Yes, I'd like to hear his clarify his statement....if it needs clarification. If he's saying this is a more common issue among black people, I'll be raising the roof calling for his resignation from the forum or at least an apology and an acknowledgment of error, and I would hope others would join me. I'm saying that, not necessarily at him, but at how out-of-line that concept is. Surely he didn't mean what it appears he meant.
I hesitated to say anything in response to this thread because I have no doubt that MOW is a great guy and pastor. I don't see him as some malicious racist at all. The statement itself just didn't make much sense to me. I would hesitate about really attacking him personally. I just wanted a bit more clarity.
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There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
(1) The Bishop didn't say he was completely innocent at all. He said that he was not the man that they're saying he is. He did not categorically deny that any of this happened. I hope I'm wrong (seriously) but this just seems like he is leaving way too much wiggle room. I am personally aware of this type of behavior among some black preachers. This on the "down-low" behavior has affected far more than we'll ever know. I am not painting with a broad brush, I am only speaking from what I have knowledge of. I know this is a minority who engage is this behavior, but it is NOT behavior that his church folks are clueless about. Maybe clueless regarding him, but not the life style itself.
I truly hope he is innocent, but from everything I've seen so far, I predict that it will come out that the allegations are true. At least he didn't do the Ted Haggard, "I don't know this man" shuffle.
I say give 'em all lie detector tests and see how they come out. If it was me and I was accused of anything like this, I would be willing to do that and make it public if the accusers would as well. I am really saddened by all of this.
(1) I picked up on that too. His word choice was very calculated and I was saddened when I read his words.
(2) I know what you are talking about, but I ususually never give any credence to those kinds of rumors. However, I have heard rumors like that about several preachers-- only one was white and the rest have been black.
I am not hoping for bad. I am hoping that the allegations are not true.
However, his statements make me think that... man I am really saddened about this.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
(1) I picked up on that too. His word choice was very calculated and I was saddened when I read his words.
(2) I know what you are talking about, but I ususually never give any credence to those kinds of rumors. However, I have heard rumors like that about several preachers-- only one was white and the rest have been black.
I am not hoping for bad. I am hoping that the allegations are not true.
However, his statements make me think that... man I am really saddened about this.
You should watch the entire 21 minute video of Long's remarks that Hoovie posted. I thought Long's remarks were brilliant. Also, read my post of the possibilities of what his "I've never claimed to be a perfect man" could have meant. It seems natural that all of us who are not in a position to play a role in Long's situation would ONLY be rooting for the best possible outcome and ONLY be believing for the best possible outcome. It's boggling to my mind how anyone could hope for anything BUT that.
For sure, there's a chance to put this in the category of "Where there's smoke, there's fire". But there's also the chance to believe and hope for the best. No one has to like Long's style to be rooting for him in this case. Heck, I can't STAND the TBN prosperity stuff, but Long is a POWERFUL preacher and I have to, at least, respect that.
And quite honestly, if we want to make a racial comparison, moral issues have stricken white ministries much more often than otherwise. The list is VERY long. Even there in Atlanta just recently, the Earl Paulk situation. Even Charles Stanley was recently divorced after having lived separately from his wife for many years.
This is NOT a racial problem. This is a human problem.
I was hoping that MOW might have given a little more clarity to his statement. Either way, I am aware of this type of behavior in preachers of all colors and cultures. As a matter of fact the Catholic Church, in which this sort of behavior may be most prevalent, an overwhelming majority (almost to the point of exclusivity) have been white. I don't associate the behavior with their color. I'm just making an observation that is relevant to this discussion.
Haggard and some of the other notable preachers who have been involved in sex scandals come to mind. This sort of thing has unfortunately been uncovered in the UPC. Without saying any names, to the best of my recollection none were black.
I'm not trying to start an argument. This is just my reaction to what I read.
The Bishop didn't say he was completely innocent at all. He said that he was not the man that they're saying he is. He did not categorically deny that any of this happened. I hope I'm wrong (seriously) but this just seems like he is leaving way too much wiggle room. I am personally aware of this type of behavior among some black preachers. This on the "down-low" behavior has affected far more than we'll ever know. I am not painting with a broad brush, I am only speaking from what I have knowledge of. I know this is a minority who engage is this behavior, but it is NOT behavior that his church folks are clueless about. Maybe clueless regarding him, but not the life style itself.
I truly hope he is innocent, but from everything I've seen so far, I predict that it will come out that the allegations are true. At least he didn't do the Ted Haggard, "I don't know this man" shuffle.
I say give 'em all lie detector tests and see how they come out. If it was me and I was accused of anything like this, I would be willing to do that and make it public if the accusers would as well. I am really saddened by all of this.
Yes, I noticed that.
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
Hmmm.....this is different than what I heard, but mine was second hand info. So you're probably right. Funny how two people can get different things from what someone says....maybe the person who told me was wanting to hear what they did.
I really hate this; I so hope it's not true. But it's beginning to look weird.
They played a clip of the Bishop on the news and MOW is right - he never said he was innocent. Matter of fact, how he said it made me feel like he very well knows it might be a long battle ahead. If I was innocent, I would have said those very words leaving no room for doubt. There was plenty of room left for doubt.
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
They played a clip of the Bishop on the news and MOW is right - he never said he was innocent. Matter of fact, how he said it made me feel like he very well knows it might be a long battle ahead. If I was innocent, I would have said those very words leaving any room for doubt. There was plenty of room left for doubt.
Yes, I agree. It left me thinking that some women might come crawling out of the woodwork. He knows that a lawsuit if going to bring out some stuff, for sure.
I said what I said. I said that I know of this taking place in some ministers lives...I did not say I have experience. I don't live in a cave and I do have many friends from different cultural backgrounds. I'm not throwing rocks and I DO hope that that Bishop is not guilty of this lifestyle. But if he is, he won't be the first preacher who has engaged in this type of behavior.
If you listen to what he said, he said that he was not the man being portrayed on TV and he did say that he was going to fight it. That could mean a lot of things and certainly doesn't mean that he is innocent. His words need to be compared to others in similar situations who first denied then when the truth came out, they were guilty. Once again, I hope he is not one of them. It just doesn't look like that to me. Those of you who have no close friends in different cultures really won't have a clue as to what I'm saying. Again, I'm not saying it's widespread, I'm saying it's been more common than what some believe.
It's too late pray for his innocence.....I pray for truth to prevail. I just really hope that truth vindicates him!
MOW, I know what you are saying and Mr. Smith, he's right. It's a very common thing to hear of this in my area. It's on the news all the time. All denominations of course, but it's an issue that I hear a lot about with COGIC being headquarted here in Memphis.
I will also say that it happens to all races. However, the "down low" thing seems to be a huge issue right now in COGIC.
One incident supposedly happened here in Memphis at the Peabody.
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
MOW, I know what you are saying and Mr. Smith, he's right. It's a very common thing to hear of this in my area. It's on the news all the time. All denominations of course, but it's an issue that I hear a lot about with COGIC being headquarted here in Memphis.
I will also say that it happens to all races. However, the "down low" thing seems to be a huge issue right now in COGIC.
One incident supposedly happened here in Memphis at the Peabody.
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