*By now King … er, uh, Bishop Eddie Long is used to apologies and looking dumb to the public.
He apologized to the Jewish community after being crowed king by Rabbi Ralph Messer at last Sunday’s service, as we reported.
“The ceremony was not my suggestion, nor was it my intent, to participate in any ritual that is offensive in any manner to the Jewish community,” Long wrote in a letter sent to Bill Nigut, Southeast Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League.
Footage of the ceremony went up on YouTube and caught the eye of thousands of viewers who have had quite a mix of commentary.
But the ADL was quite appalled by the pageantry and the wrapping of Long in a Torah scroll while being carried on a throne.
Nigut commented that so-called rabbis like Messer are folk to keep a watchful eye of.
But Messer believes all has been misunderstood (like most things Long does).
“It was simply a way of bringing honor to a man who had given his life to the Lord and had given so much to his church, the Atlanta metro area and throughout the world,” he said.
And to avoid burning any more bridges, Long denounced his kingship.
“I denounce any action that depicts me as a king, for I am merely just a servant of the Lord.”
If you missed it, check out the ceremony here.
Also, Rabbi Messer has responded in the video below explaining the who, what, why, etc. of the now messy situation from his vantage point:
So the Bishop doesn’t feel an apology is needed to those outside of ADL?
Why?
The black Theology church.. is losing it.. across this nation.. shootings in chruch .. Churches being robbed doing services… preachers having sex in the office after church has ended..
So his apologies are to the ADL only? He had no rights to wear a Torah Scoll wrap around him..
Rabbi Messer stated very strongly his intent was to teach Judaic Roots of Christianity. I do not understand how if he did why he did use words that would demonstrate his teaching. My impression was that the ceremony was nothing more that a paid circus. As a Believer who is African American and studied Judaic Roots of Christianity and Theology. I was insulted by this defaming of many sacred trusts.