Funeral Arrangements for Mrs. King

Ali
February 2 2006, 4:51PM

I'm not sure that King's funeral taking place at her daughter's church is the biggest irony in this situation - you can't assume that everyone who is funeralized at New Birth or any other church agrees with the church's doctrine. But her family's annoncing today that her funeral today may be. Did they not want anyone to come?

AJ
February 2 2006, 5:18PM

As I reported on the message board, Eddie Long wants to be on the world stage. He will use the late civil rights activist funeral as his platform to become world known. So having the furneral at his church will go down in history books.

He knows the world will be watching this funeral. Also, his Private jet did not fly the body of Mrs. King. It was not equiped to carry a coffin. However, he did fly the family.

And don't forget that Bernice King is an Elder at the Church--New Birth. I hate to start Rumors, but I sense the she and EL are bedmates. I mean thing about it: Everything that MLK was for, EL is the opposite.

Black people here in Altanta pour their money into a mega church and then elevate a jive time preacher as some new psuedo MLK icon.
Give me a break.

I don't see any black people here in Altanta--or elsewhere pouring or pooling their money to build mega school, health facilities or neigbhorhoods. What's da deal?

El is all about money, power and fame.

Shawn
February 2 2006, 5:47PM

If you don't mean to start rumors. Don't.

Troy
February 2 2006, 6:44PM

And if Long is getting it from Sister King and others who would dare tell it or stop or expose it??

Let's face it, Black people are scared to death. The ones that are awake that is, the majority run to these so called mega churches with various clowns as leaders or preachers and for 1 or 2 hours they are put into a hypnotic state that leaves them innocent of the charges of the mess they are in. Long aint nobody and will never be, nobody, he's just up there giving and stirring up the show down in Atlanta that'll bring in a few dollars. Who would ever think all that work and protesting and marching turned out to be for absolutely nothing, with the heirs to the estate as lost as ever. Mrs. King is in a much better place because the hell down here is more than anyone could stand.

The funeral ought to make for good TV I just hope it's not at the same time of American Idol.

Richard J. Rosendall
February 2 2006, 7:42PM

Speaking of Bernice King, I mention her and her cousin Alveda, as well as the splendid efforts of the National Black Justice Coalition, in my appreciation of Mrs. King which ran in today's Bay Windows in Boston. That's at www.baywindows.com .

Doug Cooper-Spencer
February 2 2006, 9:07PM

Actually, the joke is on the bishop and New Birth. You see, they had to honor someone who was much more revered than they, and who made it well known of her stand on the inclusion of gay rights. Now we, as a community, have to make sure everyone in the world is made aware of her pro-gay stand. I know I for one, have been involved in emails with people (mostly non-gay) who had no idea of Mrs. King's support for gay rights. We can buy ads in local as well as national papers, do posters, emails, etc. that would thank Coretta Scott King for her support. Make it known! That would really fly in the face of the bishop, her daugher, and their church!

Leaif
February 2 2006, 9:09PM

I deff agree with AJ. MLK and Coreatta was about reaching the mass. Ain't nobody out in Lithonia but the "try' to be, well-off blacks". Thats whats wrong with Eddie, he is not tryin' to reach the innercity and thats why Newbirth is all the way out in the sticks. I can see now that its going to be all about the celebrities, who's who at New Birth.... As the New Birth kids say, "Bishop, Bishop, Bishop"

K.
February 2 2006, 9:10PM

This is quite sad. Eddie Long is an opportunist (clear and simple). The King children have been pitiful for some time now (ALL of them). They are welfare recipients determined to follow the all mighty dollar. I'm sincerely perplexed as to why the beloved Mrs. King's funeral will not be held in the historic, Ebenezer. I don't really care how many the church seats. This is about respect for Mrs. King, ML King and their legacy in a community that has carried them for decades. Black people - if you don't realize it by now, you never will...we are in serious trouble. We don't seem to fight for, long for and honor very much these days except - who can be the most famous and possess the must stuff! Shame, shame, shame....where is our shame?

s
February 2 2006, 9:24PM

Fuss all you want. It's known in Atlanta that Ms. King was a surrogate mother figure to Long , shared many precious moments with him and approved of his leadership within the community. She approved so much that the media reported that she appointed him as the next in line to best carry the baton. She knew better than to appoint the golddiggers and hucksters Jackson and Sharpton. I'm sure those two race hustlers are pretty pissed right about now.

Leaif
February 2 2006, 9:25PM

How Soon Are We to Forget

Bishop's charity generous to bishop
New Birth's Eddie Long got $3 million

By JOHN BLAKE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/28/05
In 1995, Bishop Eddie Long established a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity to help the needy and spread the gospel.

But it was Long, leader of the largest church congregation in Georgia, who became the charity's biggest beneficiary.

BISHOP EDDIE LONG'S COMPENSATION
Between 1997 and 2000, Long received $3.07 million in compensation from Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc.
• $1,450,000 — House
• $1,037,992 — Salary
• $350,812 — Use of Bentley
• $195,145 — Home improvements, including $135,560 for landscape improvements, $3,286 for a parsonage pool table, $35,169 for a built-in hutch, plus other items.
• $13,074 — Property taxes
• $16,000 — Expense account
• $9,600 — Benefits, deferred compensation
$3,072,623 — Total
Sources: Form 990 income tax returns filed by Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc. and DeKalb County tax records.

[This comment has been truncated by the Web Administrator. For space and copyright reasons, please do not post entire newspaper articles as comments. Thank you.]

Nicholas Williams
February 2 2006, 10:10PM

As a student in elementry school I was selected to meet and speak with Coretta Scott King. I am lucky to see her legacy in my parents who were active participants in the civil rights movement as students and now as adults. It ends a huge chapter in the lives of African Americans and should be a call to current leaders in our community to actively make the struggle known amongst everyone.

Steve Barton
February 2 2006, 11:03PM

Keith:

Thanks for your blog here. I enjoy seeing what folks are talking about. From a less-than-well-informed situation, it seems to me that the key part of the decision could turn out to be the number of seats at the Cathedral. I don't remember an American funeral with 10,000 in attendance -- ever. Will Bishop Long have a prominent part in the service? He may not.

All the best, Steve Barton

s
February 2 2006, 11:05PM

This is pitiful and sad. On the passing of one of our race's Queens, we dishonor her because of where her FAMILY has chosen to hold her funeral. New Birth is the largest church in the city and Bishop Long was requested by the family to help them....he didn't ask. As the folks down here in Atlanta are asking the rest of the nation....let her rest in peace and leave your protests at home. Niggas are never satisfied....

Evelyn Cox
February 3 2006, 10:27AM

Does anyone out there know if all or part Mrs. King's funeral will be televised? If so, what network and time?
Please let me know. THANKS!

bucknips
February 3 2006, 12:22PM

Towelroad listed several quotes of Mrs. King in her support for gay rights.

http://towleroad.typepad.com/towleroad/current_affairs/index.html

Troy
February 3 2006, 1:07PM

for Evelyn and all: According to The New York Post the funeral for will be held Tuesday at the suburban Baptist Church where the King's youngest child, Bernice, is a minister, according to the funeral director assisting witht the arrangements. The funeral was planned for 12 noon at New Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. Mrs. King died on Tuesday. Check with C-Span (http://c-span.org) for TV times and listings of when it will be aired.

Rosemary
February 3 2006, 7:29PM

Are yarl talking Tuesday that just past or the one that's coming?

Rosemary
February 3 2006, 9:25PM

If you had a church home and if it was your Mother, wouldn't you want the funeral to be held there?

IJ
February 4 2006, 12:10AM

THIS IS NOT A TIME TO START THROWING MUD AT BERNIECE KING OR HER PASTOR. THIS IS NOT JUDGMENT DAY WHERE GOD IS GETTING READY TO PUT PASTORS AND THEIR FLOCK IN HEAVEN OR HELL OR ON TRIAL EITHER BECAUSE THEIR CHURCH FAMILY MEMBER(S) WANTED TO USE ANOTHER CHURCH FOR THEIR PARENTS FUNERAL. IT IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE HOMEGOING OF MRS. KING.

me
February 6 2006, 11:55AM

Why is it that everyone is paying attention to Bishop Long's money now? This is a time when we should honor Mrs. King and her life-long legacy. I am a member of New Birth. And since you wanna talk aboutit, I'll give you the real 411. Dont spread lies if you werent' there. The march in December '04 was not against gay and lesbian rights. But since the news chose to pick that one thing out, eberyone focuses on it. It was to mend families, show awareness to problems in the community, such as finances. Because, Christian or not. How can you help someone if you can't even afford to pay your own bills? Why is it that when Jay-Z and all these other artists make money, its a crime, but when men of God prosper, its wrong? Do you really think God sent His ONLY SON to die for our sins so we could be broke and on welfare. I dont know about you, but i wouldn't give up my family for people to live less than what they could, for no reason. And as far as homosexuality, marriage in God's eyes is a joining of a man and woman. God isn't stupid. When He said Be fruitful and multiply, He meant it. Can you do that with two men or two women? NO! God mad e Adam and Eve. Dont you think that if He wanted us to be in homosexual relationships that He would've made Adam and Eve, female homosexual couple, and a male homosexual couple?
No, we should not hate homosexuals, b/c Jesus loved evryone. So we should also. This doesn't mean that we condone it. But wouldn't some homosexuals respond to change if it were presented to them in a loving manner?

LC same as one before
February 6 2006, 12:01PM

Bishop Long is given these gifts by others. He does not buy all of it. And if He does its His business. Why doesn't someone ask Oprah where her charity money is going? We honor the man of God by love offering, as in the Bible. If people would spend a quarter as much of their time reading the Bible as they do worrying about others' money, then we would be much more prosperous.

A member of New Birth

Tonya Clark
February 6 2006, 11:20PM

I can't believe how immature some of the commenters are in reference to Bishop Eddie Long and his supposedly opportunistics motives. HOW SAD. Have you ever thought that he has a genuine heart towards one of his staff memebers. Rev. Bernice, and wanted to offer in any way he could to be of assitance. Please give this man of God a break. If he is a money gouger, and pimping Gods word, (which I do not believe), then let God deal with that.
Ms. T

Paula
February 7 2006, 6:23AM

Mrs. King's family may hold the services where they decide to. The King family has allowed the public the opporunity to view Mrs. King in at least two or three different locations. That's all they should be required to do. They may hold the service any place they want to. Remember, Mrs. King was the First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement, but before that, she was and still is, Mrs. King the "MOM." Bishop Long,his business, and the location of New Birth has nothing to do with this situation. Brothers and Sisters this is NOT the time to HATE!

Anthony
February 7 2006, 10:04AM

Greeting all. Lets start by stating the fact that the information above is incorrect. The march headed by Bishop Long and the New Birth family was focused on putting God back first. It was not against any group, nor was anyone pointed out, because we are all God's children. Point is that God was and is taken out of alot of things and we wanted to put Him back on the front page.Secondly, Mrs. King considered Bishop to be like a son. He often refers to her as mother King.So using his personal jet was really no big deal, because he is like family to the brothers and sisters and it also saved them a great deal of money.For those that don't know, Bishop Long has 7 business's and is quick to tell you, "I don't need your money". Please don't get it twisted, I sow into my pastor's life out of love. The bible states that God blesses the man that blesses the prophet. Mr. Boykin, please make sure you get the facts straight........

Andy
February 7 2006, 10:11AM

Yes, the King family can hold the service where its most accommodating. Its unreasonable to think that Ebenezer Church can possibly accommodate the numerous individuals expected to attend the funderal. I whole-heartedly agree with Bernice in her stance against gays/lesbians lifestyle. I am sure, in her belief as well as mine, she is not against the individuals, as they are human beings, but to emphasize, their lifestyle is detestable, simply wrong!!

k-vava
February 7 2006, 5:54PM

Berniece King has not a clue as to what her parents stood and died for. Not only is her homophobic stance and support of Long's ministry in complete opposition to her father's teachings and the spirit in which he and her mother lived, to further prove her delusions,how can she allow George W. Bush, a man who clearly cares nothing for civil rights or the interests of poor and marginilazed people of this country to not only attend, but speak at this memorial to Mrs. King's life?

His latest budget offers more breaks to the already wealthy on the backs of the poor and struggling. His appearance at her funeral must be the last insult that Mrs. King has had to
endure in a life full of insults. And as for the posting by "me" on Feb 6 at 11:55am...just who the hell do you think you are? How dare you, or anyone, suggest that LGBT people need to change? There is NOTHING wrong with us, and that attitude is reflective of your own insecurities.

Why don't you stop reading your bible and actually try living it? Try actually living the word of this Jesus that you supposedly love so much? Would he support discrimination against anyone for any reason? Once upon a time, the Dutch Reform Church used the bible to justify the African slave trade and the idea of inherent white superiority. Do you agree with them as well?