LITHONIA | Bishop Eddie Long taking 'time off' | News

LITHONIA, Ga. -- Bishop Eddie Long announced to his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church congregation Sunday that he is taking time off to be with his family.

"You go out there and the news says I stepped down. You were here; I didn't step down and I want you to know I haven't stepped down, I actually stepped up," Long said from the pulpit.

Rumors of his resignation began circulating early Sunday following news of an impending divorce, but those rumors were quickly put to rest when church spokesman Art Franklin released a statement to the media.

It read: "Rumors that Bishop Eddie L. Long has stepped down as senior pastor of New Missionary Baptist Church are completely false. As Bishop Long stated in earlier comments, 'Vanessa and I are working together in seeking God's will in our current circumstances'. As any loving and committed husband would do, Bishop Long will take some time to focus on his family but he will continue to be the senior pastor of New Birth."

Outside the church, few had anything to say except a protestor across the street who wanted a confession not a break from the pulpit.

We would get upset if a quarterback misses a throw, but we don't get upset when we see men, professing [to be] the teachers of Christ, abuse the followers," said Helen Anderson-Long (not a relative).

She and her group plan to be at the church every first Sunday until Long "confesses" she said.

No one at the Long family home would comment nor did 11Alive News get comment from Bishop Long at New Birth or the nearby mansion.

After 21 years of marriage, Vanessa Long filed for divorce from Bishop Long on Thursday. On Friday, a statement from Bishop Long's church indicated Mrs. Long would not go through with the divorce. However, Friday evening, attorneys for Mrs. Long stated that was incorrect and said she would move forward with the divorce proceeding.

READ:Vanessa Long's petition for divorce

Vanessa Long's attorney, Michael W. Tyler, released a statement saying in part, "Mrs. Long continues to hope that this matter may be resolved expeditiously, harmoniously and fairly; however, she has determined that dismissal of her divorce petition is not appropriate at this time.

"The world has a whole lot bigger issues to worry about than to worry about whether they're getting a divorce, whether they're staying together or not," she said.

Bishop Long was the subject of a lawsuit in 2010 by a number of former church members. The suit alleged Long used his position and influence to coerce sex from four male plaintiffs. The suit was settled out of court.