hurt by this incident and maybe he choose to not take his family through a long trial. The people who really should hold him accountable is his family, church, piers and those who he is accountable to, like his Bishiop. We are all responsible for our areas of influence and sometimes the people aroung you just want to hear the truth and then they can forgive. Of course there will be talk but when the talking is done the integrity will stand.