The Black Church is back in the spotlight; unfortunately, it’s not for reasons related to sound doctrine. Controversy has once again pushed the organization to the forefront in popular culture. But it’s not the first time. African-American congregations have endured controversy and scandal for decades. Here’s a short list of the stories that made headlines.
Bishop Eddie Long
Bishop Eddie Long’s case is one of the most damaging scandals to hit the Black church. He’s currently being accused for coercing four young men into sexual relationships. While Bishop Long is fighting those charges, he has since become a media sensation and the newest poster child for “what is wrong with the black church”. As pastor of the 25,000 member New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, he has also endured criticism from fellow clergy who challenged his teachings which pushed that homosexually is “spiritual abortion”.
Creflo Dollar
Fellow Georgia Resident and Senior Pastor of the mega-church World Changers International, Creflo Dollar has seen his share of controversy. He’s been painted as the face of the “Prosperity Gospel”, preaching messages of wealth to his congregation and followers. At the same time, Pastor Dollar has had his own fortune called into question. In 2007 he refused to hand over financial documents ordered by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. At the time Pastor Dollar lived in a $2.5 million mansion and drove a Bentley.
Jeremiah Wright
Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s name almost became kryptonite for President Barack Obama two years ago when the out-spoken preacher said African-Americans should not sing “God Bless America” but “God damn America.” In the sermon the Reverend said the 9-11 attacks were done to an America that didn’t embrace all of its citizens. The media firestorm that followed the expose of the 2003 sermon proved to be too much of a strain for the pastor and his most prominent church member. Wright retired in 2008 and President Obama moved on from that church. The President said, at the time, that although he did not always agree with the Reverend, he did have “affection” for him like any member of his family.
Reverend Frederick K.C. Price
In 2007 mega-church Senior Pastor, the Reverend Frederick K.C. Price, agreed to be a part of a 20/20 story in which he was asked to speak about money and religion. The segment portrayed Reverend Price in an unsavory light using a quote that declared “I live in a 25-room mansion, I have my own $6-million yacht”. That declaration proved damaging to both the Pastor and ABC. Apparently the network used the quote out of context as he prefaced it by saying “I was pointing out that there is such a thing as bad success.” Airing the piece in its edited state which also showcased the Reverend Price’s 22,000 member congregation was, in the pastor’s opinion, damaging and he sued ABC for defamation. The network made a full retraction.
Reverend Jamal Harrison Bryant
Reverend Jamal Harrison Bryant of Balitmore, MD was the subject of ridicule two years ago after his wife Gizelle filed for divorce. She alleged that her husband committed adultery, and that he displayed “excessively vicious conduct” that caused “reasonable apprehension of bodily suffering so as to render cohabitation unsafe.” The controversy, however, has not put a stronghold on his ministry and popularity. Rev. Bryant continues to pastor Empowerment Temple AME Church, which is the church he and his wife founded in 2000. He is also the spiritual adviser to reality television star Omorosa Manigault-Stallworth and appeared as a counselor on her TV One dating show “The Ultimate Merger.”
Bishop Clarence McClendon
Ten years ago Bishop Clarence McClendon was known as one of the most dynamic preachers in the Foursquare Gospel denomination. But he claimed the organization was racially biased and pulled his 10,000-member Church of the Harvest International out of the denomination. It was around the same time in 2000 that Bishop McClendon divorced his wife of 16 years and married for a second time just one week after the divorce was declared final. According to Charisma Now, a Christian publication, his ex-wife Tammera said Bishop McClendon told her that God revealed to him who he was supposed to marry. She said she then asked him: “How could God show you another woman when you already have a wife?”
Bishop Thomas Weeks III
Bishop Thomas Weeks III became a household name in Black Christian circles when he married Prophetess and televangelist Juanita Bynum in 2002. Together they built Global Destiny Ministries based in Duluth, GA into an influential ministry. Five years later, the best selling author of No More Sheets filed for divorce from her husband. Shortly afterwards, the battle went public as Weeks attacked his estranged wife in the parking lot of Atlanta’s Renaissance Concourse Hotel. Bynum revealed in a Divorce Court interview that she had battled with depression and thoughts of suicide after separating from her husband. Dr. Bynum has gone on to form a recording label, SonFlower Records, as a joint venture with Matthew Knowles’ Music World Gospel label.
Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II
The Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, the flamboyant minister better known as the Reverend Ike, was one of the originators of the “Prosperity Gospel”. At his United Church Science of Living Institute in New York he would tell his congregation “close your eyes and see green. Money up to your armpits, a roomful of money and there you are, just tossing around in it like a swimming pool.” His lifestyle and prosperity message raised the eyebrows of more than a few. He was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Postal Service. Rev. Ike passed away in 2009 at the age of 74.
Hezekiah Walker
Known to many as the “Hip Hop Pastor”, Bishop Hezekiah Walker hosts Diddy and Lil’ Kim in his church and ministers with a type of music that rap artists embrace. But a few years ago, Bishop Walker had more than his musical taste questioned. His marriage to wife Monique dissolved and a rumor emerged claiming he was homosexual. The Grammy award winning gospel artist vehemently denied the allegations releasing a statement which read, “the enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Character assassination is one of the oldest weapons.” Shortly thereafter, the Bishop received a public apology from the source.
Terry Hornbuckle
The pastor from Texas who founded the Victory Temple Bible Church in Arlington with only 15 members in 1986 and grew it to a large congregation that could fill an 8000 square feet stadium by 1992 (it was renamed Agape Christian Fellowship) fell dramatically from grace as he was convicted of drugging and raping three women. He’s now serving time and expected to be released in 2020.
