Subscribe
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE

Bernice King Leaves New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

As previously reported, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Rev. Bernice King, recently stepped down as elder of Bishop Eddie Long’s New Birth Baptist Church.

Many people speculated that Rev. King’s reason for leaving New Birth was based on the sexual scandal and recent settlement surrounding Eddie Long.

To clear up the matter, Bernice King spoke with Atlanta-based radio station Praise 102.5 and stated the reason she is no longer an elder at New Birth is to start her own ministry.

“I was a little confused about that, because I’ve never been on staff,” Rev. King explained of her exit. “I’ve never been an employee of New Birth. I didn’t step down because I didn’t step up. I was already an ordained minister when I got to New Birth. I’m just no longer a member of New Birth.”

“My original plan was to attend New Birth for a season, I didn’t expect the season to be quite as long as it was.”

Bernice King stated that she had planned to leave Long’s ministry for her own for quite some time, and finally decided to leave this year.

Rev. King also spoke on the questionable timing of her exit, due to Long’s legals battles, saying, “I can’t clear up the mind of God. I have always followed what I believe to be the voice of God, in my life, and I’ve sought to be obedient to that voice. Just as when I left my previous church, it was a very difficult decision – but I had to be obedient to leave and go to New Birth. In this instance it’s the same thing.

“I know that I have a pastoral calling on my life. I had to accept it, and I am in the process of pursuing that.”

Listen to Bernice King’s interview with Praise 102.5 below: