While discussing sex allegations against Bishop Eddie Long on Friday, MSNBC host and gay rights activist Contessa Brewer asked Bishop James Dean Adams: "Long has taken a very strong anti-homosexual stand....Is there always a danger, if you're taking that sort of stand, that you're living in a glass house and people are going to be encouraged to throw stones?"
Brewer described how "the Southern Poverty Law Center calls Bishop Eddie Long 'one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay moment. Long reportedly told his congregation about homosexuals, he said, God says you deserve death.'" The left-wing organization spliced together that comment and other clips of Long's Sermons on its website.
Brewer used Long's comments to go after Bishop Adams: "I mean, you can't support that, do you? The saying that homosexuals deserve death?" Adams replied: "No. I don't say that homosexuals or anybody, for that matter, deserves death." Brewer continued: "Do you think, in any way, Bishop, this will change the way black churches deal with the issue of homosexuality?" Adams explained: "I disagree with the viewpoint that the church is somehow been purposefully anti-gay. It's not about anti-gay. It's just simply anti-sin."
On Tuesday, Brewer warned of "consequences" for senators who opposed the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell." In addition to her frequent on-air advocacy for gay rights issues, Brewer was the featured speaker at a Kentucky LGBT fundraiser in July.
Here is a full transcript of Brewer's September 24 interview with Bishop Adams:
12:37PM ET
CONTESSA BREWER: Megachurch pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, has promised to use this Sunday's sermon to explain to his 25,000-member congregation what's going on with that lurid sex scandal that's rocked his church this week. Three young men have now accused Long of using jewelry, cars, and cash, and his position as their minister, to lure them into sexual relationships. In a written statement, though, Long denies everything, he says, 'the charges against me and New Birth,' the church, 'are false, but my faith is strong and the truth will emerge.' I'm joined by Bishop James Dean Adams of St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Miami. Whenever there's a scandal about the shepherd of a flock, it definitely rocks the trust that people have, but what can they do at this point without any kind of proof with his denial of the accusations?
JAMES DEAN ADAMS: Well, Contessa, I think that the best thing that all of us can do is allow the process to unfold and the truth to be revealed. It would be a tremendous tragedy if these things were true, but our Christian faith requires us that we are to hope for the best and to look for the best and so that's the posture that the Christian community is taking.
BREWER: What do you make of the fact that he has – Bishop Long has taken a very strong anti-homosexual stand? In fact, the Southern Poverty Law Center calls Bishop Eddie Long 'one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay moment. Long reportedly told his congregation about homosexuals, he said, God says you deserve death.' And now he's facing these accusations. Is there always a danger, if you're taking that sort of stand, that you're living in a glass house and people are going to be encouraged to throw stones?
ADAMS: Well, as the Bible tells us, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and Jesus died for everyone and so that's the message of the church, mercy.
BREWER: So you disagree – Do you disagree with his message then to homosexuals?
ADAMS: I hadn't heard – I hadn't heard what was said.
BREWER: But – but – but in this case, I mean, he is – he's taking such a strong stand. I mean, you can't support that, do you? The saying that homosexuals deserve death?
ADAMS: No. I don't say that homosexuals or anybody, for that matter, deserves death.
BREWER: Right. Just wanted to be clear about that.
ADAMS: That's the reason Jesus Christ came, not to destroy lives but to save them.
BREWER: Okay, so do you think, in any way, Bishop, this will change the way black churches deal with the issue of homosexuality?
ADAMS: I believe that there's a dialogue that's open as there has always been. I don't – I disagree with the viewpoint that the church is somehow been purposefully anti-gay. It's not about anti-gay. It's just simply anti-sin, that's – and that's encompassing everything that you can possibly think of.
BREWER: Bishop James Dean Adams, I appreciate your time today, appreciate your perspective.
ADAMS: Thank you very much.
