Megachurch Pastor Leaving, 4th Accuser Emerges
3:00PM ET September 24th, 2010
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

In the midst of a sex scandal that has ruined his reputation and divided his massive congregation, Atlanta pastor Bishop Eddie Long has announced that he will address the controversy during this coming Sunday's service (September 26th) and will subsequently step down thereafter. Three plaintiffs have filed civil complaints against New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Long--each plaintiff is a young men who alleges that Long had inappropriate sexual contact with them while they were under his stewardship at the church.

According to Bossip, sources claim that at least 30 young men have contacted BJ Bernstein, the lawyer who filed the civil suit on behalf of Anthony Flagg, Maurice Robinson and Jamal Parris. Long claimed to have mentored these men as his 'Spiritual Sons,' but they allege that he gave them gifts and engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with them.

Friday afternoon, reports surfaced that a fourth accuser has emerged alleging that Long drugged him while the two of them were in Kenya and that was the beginning of a sexual relationship. Spencer LeGrande was 15 when he met Long and the trip to Kenya occurred after the youth turned 17, the latest suit alleges. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, LeGrande and his mother were among the founding members of Long's satellite church in Charlotte, N.C.