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    Man at center of Ga. megachurch probe speaks out

    ATLANTA (AP) — A North Carolina businessman involved in an investment program at an Atlanta-area megachurch where former members claim they lost their retirement savings says he's taking action to "make things right."

    A group of church members is suing New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and its pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, saying they conspired with businessman Ephren Taylor Jr. to defraud the members through "wealth-building" seminars and sermons in 2009.

    "In my case and that of my former company, some of the negative effects of a situation with very complex economics impacted businesses, individuals and families despite our best intentions," Taylor said in a statement to The Associated Press.

    Attorneys for the church members say in a DeKalb County lawsuit that Taylor urged them to liquidate their retirement accounts, and as a result some lost their life savings.

    The U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service are also investigating issues surrounding the seminars, which were hosted at the Lithonia-based church which claims 25,000 members, federal officials said.

    "Don't assume that I am just another greedy businessman," Taylor said in the statement. "I am taking action to make things right."

    Taylor is also named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed this month in U.S. District Court in North Carolina.

    In that case, lawyers say Taylor made a series of investment presentations for the "Prosperity Fund" at churches in Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

    In the summer of 2008, he spoke at the Democratic National Convention to a youth leaders' summit on his "socially conscious" corporate investment strategy, according to the federal lawsuit.

    "Taylor was fortunate to be riding the wave of popularity of young, black, successful men created by then U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama," the lawsuit states.

    New Birth spokesman Art Franklin previously declined to comment on the church's role in the investments.

     
    • Call them out  •  7 mths ago
      When a church starts giving investment advice, it ceases to be a church and becomes a financial advisor. It should then lose its tax-exempt status and be subject to paying taxes and SEC scrutiny... just like Goldman, Lehman or UBS. Time to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's."
      • A_Nonny_Moose 7 mths ago
        Funny thing about that line. Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar. But what really belonged to Caesar? The gold was made by God. The tools and materials used to mine, purify and form the coin were all made by God. Even Caesars likeness was made by God. The stamp that put his likeness on the coin was made of material that was made by God.
        That's what is so brilliant about the answer. Jesus told the absolute truth; knowing they would misunderstand what he meant. And be satisfied in their misunderstanding. He relied upon their own foolishness to protect himself. Brilliant.
        And so many people even today, still misunderstand...
      • Tony 7 mths ago
        And GE, which paid no income taxes lately.
    • W  •  Little Rock, United States  •  7 mths ago
      Always TEST what anyone says(yes, even your Pastor); always make sure what someone says "lines up" with the word of God.
      • getreal 7 mths ago
        That's what i'm talking about. We are required to test fruit. Jesus said that the blind leads the blind and they "both" fall in the ditch. We have no excuse.
    • Y'know  •  7 mths ago
      Are these guys tax exempt?
      • Alkoholic 7 mths ago
        More than likely. You too can start a quote - chuch - un quote and bilk everyone who joins, as many of these mega-churches do.
    • Rex Carrs  •  7 mths ago
      He's got twenty million dollars in his Heavenly Bank Account
      All from those chumps who was born again, oh yeah, oh yeah
      He's got seven limousines and a private plane
      All for the use of his special friends, oh yeah, oh yeah
      ~Frank Zappa, Heavenly Bank Account.
      • waupun corrections 7 mths ago
        Never listened to Frank Zappa, but it sounds like this song hit the nail on the head.
      • Craig Z 7 mths ago
        You can't run a country by a book or religion
        Not by a heap or a lump or a smidgeon of
        Foolish drools of ancient date
        Designed to make you all feel great while you
        Fold, spindle, and mutilate
        Those unbelievers from a neighboring state

        FZ - Dumb All Over (used without permission. Request forgiveness Zappa Family Trust... )

        Waupun, the album is called "You Are What You Is". Check it out.
    • Philip  •  Santa Clara, United States  •  7 mths ago
      Tithing gone wrong
      • Wing Rider 7 mths ago
        That's taking tithing to the extreme. 10% is all that God says to give. (That's 10% of your gross income, not your net income!)
      • Craig Z 7 mths ago
        Why does god need 10% of my gross? Isn't he omnipotent? Couldn't he "create" my contribution?

        Actually, what the flip does god need with cash anyway? Does god travel afar where they don't take credit cards?

        You tithers don't get it, do you?

        I'll help you and all of us out; Keep your tithe and spend it on products and services in your community. To you, it will be nothing more out of your pocket. But it will create the effect of economic benefit.

        I'm trying to help. Screw the tithe and spend that money!
      • Alkoholic 7 mths ago
        A BIG AMEN to that brother.
    • Deb  •  Arlington Heights, United States  •  7 mths ago
      "Don't assume that I am just another greedy businessman," Taylor said in the statement. "I am taking action to make things right."

      Now was this before or after he found out he was being investigated & sued?
    • Bad service  •  Little Rock, United States  •  7 mths ago
      Din not Eddie Long be in the news for having sex with little boys? anyone associated with him should also be suspect.
    • La Libertad de la Mente  •  7 mths ago
      Those stupid enough to belong to this kind of church kind of got what they deserve.
    • ComeAtMeBro  •  7 mths ago
      This is the SAME CHURCH where the Pastor, Eddie Long, was accused of corn-holing under aged boys while he was taking them on trips with him. And he paid them off for their silence. Now they find out the church was ripping them off too? What a surprise. They should rename the church "The New Birth Missionary Position Baptist Church", because it seems the one thing they do best is to screw their congregation. And the fools stand by and defend them and come back for more. Religion is for suckers.
    • Dana from Bama  •  7 mths ago
      Some folks get "pastor" and "God" confused....the voice from the pulpit demanding money is not God.
    • David  •  7 mths ago
      Isn't that the preacher (Pastor Eddie Long) who was caught paying 4 teenagers in his church for sex? Hushed it up with $$$ . . . But there was a big scandal.
    • Lisa B  •  7 mths ago
      I't's not complex economics...you're a liar and a fraud and you got caught and the people are suing your butt. How complex is that. AND TO YAHOO...STOP WITH THE LOCATION IDENTIFIERS. AND STOP SENDING ME RESPONSES TO MY POSTS. I DON'T CARE WHAT OTHERS THINK OF MY OPINION. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT AN OPINION.
    • roxy  •  7 mths ago
      Eddie Long...? Bishop Eddie Long...? THE Bishop Eddie Long...?
      He of eternal fame for sending fotos of his georgeous body to a number of his (young) male "disciples"...?
      Aaahh, isn't organized religion a wonderful thing..., it gets you easy sex and easy money if only you know how to fool the gullible....
    • Curt  •  7 mths ago
      A black Madoff, on a smaller scale?
    • Doug  •  7 mths ago
      Too many Christians believe that because someone stands in a pulpit they automatically represent God - which is not always the case. And well meaning preachers can get caught up in the money and attention and loose focus on the reason you are a pastor in the first place.
    • A  •  7 mths ago
      The constant money grubbing and huxtering of churches never seems to end. The big mega church on prime real estate next to interstate pays zero taxes of any kind. Time to tax them.
    • Rex Carrs  •  7 mths ago
      That's right, you asked for it, remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over
    • lady lsj  •  Charlotte, United States  •  7 mths ago
      This is the reason why folk should just get up on Sunday morning or whenever they worship, read whatever comforts them, may it be scripture or what not. Then make a donation to their local food bank or some other local charitable organization or whatever.

      At least you'd know where your money is actually going instead of tricking out some pimp in the pulpit's private jet and Bentley.
    • A  •  7 mths ago
      Take away that church's tax exempt status. It is a business, a crooked business. These huge money grubbing mega churches need to be paying all income, property, and sales taxes just like us "little people" are forced to. It is time for the free ride for the churches and religious outfits in USA to end.
    • Michael  •  7 mths ago
      Bishop Eddie Long in the news AGAIN?! This isn't Rev. Long's first go-around with money-related scandals (or other scandals, but I'll get to that in a second). A few years ago he was investigated for over-compensating his employees millions of dollars. Just last year, he was accused by several young men of sexual impropriety and settled all those cases out of court (with non-disclosure agreements, no doubt). His wife divorced him. How someone with a record like this can still be considered head of a "mega-church" is beyond me. His flock ought to have dwindled to just him and his dog in a basement somewhere by now.
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