Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church recently issued an apology to the Anti-Defamation League for his role in a king-crowning ceremony.
Long wrote a letter addressed to Bill Nigut, southeast regional director of the ADL — a Jewish group that fights anti-Semitism:
"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, or any group," Bishop Long wrote in an open letter to Nigut, "Furthermore, I sincerely denounce any action that depicts me as a King, for I am merely just a servant of the Lord."
"While I believe that Rabbi Ralph Messer has good intentions during his message at New Birth, I understand that the ceremony he performed on Sunday, January 29th, caused harm to the Jewish community, for which I am deeply sorry,"
