Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Looks like the bishop is in trouble
Shocking lawsuits have accused a top church leader of sexual misconduct. Two separate lawsuits were filed late Tuesday against Bishop Eddie Long, of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. . . .
Two lawsuits filed late Tuesday in DeKalb County accuse Bishop Long of inappropriate sexual relationships with two young men from his church.
Maurice Robinson and Anthony Flagg, both in their early 20's, claim in their lawsuits that, "Long utilized his spiritual authority to coerce certain young male members and employees of defendant New Birth into engaging in sexual acts and relationships."
The suit claims the congregation is likely unaware of the practices. But it also says church money was used to foster the relationships.
Robinson, in his suit contends Long used, "monetary funds from the accounts of defendant New Birth to entice the (young men) with cars, clothes, jewelry, and electronics.
Robinson, claimed his long time bishop, who cared for him as he was growing up in the church would use "the Holy Scripture to discuss and justify the intimate relationship."
New Birth is the location of the new 180 student DCSS Leadership Academy Charter school, which pays $122,000 annually to lease the space according to this letter from New Birth to Melvin Johnson, New Birth member, board member of LPA, board member of the private school inside New Birth and former DCSS administrator.
For more on the story, read this article at the AJC.
UPDATED REPORT - A third accuser has emerged --
And now a fourth...
Another update --
Now it's national news, with an article in USA today and a spot in Jimmy Fallon's monologue. And just dang is even Bill Maher didn't use this story to kick off his "New Rules" segment. If you can stand it, listen to B.J. Bernstein describe the sexual meetings in this CNN post.
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«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 326 of 326Pat and Vincent Pope are the only ones who are allegedly guilty of profiting financially from the allegations of fraud. They were not New Birth members.
However, I suspect NB has done well with the salary increases that many central office employees have received.
son of awcomeonnow saying amen! to all the choir regarding New Birth/DCSS and the 10% solution.
Someone posted some of the heavy hitter salaries pre and during Lewis' reign. Most of the over 100k crowd seemed to have salary increases of approximately 40% during that time.
How many of you out here in Joe Six pack land has the possibility of yearly 8% increases in their wages? My own employer limits raises to 2% max, and that's if you manage to walk on water.
If an investigation were to be made about the inflated raises vs
increased New Birth tithes, I think that it could be handled in this manner.
1. Obtain a list of DCSS employees making over 108k. ( I have my reasons for this figure).
2. Track how many had large percentage increases over Lewis'
tenure. I think large a large increase would be anything beyond
say 20% during this time.
3. See how many of the persons enjoying large increases also attend New Birth Some websites in opposition to New Birth and other mega churches have included links to top church donors. Maybe some names will look familiar.
Son of back already. Melvin Johnson was making 144k prior to Lewis taking over DCSS. If Melvin was tithing 10%, New Birth was making 14K off Melvin alone.
Reviewing the salary increases during Lewis' tenure, there are currently a lot more employe Melvin's pay range.
How many Melvins does it take for New Birth to make just short of 1 million yearly? 70.
Think we have 70 New Birth members at the front office ?
The NBBC connection also extends into the County Government. Commissioner Lee May is a elder of the NBBC and NBBC has contributed to several Commissioners.
As to the Feds, the Bishop is also being investigated by Senator Grassley (R Iowa)along with other ministers.
Separation of Church and State is usually because the State is trying to impose a church. Here we have a Church running a County.
From The AJC article
Bishop Eddie Long: DeKalb schools profit from Bishop Long
By Megan Matteucci
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bowen's CYA comments
“We’re trying to remove all outside influences from the district and hold the district to a higher ethical standard and to be very transparent to the public,” board chair Tom Bowen told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “No one person or group should be able to influence the district more than any other.”
“Our primary connections with the church are the use of the church as one of the district’s graduation venues and the charter school located at the church. To the extent that the allegations are determined to impact either of these, the district would assess the facts and take the appropriate action,” Bowen said. “Prior support from the church to the District would not impact our fiduciary duty to well being of the district’s children in any way.”
*****
In addition to the dozens of volunteers, Long would meet with principals and deposit money into their school accounts to use at their discretion for building operations, Moseley said.
MAY"S CONNECTION
DeKalb schools aren’t alone. Long and New Birth has donated to numerous DeKalb organizations and politicians’ campaigns. County Commissioner Lee May is an elder at the church and friend of Long’s. Sheriff Thomas Brown serves on the LongFellow Youth Academy board and has been a church member for more years, he said.
They, along with school board member Eugene Walker and former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones, all said they are praying for Long.
“I’m praying for my church, my pastor, his family and the young men who have made these allegations. Now is not the time to rush to judgment on either side, but to allow these cases to proceed in the judicial system,” May told the AJC.
A target of criminal charges years ago Jones, who does not attend New Birth, said he knows what Long is going through.
“My prayers are with him, his family, the church and all those that may be impacted by this revelation. I know what it is like to be falsely accused,” said Jones. “I consider the bishop and many other ministers, my friends. He has helped and inspired a lot of young men to go on to college, make their community and parents and their church proud of their achievements.”
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Buddhist and resident of south DeKalb, also offered prayers and said its a "trying time for our entire community."
Long was one of the founding members of DeKalb Police Alliance, which provides $100,000 life insurance policy for every officer in the county and municipalities. Carolyn Rehling, the alliance’s chairwoman, said Long is still a member of the board, but has not been active in several years.
However, he did donate to the reward fund and the funerals of DeKalb Police Officers Eric Barker and Ricky Bryant Jr., who were killed in the line of duty in 2008.
Rehling said she has received no calls from officers since the lawsuits were filed, despite officers calling for his removal on a police blog.
Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/bishop-eddie-long-dekalb-620256.html
What is most worrisome about this thread is that people really believe they have the right to know where people employed by D DCSS practice their Faith and how much they tithe.
Really? Is this Nazi German?
The NBBC connection also extends into the County Government. Commissioner Lee May is a elder of the NBBC and NBBC has contributed to several Commissioners.
As to the Feds, the Bishop is also being investigated by Senator Grassley (R Iowa)along with other ministers.
Separation of Church and State is usually because the State is trying to impose a church. Here we have a Church running a County.
“We’re trying to remove all outside influences from the district and hold the district to a higher ethical standard and to be very transparent to the public,” board chair Tom Bowen told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “No one person or group should be able to influence the district more than any other.”
DeKalb schools aren’t alone. Long and New Birth has donated to numerous DeKalb organizations and politicians’ campaigns. County Commissioner Lee May is an elder at the church and friend of Long’s. Sheriff Thomas Brown serves on the LongFellow Youth Academy board and has been a church member for more years, he said.
They, along with school board member Eugene Walker and former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones, all said they are praying for Long.
“I’m praying for my church, my pastor, his family and the young men who have made these allegations. Now is not the time to rush to judgment on either side, but to allow these cases to proceed in the judicial system,” May told the AJC.
A target of criminal charges years ago Jones, who does not attend New Birth, said he knows what Long is going through.
“My prayers are with him, his family, the church and all those that may be impacted by this revelation. I know what it is like to be falsely accused,” said Jones. “I consider the bishop and many other ministers, my friends. He has helped and inspired a lot of young men to go on to college, make their community and parents and their church proud of their achievements.”
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Buddhist and resident of south DeKalb, also offered prayers and said its a "trying time for our entire community."
Long was one of the founding members of DeKalb Police Alliance, which provides $100,000 life insurance policy for every officer in the county and municipalities. Carolyn Rehling, the alliance’s chairwoman, said Long is still a member of the board, but has not been active in several years.
However, he did donate to the reward fund and the funerals of DeKalb Police Officers Eric Barker and Ricky Bryant Jr., who were killed in the line of duty in 2008.
Rehling said she has received no calls from officers since the lawsuits were filed, despite officers calling for his removal on a police blog.
Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/bishop-eddie-long-dekalb-620256.html
The NBBC connection also extends into the County Government. Commissioner Lee May is a elder of the NBBC and NBBC has contributed to several Commissioners.
As to the Feds, the Bishop is also being investigated by Senator Grassley (R Iowa)along with other ministers.
Separation of Church and State is usually because the State is trying to impose a church. Here we have a Church running a County.
It's not the practicing of the faith: it's the middle man mark up that could have occurred. New Birth would benefit immensely anytime Lewis or whoever approves raises decides to increase a salary by 40%.
Then there's another question: Is the way to butt to the head of the line for a big raise membership in Long's church?
It's anyone's right to worship as they see fit. It's also my right as someone who pays these inflated salaries to see if possible collusion exists between the superintendent and his pastor.
With an automatic tithe, you have the power to greatly increase the collection plate if someone gets an enormous pay raise
Senator Grassley is interested in these mega-church's tax exemption and non-profit status.
It is no one's business what church people choose to attend or how much those people tithe. You people have gone off the deep end.
And yes, at one time, Grassley was interested in Long, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, Joyce Meyer and what those churches did with their money. Nothing lately.
Looks like "The Bishop" now has a fourth . . .
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/bishop-eddie-long-4th-620773.html
http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2010/09/earl-paulk-mentored-bishop-edd.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rss
Earl Paulk Mentored Bishop Eddie Long
ttp://wsbradio.com/localnews/2010/09/earl-paulk-mentored-bishop-edd.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rss
Anthony compared Long's "Spiritual Sons" program in which his three young accusers were members with Paulk's "Kingdom Relationships," saying both were really designed to sexually gratify the clergymen.
I wonder how attorney BJ Bernstein is going to be able to balance 4 lawsuits at the same time she's defending Pat Reid Pope.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2010/09/24/new-births-mission-pursue-truth-about-bishop-long/
If the truth is not established fairly soon, however, church elders should launch an independent probe of the allegations. That would be difficult for an institution such as New Birth, which bears Long’s strong and charismatic imprint. But people should never be afraid to seek the truth, especially in a situation like this.
My speculation is that these suits are a strong indication that a pattern exists here. Could this lead to a criminal investigation?
At least one of these young men was a minor when he met Bishop Long. I don't know if there is an allegation that the sexual relationship began when he was a minor though.
If so, who in Dekalb would be able to initiate such an investigation? Sounds like the good bishop has considerable influence in the law enforcement agencies of Dekalb County.
Why can't Megan get her facts straight? Can she provide a lease that shows DCSS is paying New Birth? The answer is NO because it is not happening. By law, DCSS is paying the LPA charter board monthly and they pay New Birth.
What in the heck is the differnece, you freak?? Taxpayers pay DCSS, DCSS pays the board, the board pays New Birth. Taxpayers dollars funneled to a church, in a finagled legal way.
How many DCSS schools have signed contracts with New Birth to use their facility for graduations in May 2011? There were three schools listed in the AJC article, but it's no secret, as it's listed a few places on their website, that the Tucker High School graduation will be held at New Birth.What about Lakeside, Chamblee and Dunwoody?
It gets worse and worse....
http://www.ajc.com/news/bishop-eddie-long-plaintiffs-621738.html
Chamblee has theirs at N. DeKalb stadium and Dunwoody generally has been having their graduation at First Baptist.
Lakeside's graduation has been at New Birth the past few years.
South Dekalb is afflicted by serious pathologies. Eddie Long and Crawford Lewis -- and the power they have wielded -- are both manifestations of how deep the rot runs. DCSS is full of incompetent administrators, many of whom, just like Long and Lewis, have very questionable ethics records, including credible allegations of sexual harassment. What does DCSS do? Transfer them. For far too long, race has been used as a cover. "Don't talk about this or that, because you don't want to harm black folks." What you now have is a plantation-style system run by blacks against blacks. It includes the perverse spectacle of the "gosspel of wealth" clown Eddie Long trying to assume the mantle of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the "p-card" bozo Crawford Lewis running a public school system as his personal employment and sexual-gratification agency. Things may have already reached the tipping point. Just look at the trashy, unkempt condition of the public spaces in South Dekalb and compare them with the public spaces north of Memorial. The Third World has come to metro Atlanta. The community must stand up and get rid of the corrupt facilitators like Cunningham, Walker, Roberts, Copelin-Woods, etc. Let's not expect much help from Nathan Deal.
In NB defense, they have one of the few large capacity facilities and they are willing to do graduations.....for a hefty fee, of course. However, as I have taught in Dekalb for many years, much of that time spent in the south end of the county, I'm not a fan of Bishop Long's politics, and, apparently, neither is Bill Maher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqsoXTcHT2I
(not for the faint of heart.......)
September 22, 2010 9:38 PM
September 22, 2010 9:23 PM
I have repeatily heard the same reasons from both democratic and republican leaders as to why Dr. Walker was asked not to return under the Gold Dome. Due to what I have heard I would expect Dr. Walker to defend Bishop Long.
Respectfully, Dr. Walker is not going to believe these alligations also due to the amount of money Bishop Long donated to his campaign in 2008 when he defeated Ernest Brown. Was this money from Bishop Long directly or his church who donated the money through Bishop Long because legally they cannot donate the money. I do not know the answer to this. However, I know this is a lot of money for a Bishop to donate to a campaign of a school board member just like the large sums of money Dr. Walker took from another group. What did he want in return? What did the church want in return?
I know much about the political connections Bishop Long has. He was one of the first people I tried to contact as a candidate running in an at-large district.
For instance,Judges are elected in Dekalb County. It is important that Eddie Long and other big Church Leaders endorses these judge candidates for them to be elected. The judges must have connections in the churches in Dekalb County to be elected to the bench. There is no way these cases will be heard in a DeKalb County Court Room. However, I also believe most of the Judges we have in DeKalb County are fair and just and if the evidence is there Bishop Long would not be able to get by with abuse of our young men in this county.
Dr. Walker has close ties with Eddie Long and New Birth. I have watched decisions regarding the Charter School Placement at New Birth and also the Charter Alternative School be pushed through. The Charter Alternative School did not even have its paperwork for the second year in a row. However, Dr. Walker was one of the members of the School Board who helped push it through without the paperwork. Dr. Walker also had the connections on the State Boards of Corrections which also wanted this past through. However, this was not fair to the other Charter Schools denied without their paperwork completed correctly. Why did this Charter School get special treatment? Was it because of special interest groups like New Birth and the Correctional Boards? I suspect it was and this bothered me as a citizen of DeKalb. This is exactly why I ran against Dr. Walker.
I respect him. However, I do feel strongly he has too many special interests and he votes for these special interests many times verses what is best for the students and all the taxpayers of DeKalb.
I do hope these charges are false for the members of New Birth. My father is a minister and I cannot imagine what this is doing to many of the fine members of that church. It makes me sad. However, as a teacher I also believe the pictures sent to those boys were inappropriate as a professional working with young males. Pictures like this would be inappropriate for me as a teacher to send to my students and pictures like this are inappropriate for Bishop Long to be sending to members of his church that he was working with. Bishop Long should have shared these pictures with his wife and not with young boys. I do have a problem with this.
Why did Eugene Walker not run for a fifth term in the legislature?
New Birth has come up with a whole lot of money in support of Destiny Academy alternative school. It's all just so "cozy"... not sure about illegal - the powers that be would have to dig into the books to find that out.
Once, according to CrossRoads News, the men's missionary at New Birth managed to collect $100,000 for a trip to Africa for Destiny students -- in ONE collection!
Destiny’s trip to South Africa in peril
This will be the second trip from the school to South Africa. In 2002, the school took 47 students to the continent and raised $100,000 the day before they were to leave when New Birth Men’s Ministry passed the hat.
Also - Clarence Callaway is paid $141,000 to serve as principal at Destiny Charter School - a school with about 100 at-risk high school students - apparently now housed at New Birth - or at least sub-leased space from a building leased by New Birth.
Frankie Callaway is paid ??? to serve as principal at the Leadership Prep Academy, now housed at New Birth.
Remember how Eugene Walker tried to make sure Sembler Corporation (Brookhaven developer) paid no property taxes to DeKalb County. The Semblers are up to it again in South Carolina asking that 75% of their property taxes for a development be forgiven.
I'm surprised voters aren't upset about Walker trying to get the Sembler Corporation out of paying property taxes. I wrote an email to the DeKalb Development Authority (who under Walker was on the verge of giving Sembler the tax breaks) and said that ordinary DeKalb citizens were struggling to keep their homes, and nobody was giving them a tax break.
Walker took thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the Semblers. How is this ok? When I hear voters say they like Walker, I wonder if they like what the DeKalb School System has become under Dr. him (and the other 8 members - they're all terrible - some more than others)?
Cere,
You are sure C. Cxxxxxxxxay and F. Cxxxxxxxay are getting paid?
I don't think so. They have very nice pension. I think they are doing it "pro bono". That would be the good Christian thing to do, yes?
Why would any one get paid over 100 000 dollars?
I know plenty teachers at McNair who teach more than 100 at risk kids for about 50 000 dollars.
I smell a rat! Does 10% of that go back to the Church of So Many Blessings?
The 2008 salary report says
CALLAWAY,CLARENCE
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
$58,432.00 $547.05 (travel)
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B
DEPUTY/ASSOC/ASSISTANT SUPT
$162,200.87 $1,876.08 (travel)
2009 says -
CALLAWAY,CLARENCE
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
$150.00 $2,075.05 (travel)
plus
CALLAWAY,CLARENCE
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL $56,362.15
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B
DEPUTY/ASSOC/ASSISTANT SUPT
$165,035.69 $390.57 (travel)
This is what Eugene Walker says about Eddie Long:
"DeKalb school board member Eugene Walker, who has known Long for more than 20 years, said he did not believe the allegations.
“Ever since I have known him, he has reached out and lifted up our young people,” Walker said. “These allegations are absolutely not true. They have accused me of a whole lot of wrong things and they, like this, weren’t true. He’s a great servant and I can’t say anything wrong about him.”"
http://blackamericans.com/blogs/news/archive/2010/09/23/bishop-eddie-long-radio-interview-canceled-in-wake-of-3rd-lawsuit.aspx
I don't know where that $141,000 came from - it was from an old post on the subject. Maybe it was a typo? Sorry...
Also - here's the 2007 report
CALLAWAY,CLARENCE J
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL $49,303.61
$282.80
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B
DEPUTY/ASSOC/ASSISTANT SUPT
$129,447.54
$562.63
@ Cere 3:53 pm
What's startling is the huge raises Frankie Callaway got over a 5 year time period. This was not a question of being given a different title resulting in a higher pay scale. Dr. Callaway had the same job, didn't get more degrees, and she was at the top of the pay scale in years which means your pay is essentially subject to Cost of Living increases only.
2004 salary report:
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B
DEPUTY/ASSOC/ASSISTANT SUPT
$106,698 $1200.64 (travel)
2007 salary report:
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B
DEPUTY/ASSOC/ASSISTANT SUPT
$129,447.54 $562.63 (travel)
2008 salary report:
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B
DEPUTY/ASSOC/ASSISTANT SUPT
$162,200.87 $1,876.08 (travel)
2009 salary report:
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B
DEPUTY/ASSOC/ASSISTANT SUPT
$162,200.87 $1,876.08 (travel)
Frankie Callaway's salary increased by $23,000 (21%) from 2004 to 2007 over a 3 year period of time (7% a year).
Then her salary increased by $33,000 (25%) in one year from 2007 to 2008.
Meanwhile, the BOE had limited employees to 2% Cost of Living increases in 2007 and 2008. By 2009, wages were essentially frozen for all employees. How did Dr. Callaway get raises of 7% a year and then 25% in one year? The BOE was cutting teacher positions and increasing classroom sizes at the same time they were handing out raises to DCSS "upper management".
Cere,
Can you tell us if any of the BOE relatives got raises during this time period where wages were stagnant and then frozen?
2007 seemed to be a banner year for Dr. Callaway? Was 2007 such a banner year for other DCSS "upper management"?
@ Anonymous 5:30 pm
No wonder the 2004 audit that summarized over 2,500 non-teaching employees were over paid by close to $15,000,000 a year is not posted online for taxpayers to view. Lewis refused to adjust salaries and the BOE went along with him. This mess seems to have gotten much worse after Lewis and new BOE members took over in 2004. No wonder we are in such dire straits.
The Feds are investigating Atlanta Public Schools over money a few schools may have wrongly earned ($3000 per teacher; not much)through their tried and proven IBEP strategy.
What are the Feds waiting for to take a gander at Dekalb County Schools for the many blessings bestowed to selected upper staff from the Federal money till?
[IBEP=Improvement By Erasure Program]
The Feds are investigating Atlanta Public Schools over money a few schools may have wrongly earned ($3000 per teacher; not much)through their tried and proven IBEP strategy.
What are the Feds waiting for to take a gander at Dekalb County Schools for the many blessings bestowed to selected upper staff from the Federal money till?
[IBEP=Improvement By Erasure Program]
we need to figure out how to get this type of info to them to investigate..... it is crying out for an investigate. Taxpayer dollars going anywhere but where they were taken from the taxpayer with the promise of where they were supposed to go.
@ Anonymous 6:11 pm
The salary information was taken from the state of Georgia Salary and Travel report. This is all public information. The voting public needs to be aware of this information so they can ask the BOE questions about exorbitant raises for high level employees. Information about what the BOE has decided/decides about taxpayer dollars is also enlightening to voters when they go to the polls to elect BOE members.
Beverly Hall and her staff have really worked each and every grant opportunity from the Feds and private donors.
The same absolutely cannot be said of DCSS. We have received very little in the way of special grants. I can think of no real pay for performance awards in the last 5 years in DeKalb.
Hall is a brilliant fundraiser.
I wonder how much New Birth charges for a graduation vs First Baptist? I would think that the charges should be comparable. Anyone have any ideas?
There are a couple of salary increase listings on the FACTS and RESOURCES page that you can link to from the side panel of the home page -- here are some -
Central office staffing's bloated salaries
Here is a comparison between 2004 salaries and 2009 salaries:
NAME - 2004 salary - 2009 salary
LEWIS,CRAWFORD - $112,074 - $287,991.63
REID,PATRICIA A - $100,010- $197,592.50
CALLAWAY,FRANKIE B - $106,698- $165,035.69
MOSELEY,ROBERT G - $106,698- $165,035.69
TALLEY,GLORIA S - no data available - $165,035.69
TURK,MARCUS T - $75,558 - $165,035.69
TYSON,RAMONA H - $99,960- $165,035.69
WILSON,JAMIE L - $85,502 - $165,035.69
MITCHELL,FELICIA M - $96,354- $125,284.87
FREEMAN,TIMOTHY W - $106,598 - $124,049.27
GILLIARD,WANDA S - $102,594 - $124,049.27
THOMPSON,ALICE A - $99,960- $124,049.27
NORRIS-BOUIE,WENDOLYN - $100,060 - $122,345.84
DUNSON,HORACE C - $90,606- $122,195.84
SEGOVIS,TERRY M - $93,888 - $122,195.84
SIMPSON,RALPH L - $95,826- $122,195.84
WHITE,DEBRA A - $90,426 - $122,195.84
RHODES,CHERYL L - $88,804 - $121,202.40
FREEMAN,SUSAN L - $85,578 - $120,844.00
===
Salary increases from 2003-2009
Name--2003--2009
Lewis, Crawford--111,665--287,991
Lewis, Harold--51,276--109,385
Tyson, Ramona--99,960--165,035
Mitchell, Felicia--94,732--125,284
Yvonne Sanders-Butler--85,428--112,956
Berry, Audria--83,008--116,314
Turk, Marcus--74,188--165,035
Moseley, Robert--104,255--165,039
Thompson, Alice--99,810--124,049
Moody, Cointa--32,773--92,192
Guillory, David--70,574--114,639
Guillory, Philandrea--64,392--114,627
Wilson, Jamie L, Jr.--85,902--165,035
Freeman, Timothy --104,973--124,049
@ Anon September 25, 2010 9:30 PM
Is that is enough to indict the entire school system's cabinet or is this simply the fruits of God's blessings on a God-fearing family?
Any prosecutors or white-color crime defense attorneys separate the wheat from chaff?
The fecal matter is hitting the ventilation system this week for NBBC. Men are going to show up claiming they are married to Long. So goes the rumor.
If you would like to stream the service at 9 am tomorrow where the bishop will address the congregation, you can do so at this link -
http://viewers.streamingfaith.com/viewer/viewerframes_parent.asp?b=&p=&networkID=3001177&WMP=0&WMPv=0&RPIE=0&RPNAV=1
Ms. Berry in particular is interesting:
From $83,008-- to $116,314 in 6 years. A near 40% raise.
Second most interesting:
Mitchell, Felicia--$94,732--$125,284 (a 30% increase)
@ Cerebration
"Ms. Berry in particular is interesting:
From $83,008-- to $116,314 in 6 years. A near 40% raise."
Even more interesting is that Audria Berry was making $83,008 in 2003 and had a modest raise in 2004 to $84,750 ($1,742 or 2% like all other employees).
Her salary increase to $116,314 came in 5 years after Crawford Lewis became superintendent $31,564 or 37% (7.4% a year at a time when other employees were making 0% to 2% Cost of Living increases).
My question is what has she done to improve school achievement? After all, Lewis and the BOE promoted her to be the Director of School Improvement. Instead of improving our schools, she has presided over an unprecedented decline in test scores. Ms. Tyson needs to hold her accountable and cut her loose.
Folks, cut and paste these numbers to your BOE members and also to SACS.
@ Cerebration
"Mitchell, Felicia--$94,732--$125,284 (a 30% increase) "
Felicia Mitchell was making 94,732.00 in 2003 and in 2004 she was making $96,354 - $1,622 more or about 2% more per year (right in line with the 2% Cost of Living all DCSS employees were receiving).
By 2008 after Dr. Lewis became superintendent, Felicia Mitchell was making $123,594. So in the 4 years from 2004 to 2008 Mitchell saw a pay increase of $27,240 or 28% (7% a year).
Beginning to see a pattern here?
Check out this article about the bishop at Salon -
This week in crazy: Bishop Eddie Long
In his earlier criticism of homosexuality he actually said,
"Everybody knows it's dangerous to enter an exit."
I always find it curious that African-Americans do not see the similar civil rights issues that gays have.
The article also says,
The charges have yet to be substantiated, but this week Long's reputation received an added blow when ABC aired photos of the minister posing in a bathroom in the sort of skintight muscle shirts that straight dudes not appearing on "Jersey Shore" generally steer clear of. . . .
. . . The married father of four has been a pastor for over 23 years, with a super-sized mega church outside of Atlanta that boasts 25,000 members and famously hosted Coretta Scott King's funeral in 2006. In 2005, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Long has been the "biggest beneficiary" of his church's own charity, an ostensibly gospel-spreading nonprofit that doled out over a million dollars to the man of God in salary alone, and provided him with a vast estate and a Bentley. Blessed may be the poor in spirit, but the prosperity-preaching Long explained at the time that "We're not just a bumbling bunch of preachers who can't talk and all we're doing is baptizing babies. I deal with the White House. I deal with Tony Blair. I deal with presidents around this world. I pastor a multimillion-dollar congregation. You've got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that's supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering." A scale that's got a Bentley on it.
Exactly correct. People - ask the question -
What has Audria Berry done to improve school achievement? After all, Lewis and the BOE promoted her to be the Director of School Improvement with hefty salary increases year after year, while virtually freezing or decreasing teacher's pay. Instead of improving our schools, she has presided over an unprecedented decline in test scores. Ms. Tyson needs to hold her accountable and cut her loose.
I thought Lewis always made it a point to say that Audria Berry is paid with Title 1 money.
Who was Dr. XXXXXis' coat man and escort, er, hmm, I mean driver? He was a pretty boy, no?
It was common knowledge that Dr. XXXXXis was on the down-low. His escapes were misdirection of scrutiny for in-house consumption.
Again the question is, did these 2 plow the same fields?
"Coat boy?"
Anyway - here's the latest on the bishop from the AJC -
All other responses to the graphic allegations in the suit have come through a spokesman or his lawyer; Long denies the allegations against him.
His representatives have not revealed what Long might say Sunday. And there have been unsubstantiated rumors that Long may step down.
But at least one member of the board of the bishop's Longfellows Youth Academy, which is also named in the suits, saysthat is unlikely.
DeKalb Sheriff Thomas Brown said none of the board members have asked for Long's resignation “to my knowledge. We [the board] have not met,” Brown told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Saturday evening.
“I suspect we will not ask him to resign. Why? Everything is an allegation," Brown said.
Brother - the SHERIFF is on the board of the bishop's "Longfellow Academy".
It is unfathomable that Dr. Audria Berry is still employed considering she took an out of the country trip with a DCSS administrator who used a DCSS p-card to pay for the trip, even when Marcus Turk told him not to do so.
Student performance has dropped dramatically under Berry. This with the island trip would have been cause for dismissal anywhere else but DCSS.
you all are so jealous of the Callaways you all need Jesus
High School Teachers!
Perhaps this will be helpful to you:
http://ireaderreview.com/2010/09/24/12-kindle-high-school-free-textbooks/
Cere at 11:01:
Some of those poor, sensitive readers who leave angry, hurt comments on this blog in response to other "disrespectful" comments about the Good Bishop should check out the comments to the Salon article at the link you provided.
There's a good wake-up call to reality! On the whole, we're tame, reticent, and respectful if you compare this blog's comments to those on the Salon article.
And I guarantee you, none of these Salon posters would be sued for slander, nor will they likely end up in hell just for the comments they posted.
Some of us need to get out into the fresh air and sunshine of brutal and free public discourse.
Methinks that some of those most offended by the comments on this blog have been touched in the tender spot of a troubled conscience...
...or, worse, they have been paid to express their offense as a PR ploy by those criticized.
"...or, worse, they have been paid to express their offense as a PR ploy by those criticized"
What is amazing is that there are far fewer comment supporting Long than there are on many other websites on the internet.
He certainly has a lot of members who are supporting him.
Speaking for Jesus here, we don't like pseudo Christians who feel that high income is a manifestation of Our Blessings.
Recalling Our actions at the Temple where We expelled the money changers, We don't support the notion that giving 10% of one's income is an essential component of faith. We think that the free giving of talent and time to the less fortunate in these afore mentioned charter schools would be a more valid showing of the spirit of charity We advocated two thousands years ago.
In Our Divine Minds, the practices of the Gospel of Prosperity have more to with Charles Ponzi than with Jesus Christ and Me.
When We said "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's" We did not give Temple priests authority to substitute Our Name for theirs!
Bishop, give Me back My Temple, My Bentley, and My Private Jet or I will send the locusts and release the Krakken!
He's on 11 Alive right now.
Boy, talk about support! Those people cheered him like he was a rock star.
Amazing, aside - he walks around with an iPad with his notes - not paper.
He quoted, Psalms 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of all of them.
Then he listed all kinds of situations of pain. (Gathering support.) Katrina, loss of job, loss of a child, loss of marriage, illness... I guess the assumption here is that this "situation" is outside of his control (although he never directly claimed innocence).
Yea though I walk through the valleys and the shadow of death...
We can make it through these times if we stay focused on the spiritual power
P - for power of prayer (don't be distracted and not go to the polls
O - for outreach - seek and save the lost
W - for worship - focus on the power of worship
E - for encouragement - encourage one another (David had to encourage himself, he was alone - but we are not alone
R - for resolve - our strength is not in man, but in the lord. We have come this far on the power of the lord. "On the wings of eagles"...
===
I have never portrayed myself as a perfect man, but I am not the man being portrayed on the television.
(Standing O)
My lawyers advise me not to try this case in the media... I will not... it will be dealt with in the courts of justice.
I've been accused, I'm under attack, I want you to know, as I said earlier, I'm not a perfect man, but this thing I"m gonna fight.
(Standing O)
I feel like David, against Goliath, but I've got 5 rocks and I haven't thrown one yet!
I'm worried for our county. This man is not a uniter but a divider. I'm concerned that this man's trials and tribulation could lead to bad things for our county.
DCSS should cut all links to this church until trials are overe!
Bishop Long is lucky to have English speaking congregation.
I don't think that P.O.W.E.R thingie would work in Spanish.
Let's see P.O.D.E.R or F.U.E.R.Z.A
The Star Trek suit did not help, by the way!
The NBBC logo matches the Star Trek theme!
The hairpiece was pretty cool too.
@ Anonymous 12:17
"you all are so jealous of the Callaways you all need Jesus"
No one is jealous of the Callaways. I just used Frankie Callaway (and Audria Berry) as an example of the salary increases for upper level administrators in DCSS that don't correspond with BOE policy for schoolhouse employees - i.e. 2% raises for DCSS employees in 2007, and then wages frozen for 2 years.
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with Dr. Callaway heading up a school after she retires although I still have some concerns about the grade changing scandal surrounding her departure. I don't consider a retiree who takes another job "double dipping". She is putting in a full day's work after all when she could be enjoying her retirement.
Upper level administrators should not have received enormous raises as schoolhouse personnel made do with 0% to 2%.
But by far, the most disturbing facts are that many students are going without the basics of toilet paper, soap and paper towels, experiencing a shortage of textbooks while copiers are so broken they don't have access to written materials, are and being packed into increasingly large classes.
Students are the main reason that resources should not be drained from from classrooms to fund disproportionate raises for non-teaching personnel.
Students only have one chance at an education, and DCSS has lost its focus.
It's not double dipping to hold another job after retiring. True.
It would be unquestionably fraud if you were getting paid over $100000/year to be the principal to to a school of less than 500 "public school" students when others getting paid the same to be principal to a 1000 or more "public school" students.
The Leadership Academy only has 180 students (maybe even less...)
Here is the link to the AJC's report on Eddie Long's address to New Birth this morning.
Eddie Long tells worshippers, "I'm gonna fight"
This is the link to the transcript -
Bishop Eddie Long | Transcript of 8 a.m. sermon
Cere thanks for the coverage of the Long announcement during his 8 A.M. services....wow you are on it..not poking fun at anyone but you are a great beat reporter...maybe the BOE needs someone like you to take the mintutes at the next meeting since they don't remember what they voted on three days prior in "executive session." SMH...
BTW CNN reporter Don Lemon spoke about being molested as a child and told his mother about the incident when he was 30 years of age. He definitely puts a face on victims who keep quiet. The link is below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB0Wy5N-2iA&feature=related
You people yes I said You People are for lack of a better word HOT MESS! My son attends LPA and is the only child I have that ever attended a public school. My daughter is a college graduate and was never enrolled in public school, so YOUR children have enjoyed MY tax money for years while I paid tuition, never benefitted from MY TAX MONEY!!!!!! How dare you sit behind your computers and write these comments, like the parents of the 180 students at LPA dont pay taxes. The money going to LPA is OUR tax money. We have 100% PTA membership, OUR teachers are loved and supported by us , OUR children are happy and are being taught by a highly professional staff who greets them every mornong with a smile and a good morning! THESE teachers want to be there. I can assure you that we as parents dont want or need your help or comments about how to educate our children. I can finally benefit from MY tax dollars at LPA! Thanks so much to all the people who worked dilligently on this charter! We love our school and plan to make it a success!!I have no problem with the location!!SO as other people have said GET A LIFE!
Anon 10:28
Thank you for your passionate response to this website and the communication being presented for all to read.
I think charter schools are an answer to various troubles involving public education in our nation. It may not be the answer for everyone and I do not think there is a "One size fits all" answer to public education.
But I am a believer in charter schools.
The concern regarding LPA is with the church's relationship with DCSS.
Why is it not transparent?
Why does DCSS have so many church members on its payroll?
How did so many church members become employees of DCSS and the county as a whole?
Is there payroll deduction from DCSS for tithing directly to the church?
What is the relationship between Destiny Academy/NBMC and DCSS?
Why is Destiny Academy not on the enrollment lists of DCSS?
Please feel free to shed any light on these subjects that you may have.
Stay tuned and keep us informed, if you can.
Respectfully yours,
Sagamore 7
Unbelievable, that some of you are still insisting that where people go to church and if/how much they tithe is your business.
Guess what? It's illegal for an employer to ask those kind of questions of an employee.
The problem that I have with the DCSS/New Birth Relationship, is that it appears that New Birth members keep getting bigger and bigger salaries-through promotions and such that they may or may not deserve.
There are questionable agreements with money being paid and such for use of the facilities at New Birth and whether the cost is on par with other churches that we rent space for.
These are questions that as tax payers and having tax payer money being used to give to New Birth for services, that we should have. Tax payers also have a right to question the increased salaries of New Birth members who are not demonstrating quality work in their given positions, but keep earning job titles and raises, while the education of the children in our county suffers.
For instance, we paid for buses and drivers to escort students to camps at New Birth. We pay $10,000 per month for rent to New Birth for LPA. We also pay New Birth to lease space for Destiny Academy. The men at New Birth raised $100,000 for students at Destiny to take a trip to Africa. Many of our high schools pay to hold graduation ceremonies at New Birth. And New Birth's minister donated $2,000 to Gene Walker's campaign. Gene Walker is currently making a public statement of support for minister Eddie Long.
Source:
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/bishop-eddie-long-dekalb-620256.html
In addition to cost cutting, the school system is trying to preserve its accreditation, officials said. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ standards for accreditation require district to avoid outside influences. DeKalb schools are already under scrutiny from SACS for allegations of conflict of interest, nepotism and other ethical concerns.
I don't know, I'm not black and I'm not a member of New Birth, but I find these words from the bishop highly offensive.
I deal with Tony Blair. I deal with presidents around this world. I pastor a multimillion-dollar congregation.
"You've got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that's supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering."
Somehow, I imagine that Crawford Lewis thought similarly about himself. This is how the truly needy minority schools get overlooked by these types of leaders. They consider themselves "above" the others.
"Tax payers also have a right to question the increased salaries of New Birth members who are not demonstrating quality work in their given positions, but keep earning job titles and raises, while the education of the children in our county suffers. "
It's hard to believe someone would actually make this statement given how ridiculous it is. Let's try one more time, taxpayers have the RIGHT to question their school system to determine if the best people are in the critical positions and if their pay is fair. Taxpayers DO NOT have the right to question an employer about their employees affiliation with any church, synagogue, mosque, or other places of worship. Something about a right to privacy takes precedence. If that employer speaks to that, you could be looking a lawsuits.
People need to be concerned about the tone and direction of some of these conversations. You have the right to know the salaries of employees paid with taxpayer dollars along with their current and past positions. Though the Constitution does not specifically mention a right to privacy, the Supreme Court decisions over the years have established that the right to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment. Let's not cross the line.
Speaking of ties to DCSS and Eddie Long, lest we not forget that 100 Black Men of Dekalb list their mailing address as 1804 Bouldercrest Rd., Ste. 700 -same as McNair High School's address. The Bishop is listed on their web site as a member. Do they meet at McNair? Do they pay to use space? If so, who's paying? Does that put the Bishop in contact with DCSS high school students?
I noticed that Cere's stats list 6 persons as making 165k. If each of them tithe 10%,(and they happen to attend the same church), then the tithe works out $98,000+ yearly.
Oh, and doesn't Lewis live in the Southlands Country Club? Long would have been one of his neighbors a few years back.
1:02 I stand by my comment. As a tax payer and a previous DCSS employee, I truly question the motives of many who hold decision making jobs in the school district. Decisions do not seem to be bettering the quality of education that our children receive, and there are too many people earning raises and higher salaries while teachers have taken pay cuts. Yes, these people have had to take a pay cut as well, but the increase in job title and therefore salary offset the pay cut that they have taken. Many of these people are simply not qualified for the position that they hold. We have a PR person who works for both DCSS and New Birth. We have pay $10,000 a month for rent for the charter school to be housed in New Birth church-which seems like an inflated amount of money to me.
As a tax payer, I have a right to know, why decisions are being made for more and more administrators with higher and higher salaries, while the quality of education the children receive is lower and lower.
Too many friends and family members are scratching each others backs, while our children receive an inferior education.
I don't give a hoot, how much these people give to New Birth or how it's done.
I do care, if they have gotten these higher paid jobs because they were part of the New Birth family and not because they were the best or most qualified person for the job. Which my professional and personal opinion, may be the case.
Annon 1:02 Dream on! "Hope" on!
The members of NBBC have, for the most part, have given up their hopes of privacy by their very public flaunting of their religious affiliation! While it may be illegal for an employer to ask your religion, if you offer up the information ie. "by the way, I'm a member of NBBC" knowing the affiliation will be viewed as desirable, then the privacy has been waived.
It seems too coincidental and statistically improbable, the vast number of DCSS employees affiliated with NBBC. Can you explain it?
The same relationship is evidenced by the fraternity/sorority connections. You would have to try very hard not to notice! Once again, can this be explained?
IMHO, my concern is the funding of an enterprise aka NBBC on the backs of the taxpayers via the placement, promotion and retention of individuals whose duties and experience do not merit their compensation.
And lets take a look at the BOE while we are at it. These are elected officials and the privacy rules play a little different for them. We, the taxpayers, do have the right to know what is going on behind closed doors! And since our BOE has close ties with people having close ties with NBBC, all bets and gloves are off!
All you do is have to look at the headlines to see that there are no secrets! Many a prominent politician has been brought down by actions taken in "private."
Privacy...dream on!
^^I think you are the one that is dreaming. Employement law is very clear that an employer cannot ask any religious questions of an employee - regardless of whether someone offers up the name of church they attend.
Why do you people just make stuff up?
Anon 10:28 Just to be technical. Homeowners and renters pay taxes to the DCSS. Renters pay taxes indirectly through the rent paid with their own money to the landlords who pay the taxes. Section 8 recipients do not pay taxes to DCSS. The money that they pay to the landlord is not their own money but is money given to them by those who pay Federal taxes.
I do not know how many students in LEA are Section 8 recipients.
I am one of the homeowners paying taxes who have no children in DCSS. I want to see VALUE for the taxes that I pay and not larding of salaries and pensions to put DCSS employees and retirees in a position that I cannot afford but yet have to pay for.
Nobody's going to dig into employees personal records to see where they donate money... I think the point of the above bloggers theory is that these relationships run deep. Lewis was sponsored into the Commerce Club by Gene Walker. Eddie Long gave a $2,000 donation to Gene's campaign for school board. Dr. Lewis gave exponential raises and promotions to a select group of insiders while he was in power - insiders who previously had only received the same 2% raises as all employees. Lewis gave them new job titles in order to give 30%-40% raises over the course of a few years. The 100 Black Men meet at the same address as McNair HS. Eddie Long is a member. Eddie Long's church hosts a camp for kids - DCSS has provided buses for transportation to these church-sponsored camps. New Birth is the landlord for two DCSS public charter schools - the Leadership Prep Academy and Destiny Academy. The principals of both of those schools are retired DCSS principals and they are married to each others. We're still trying to find out if Destiny has relocated, or if somehow, the school is actually located in a former DCSS school, but paying rent to New Birth. New Birth's men's ministry collected $100,000 for Destiny students to take a trip to Africa a few years back.
So yes, there is a reason to wonder if this is all discussed and planned - and if so, by whom? Truly, if a majority of the people promoted and given huge salary increases by Dr. Lewis are all members of and tithe 10% to New BIrth, combined with the rent collections, we have quite a funnel of money going from school to church - and the state would not like that, if true.
To clarify - all of the above have been reported in the AJC --- do a search if you don't believe me.
The rumors about Eddie Long/ his influence-buying in the public sector and other matters have long been the subject of investigation and rumor. If you are a Dekalb taxpayer, you should be concerned. If you are a parent, you should be concerned. Long runs what he describes as an "international corporation" not a church. Until recently, no one has dared challenge him because of his influence. DCSS must severe all ties. You can worship where you wish, but your religious organization cannot have a pathway to influence the public school system.
"The charity's compensation to Long over that four-year period included:
> A $1.4 million six-bedroom, nine-bath home on 20 acres in Lithonia.
> Use of a $350,000 luxury Bentley automobile.
> More than $1 million in salary, including $494,000 in 2000.
Long said the charity, which reported that it stopped doing business after 2000, did not solicit donations from New Birth members. It reported that its income included royalties, speaking fees and several large donations.
The charity made $3.1 million in donations to others between 1997 and 2000, the records show, but they did not contain any itemized breakdown of the donations, as required by the Internal Revenue Service.
Long and his wife, Vanessa, were two of the charity's four board members. The charity gave a third board member, Terrance Thornton, a $160,000 loan in 1999 to buy a home site across the street from Long's house, tax record's show.
Long, 52, defended his compensation during an interview about his charity.
"We're not just a church, we're an international corporation, " Long said. "We're not just a bumbling bunch of preachers who can't talk and all we're doing is baptizing babies. I deal with the White House. I deal with Tony Blair. I deal with presidents around this world. I pastor a multimillion-dollar congregation."
"You've got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that's supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering."
If you think he hasn't spread his influence over DCSS, you are naive. He now is getting the attention he craves.
An African-American Parent
From the urban dictionary:
Messiah Complex
In slang, a person who seems to think they are better than everyone else, or that they are God's gift to Earth. Basically a term for people who are up themselves. It comes from real self-image where an individual believes himself to be the saviour of a group, time period, or in an extreme case, the world. Adolf Hitler suffered a Messiah complex.
You just don't get it Cerebration, do you? It's not your business, nor anyone else's business to what church a DCSS employee belongs to, what, if any, tithe they make to such church.
This thread is beyond ridiculous.
Actually, I think the tithing issue is not relevant to the discussion - as far as I know, the tithing is a speculation rather than a provable fact.
HOWEVER, the interrelationships and entanglements in DCSS between Crawford Lewis (DCSS Administration), Gene Walker (DCSS Board of Ed), Eddie Long (New Birth church), fraternity and sorority members is terribly disturbing to me. All this scratching of backs... How can I possibly ever feel confident about this school system when I am wondering about the genisis of every decision?
@ Anonymous 6:48 pm
So why are you still reading the comments?
I think the question of undue influence from any organization when it comes to hiring for a school system is important. Most posters are concerned that high salaries and positions may have been obtained via membership in organizations (New Birth is just one that has been mentioned) rather than merit and fiscal responisbility.
Taxpayers are concerned that nepotism and cronyism appointments are draining and disrupting the educational process for students. I guess SACS feels like this too since nepotism and cronyism is one of their main points in their investigation of DCSS.
Personally, I'm uncomfortable that so many former wealthy Yale Skull and Crossbones members have become president. How's that worked out for us?
25,000 parishioners is a very powerful force to have at your disposal.
25,000 pissed off, betrayed by your Bishop parishioners is a nightmare!
Good Luck New Birth. We will all keep you in our prayers and out of our tax paying wallets.
If you can't take the HEAT, get out of the congregation!
At "Though the Constitution does not specifically mention a right to privacy, the Supreme Court decisions over the years have established that the right to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment."
Dear lawyer colleague,
This is not an abortion case or freedom of conscience case. This is fraud by proxy (religion! Take a better look at your legal library!
As you recall, Mayor Campbell and others have tried that defense in Federal cases citing freedom of association and the right to privacy in the commission of crimes involving money.
NXXC lead by Eddie Lxxg is a religious ponzi scheme giving blessings (high paying jobs from DXXX County Schools) to people who have a proven record of returning 10% to the BXXXshop.
Now that the BXXXshop has been dabbling in the forbidden zones of young men (pederasty), the not-yet-blessed members of the congregation will begin to question the free use he made of their contributions and turn state evidence like crazy!
No one is jealous of the Calloways. People are venting about how her family members can walk into administrative positions while others cannot even get an interview. I guess the daughter and youngest son at Rainbow are in now in training for administrative positions. Even though the daughter cannot pass the GACE Exam.Plus, junior Calloway did nothing in the so called Delta Cohort as outstanding. But guess what, he was hired as and administrator along with some members of his groups within the Delta Cohort. People have a right to be upset when they go to school and work hard only to denied a job or promotion because of family, frat,church, cousins, neighbors, and sorority affiliations take priority over qualifications. Then when these special friends and etc are hired, they cannot lead a school or serve as an effective leader. Several were demoted due to being incompetent. Why Junior Calloway wasnot demoted no one seems to know. Even, mom, got Junior Calloway's wife and administrative job. The interview panel at Wadsworth was not impressed with Junior's wife. So, she was hired at McNair Academy. Wow! You call this jealous? I beg the differ, plain ole' favoritism.
It would be unquestionably fraud if you were getting paid over $100000/year to be the principal to to a school of less than 500 "public school" students when others getting paid the same to be principal to a 1000 or more "public school" students.
Principals at small schools work just as hard. The resources follow the schools. For example, in a school with 1000, a principal has 2 AP's, 2 Counselors, and three secretaries. Principals with less than 500 usually have to do things normally assigned to an assistant principal. They should all get the same amount. Now as you move up to middle school and High school, then I agree the salaries should increase.
Where I have taught before (not in GA), principals are paid according to the number of students in their building. More students means more work. More students more APs.
Counselors in one elementary school was unheard of. We shared social workers, and did not have counselors. Nurses were shared by multiple schools and were always on call. Our PE teachers were certified in first aid, how to give diabetic children injections, and other emergencies that would/might come up. Medicine was handed out at the front office.
In GA, principal pay is based mostly on years experience, though some systems pay principals of very large schools a bit extra.
We use to share nurses, and may be well have to again depending on the state budget.
To the person commenting about section 8, Are you serious? Here is a clue for you since you are clueless. People who live in Lithonia Own their own homes too!!yes as unbelievable as it may seem to you We pay property taxes, some of us own more than one house!! shocking!! I guess you have no section 8 people in the schools in your area! Well guess what This is America where every child regardless of financial status is entitled to an education! If you dont want to pay the school tax maybe you should move to Cuba or China! Some of us dont want to bus our children across town or sell and move across town to find a school for our kids, so LPA is a welcomed addition to the educational choices in this part of town. Oh and before you go there, I dont attend Newbirth,and found out about the school on this blog,went through the admission process like every other family at the school and am glad my son is there! By the way Since I am a realtor 10,000 a month for the space leased is hardly high end rent! Another thing, since charters get 75 cents on the dollar and we dont have school buses, we are still being short changed. We should get every dime that the traditional schools get per child, But thats the sacrifice that we the parents make for our children!!!
"NXXC lead by Eddie Lxxg is a religious ponzi scheme giving blessings (high paying jobs from DXXX County Schools) to people who have a proven record of returning 10% to the BXXXshop.""
Again, it is amazing how normally sane people can continue to make statements like these. Riddle me this legal eagle, what PROOF can you share of this PROVEN RECORD? Nothing gives you more instant credibility that FACTS however we both know you can't prove this unless a warrant has been issued for the financial records of the employees you allege are doing this. They haven't done anything to warrant this invasion of privacy.
Food for thought, I have a greater right to request the IP addresses for some of the posts on this blog than you would have to ask the religious affiliation of an employee.
Anon 5:59, You are probably right that you have more right at finding out the ip addresses than addressing your religion or which church you attend.
Obama is working on being able to wiretap our phone calls, with no search warrant, as well as tapping into our emails and computer searches, with no search warrants. I seem to remember after 9/11, when Bush worked on the Patriot Act, the left gave him so much grief over the warrantless wiretaps, now Obama is working on adding our computers to that. Our free speech is being threatened.
If you don't like what's being said here I suggest you not come to this website, you do have that choice. But to threaten someone, just because you don't like what they think, worries me more.
The Bishop is in a lot of trouble and some of the New Birth members were not happy with his sermon Sunday. They were disappointed he did not come right out and say he did not do what the charges claim. So keep your threats to yourself and exercise some personal responsibility, if you don't like what you see here, leave! Want to see some interesting responses the Bishop, go over to Salon.com and check out the responses there. This blog is tame compared to Salon.
"We're not just a church, we're an international corporation, "
Not my words...the Bishop's.
Does anyone else see this statement as possibly nullifying the NBBC's status as "non-profit"?
And if it is determined this enterprise is not in fact non-profit, donations claimed on individual tax returns as deductible contributions to a non-profit organization would be suspect.
Gotta love it!
6:48 PM - I'm not advocating for finding out who tithes to where, but SACS and the state want to ensure that no outsider has "undue influence" on the school system. Promoting church members who tithe would certainly bring about a profit to the church and reward it's members. It's just someone's theory way up there in the comments ... this is a blog - we chat about theories and we find that we are often correct. (Not saying that on this one, specifically.)
You have to admit, the bishop does have some serious influence on the school system. If SACS issues us a warning due to that, he has created a problem for us - not for himself. Excuse us, but we're worried about the SACS inquiry.
Also, it's true. Most of the people in S DeKalb live in homes, owned by the occupants, especially in Lithonia. We did a report here on the number of apartments complexes feeding into our schools and there are by far many, many more apartments in more North DeKalb. In fact, if I recall, there were around 30-60 complexes feeding into some north area schools compared to 0-5 in south schools. We also have many more Section 8 houses up here.
Interesting article in the WaPo by Eugene Robinson -
Eddie Long isn't practicing what he preaches
One of the small ironies of the Bishop Eddie Long scandal is the preacher's self-pitying complaint, in a Sunday sermon vetted by his lawyers, that he feels "like David against Goliath."
Cere, GREAT POINT! I have to give our Hispanic and Asian friends a huge thank you! Just think, North DeKalb have more Section 8 housing and Apartment complexes, yet Cross Keys, Lakeside, Chamblee and Dunwoody High Schools out perform most of the rest. Why? PARENTS!
Our kids attended an Elementary School, which was the most diverse in the county when it was open. The Hispanics and Asian kids had the best attendance of any other group. Matter of fact, it was the Caucasians who had the MOST absences than any other group. The PTA tried for several years to let the Caucasian parents know that taking kids out for ski trips and other travels kept the school from getting the "School of Excellence" Award. The school had the grades but we failed in attendance figures.
The best attending group in the school were the Hispanics, second Asians, third Black and fourth Caucasians. We had Hispanics learning English within two years and making Principals Honor Rolls by the third year of attending. Their parents were always involved in school activities and they realized their participation was crucial in their children's success.
Parents are crucial early on in the education of their children and once you have bought in, it's difficult to ignore it once the kids go on to Middle and High Schools. I honestly think this is why we have been successful up here on the north side of the county.
One more point to the post earlier about Hispanics and Asians being good students. The PTA leadership at the school mentioned above was mostly Caucasian. We stressed to our Minority families that their participation was a must, since we were a pseudo "Theme School" in name only. We practiced what we preached at the PTA meetings. It took hard work for a year or two but once we got them involved they realized how much fun it was for them and their kids to be active in school activities.
I think this might solve some of the issues at Dresden. Minority families are scared of getting involved and might need a little prodding by the active parents. We did it at our school and it worked!
Don't worry about your IP address. Cere will keep it safe.
But just in case, here are some possible explanations.
a. Some stranger may have broken in into your house and use your Mac to theorize on this blog.
b. The theories are not on a private individual and are not made for the purpose of hurting and do not run counter to reasonable people might conjecture.
c. Both individuals at the center of the comments are public figures, one the leader of a church and the other a former leader of a large public school system.
d. Finally, both individuals are the targets/subjects of either criminal or civil action brought in local courts.
No one on this blog is harboring a fugitive or is using his private computer for the purpose of crime. As such, no real judge would grant such a warrant.
Now if you were using your computer to threaten people that would be a horse of different color.
http://www.jetjit.com/barack-obamas-jet/
Obama’s Gulfstream collided with the right wing of an empty Cessna aircraft. “The FAA is investigating, the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the...
The Gulfstream carries the tail number N747NB, and according to the FAA the jet is registered to Long Charter Air, LLC – an Atlanta based firm.
Long Charter Air is located at 6400 Woodrow Rd, Lithonia, Georgia – That’s the same address as New Birth Missionary Baptist Church – a large church headed by Bishop Eddie L. Long with over 25,000 members.
WoW! If these outrageous raises that became tithing for NB were at ALL Title 1, as CLew might have stupidly said--
THAT my firends is the opening for the Federal inquiry...and the dominoes would fall for miles.
The Feds are going after a paltry $500,000 misspent in Atlanta.
DeKalb's Title 1 is $10 M a year!!!
Who said CLew said a salary came from Title 1 funds. When and where did he say it?
Dept of Corrections? What was that?
A new interview with one of the accusers
Bishop Eddie Long | Young accuser says he loved pastor, now considers him ‘monster'
Parris and his mother joined New Birth in 2001 when he was 14. Within two weeks, Long gave the teen his personal cell phone number, the suit alleges.
Their relationship intensified during the 2004-05 school year, with Parris alleging that he was a regular at Long's guesthouse on Snapfinger Road.
"Long would discuss the Holy Scripture to justify and support the sexual activity," the suit alleges.
Where was the threat in the September 28, 2010 5:59 AM post? I read it several times and saw a disagreement about what are facts. Did someone remove a part of this post that threatened to harm someone?
More Eddie Long disturbing stuff:
"He said he did not know about the claims...until he heard them on the news."
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/25213454/detail.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rss
LeGrande moved back to Charlotte late last year, and confided in his family, an ex-girlfriend, and a few friends, including a police officer. He said he did not know about the claims from Maurice Robinson, Anthony Flagg, and Jamal Parris, until he heard them on the news.
LeGrande decided it was his time to speak out, too. "I wasn't free until I came out with it, that's when my life's been much better. This last week has been free."
Today we find out the revelation that Mr. Long is violent and hit his pregnant wife, according to court records. This is not going to play well with some in his congregation.
My exit questions for Mr. Long and New Birth's congregation. Who runs New Birth? The congregation or Mr. Long? Most churches have elders or vestry members, who are voted by the members, to deal with the business of running the church. When is Mr. Long asked to take a leave of absence or asked to resign?
Just got this from a blogger - an interesting article about New Birth -
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/9/30/10505/1181
An excerpt from the article actually references a quote from Eddie Long's book. I found the quote to be interesting as it speaks to an underlying theme of power and control relative to the Dekalb and Atlanta area. Here is the quote:
In an article titled "Let's Take Dominion Now!" (and also in his book Church in the Workplace), C. Peter Wagner describes Eddie Long as providing a model for city `transformation.' Wagner quotes Long's book Taking Authority,
The New Birth congregation finances and operates vital support programs in the city and pumps large sums of money and thousands of volunteer hours into key areas such as youth offender intervention programs, public school programs, and support and outreach programs for homeless women and children. We are involved in every aspect of life, and we are making a major impact in the Atlanta metropolitan areas.
This, in turn, is causing us to gain major footholds in the city infrastructure, . . . the criminal court system, public high schools, the Georgia State Senate, the United States Senate, and even into the White House itself. . . . When you are a politician in a major metropolitan area, it isn't wise to dismiss or ignore a highly unified, committed, and motivated group of voters exceeding twenty-two thousand people representing almost every voting precinct in your city.
Wow, just wow. Eddie Long published this in one of his books? We already know County Commissioner Lee May and Sheriff Tom Brown are Eddie Long lackeys. Our school system pays Long $120k a year in rent for a public charter school. How will there be a fair trail here in DeKalb??
We are involved in every aspect of life, and we are making a major impact in the Atlanta metropolitan areas.
This, in turn, is causing us to gain major footholds in the city infrastructure, . . . the criminal court system, public high schools, the Georgia State Senate, the United States Senate, and even into the White House itself. . . . When you are a politician in a major metropolitan area, it isn't wise to dismiss or ignore a highly unified, committed, and motivated group of voters exceeding twenty-two thousand people representing almost every voting precinct in your city.
Just to be clear, DeKalb county school system does not write a check to New Birth for rent on the Leadership Prep Academy - that would violate the charter. LPA, being a public school charter, collects it's allotment of tax dollars from the state - and from local taxes, since it was a school-system approved charter (state charters only collect the state per pupil allotment)... It uses this money as it sees fit - creating it's own budget for rent, staff, food services, textbooks, technology, etc. It's public money - they are a public school - but DCSS does not directly pay New Birth.
I think the quote is in Wagner's books, not Long's, but wow, just wow.
Very telling.
""Spiritual Amway" - Eddie Long's Church-Based Financial Pyramid Spans US ". http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/9/30/10505/1181
The question of tithing has come up - here may be some enlightenment:
In his 2009 book Watch This! The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism, Jonathan L. Walton describes Eddie Long's shift to an authoritarian church structure.
According to the bishop, the democratic systems in place at Baptist churches, featuring management by the traditional deacon or trustee boards, are ungodly governmental structures that are outside God's order.
... In Long's theological framework, the church in God's order, like the family in God's order, is run, not democratically, but according to divine authority and the concepts of respect, submission, and obedience.
...Bishop Long dissolved the various boards at New Birth and wrested decision-making power from the trustees and deacons. Bishop Long believes that on the day he changed New Birth from a traditional Baptist polity to his own church, no longer allowing a deacon board to "grip the purse strings" or accepting for himself the role of "the hired preacher," he became the "true pastor" of the congregation.
Walton goes on to describe how Long is called "Daddy" by many in the congregation. But Long's status as father extends far beyond the mega-church in Lithonia.
The Father's House and Long's Global Apostolic Council
From the website of The Father's House:
"The Father's House is a ministry that is intended for Senior Pastors who are led to submit themselves under the spiritual covering and apostolic authority of Bishop Eddie L. Long."
This model requires tithing (payment of ten percent) into the leader's network. The website for Long's The Father's House network list the benefits and responsibilities of "covering" provided by Long. Some of the requirements of those being "covered" include:
-Lead a church that is legally incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) and submit a copy of your certificate.
-Covenant to pray for Bishop Eddie L Long and The Father's House Ministry Sons and Daughters.
-Covenant to tithe into The Father's House.
Tithing means donating ten percent, but I'm not sure in this case from what this ten percent is being taken; whether it refers to a tithe of gross or net income and if this refers to the pastor or his church. Certainly it indicates that the spiritual sons and daughters are expected to make monetary contributions to their apostolic authority or spiritual father.
The Father's House list member churches in states across the nation. In addition to the 79 in Georgia, there are 21 in Alabama, 31 in South Carolina, 26 in North Carolina, 14 in Florida, and many more in other states. In 2009 Long registered his Global Apostolic Council, Inc. and throughout 2009 and 2010 anointed bishops and ambassadors for the network.
I was talking with a neighbor today, who mentioned that a DCSS teacher told her "You don't get anything done in DCSS without Bishop Long's agreement." WHOA
more...
Long believes that God gives messages directly to him to pass on to his flock. In his book Taking Authority he states,
God has strongly communicated to me His displeasure with our nation's growing acceptance of the mythical "separation of church and state" heresy. I am convinced this so-called separation was never the intent of our nation's founding fathers - it is merely a device fraudulently created by an errant Supreme Court totally apart from historical precedent, tradition, or even the will of the people.
Also, like many other New Apostolics and Dominionists, Eddie Long is known for his extensive charitable work. And also like the New Apostolics, this work is at least partially intended to provide access and gain authority over government as mandated in dominion theology.
Wow - watch the video at the end of the article. It's very eye-opening how these preachers think! I had no idea.
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/9/30/10505/1181
It is so easy now to see why DCSS is in trouble. Most of the members including the former head master (Lewis) and Mr. Long (notice I didnot say, Bishop Long) all believe that our money as taxpayers really belong to them.
Why on earth would DCSS spend money paying incompetent administrators six-figures? They drive around in their luxury cars with greek signs , use school money to hire their cousins, incompetent children some with degrees and some without, mothers, husbands, after hour girlfriends, boyfriends, while the people behind the scenes who actually work can barely get a raise.
The majority of the people on the list making six -figures were lazy teachers but had connections in the White House on North Decatur Road and were given administrative positions. Some such as Jamie Wilson worked two days as an administrators, then was promoted to a principal who did a lousy job. Now, this man is making quite a bit of money. To top it off, they (DCSS) allow the royal family, Mr and Mrs. Calloway to return and continue to break the system along with a lot of more folks, then we wonder why our school system is in shambles. Mrs. Calloway hired her entire AKA chapter as administrators and the process continues. So, where does this ends. SACS need to investigate every person that was interviewed and then used the rubric comments from the interviews to see why some of these people were overlooked and not hired in opposed to the ones with connections. Just like Mr. Long has been exposed, DCSS elite members of the Family and Friends Plans, your exposure will soon be revealed once the trial gets started.
What and where is Mr. Beasley's church? Is it part of Mr. Long's Network as discussed in this article?
Mike Gets Results: The Anti-Bullying Bill
Jaheem Herrera was a fifth grader at DeKalb County’s Dunaire Elementary School who committed suicide in 2009 after repeated incidents of school bullying. In the wake of this tragedy, I [Mike Jacobs] was approached by concerned DeKalb citizens, including some of my own constituents, to look into the adequacy of Georgia’s anti-bullying statute. I was dismayed at what I found and became determined to fix it. The law that was on the books in 2009 did not even cover the Jaheem Herrera situation because it applied only to grades 6 through 12. The old law included a virtually useless definition of “bullying.” Overall, Georgia’s anti-bullying statute was bare bones and inadequate. 43 states have anti-bullying laws. Until this year, Georgia’s law was the oldest of the 43. A lot of states had come up with better ways to address the issue after Georgia initially enacted its statute. http://repjacobs.com/2010/09/07/mike-gets-results-the-anti-bullying-bill/
Based on what is here -- we, as non-lawyers/judges look at Dunaire and the schools and say 'of course he was bullied and bullying was going on...' -- the Judge can do her investigation and find, 'no bullying' because she can apply the legal definition of "bullying" applicable at the time of incident and determine that there was no bullying because the rules didn't apply to the 5th grader -- of course when you listen to Boortz and the news, DCSS could have been pursued on "charges" of bullying anyway because the "jury" could have found the definition inadequate but, alas, they paid quarter million to make it go away on a legal definition at the expense of the family, who probably would have rejoiced at a $100k settlement offer......Then one wonders if a portion of what was paid to the Judge for the report for her oral report on, essentially a legal question, was subject to the tithe, and was just really a way to get $35k to NB?
After reading about his NBBC structure, organization and fund raising, the following definition should create some conversation fodder:
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent (or resistance) to lawful authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. A seditionist is one who engages in or promotes the interests of sedition.
Typically, sedition is considered a subversive act, and the overt acts that may be prosecutable under sedition laws vary from one legal code to another. Where the history of these legal codes has been traced, there is also a record of the change in the definition of the elements constituting sedition at certain points in history. This overview has served to develop a sociological definition of sedition as well, within the study of state persecution.
The difference between sedition and treason consists primarily in the subjective ultimate object of the violation to the public peace. Sedition does not consist of levying war against a government nor of adhering to its enemies, giving enemies aid, and giving enemies comfort. Nor does it consist, in most representative democracies, of peaceful protest against a government, nor of attempting to change the government by democratic means (such as direct democracy or constitutional convention).
Sedition is the stirring up of rebellion against the government in power. Treason is the violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or state, giving aid to enemies, or levying war against one's state. Sedition is encouraging one's fellow citizens to rebel against their state, whereas treason is actually betraying one's country by aiding and abetting another state. Sedition laws somewhat equate to terrorism and public order laws.
This doesn't sound like a church to me --
Talk this week about whether Bishop Eddie Long might step down from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the wake of the gay sex scandal that has dominated the airwaves, raises a single question.
If it came to that, who can make Long leave his church?
According to New Birth’s restated articles of incorporation, filed with the Georgia Secretary of State on April 14, 1997 – none of its 25,000 members.
In fact, according to those articles, New Birth, the corporation, has no members, and its purpose is “to receive and maintain real or personal property.”
None of its 11 Articles of Incorporation indicate anything about it being a church or propagating Christianity.
Read more: CrossRoadsNews - No say for New Birth members
More legal troubles for the bishop!
From Atlanta Unfiltered:
“A lot of individuals, as well as a lot of companies, had a lot of money tied up in what I believe to be illegal gambling in the state of Virginia,” said Virginia Beach prosecutor Harvey Bryant.
Bailey says he has received an email from the parent company, City Capital Corporation, promising to pay back "100 percent of their machine purchase value" in City Capital Stock, which is currently worth only pennies per share.
Bishop Long refused to talk with senior I-Team reporter Dale Russell, and refused to answer any questions regarding Ephren Taylor. But a YouTube video talking about Ephren Taylor was posted Sunday night, after FOX 5 asked his spokesperson what went wrong.
“About a million dollars has not been returned, the investment has gone sour,” Long said in the video posted on YouTube.
The bishop claims he has made appeals to Ephren Taylor to return all the investors money. And then he added, “I want you to know New Birth, received, nor myself, any financial blessing or gift from Ephren Taylor.”
Taylor claims that is simply not true. He wrote New Birth Missionary Church received a cut of all sales of his books and CD's sold at the church.
Long responded that the money was only collected to cover expenses.
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