Megachurch pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant to take over Atlanta pulpit once held by Bishop Eddie Long
The announcement of the church's new leadership, the most notable since the death of Long, was met with mixed reactions
Jamal-Harrison Bryant, a pastor who was once criticized for saying ‘These hoes ain’t loyal’ during a church sermon, will now bring his brand of preaching to the Atlanta-area as new senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Ga., WSB-TV reports.
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Bryant takes the helm that was previously held by controversial pastor Eddie Long, who died in 2017 after a fight with cancer. Since Long’s death, the New Birth Church membership has reportedly declined steeply.
The announcement about Bryant was made at the DeKalb County, Ga., church and was received with mixed reactions, according to WSB.
Bryant, a Morehouse graduate, will leave behind his role as pastor of Baltimore’s Empowerment Temple. He is set to deliver his first official sermon as New Birth’s pastor on Dec. 9.
“You have to be as charismatic as Eddie Long was, whether or not you agreed with him,” said Anthea Butler, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
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“This may be a chance for New Birth to get back some of the glory days. Jamal Bryant will appeal to a younger generation and might be able to fill up the pews again. It seems to me that New Birth has been on the skids. It’s not just because they are getting over a pastor being dead for nearly two years, but they are still getting over 10 years of scandal, and that’s a whole different ballgame.”
As many as 138 candidates were considered for the high-profile position.
Bishop Stephen A. Davis, who also pastors a church in Birmingham, Ala., was in the pulpit of New Birth just after long’s death, but resigned in June.
Bishop Neil C. Ellis, of Bahamas-based Global United Fellowship and a close friend of Long offered this advice to those who may be hesitant about accepting Bryant.
“Here’s my appeal to you,” Ellis said. “I need all of New Birth to guard your spirit, settle your emotions, eliminate your criteria. A lot has gone into this. Is everybody going to be happy about the appointment? I doubt it. No matter who we put in from of you, some people are going to have a challenge and you may be deserving of those challenges, but you have to trust somebody.”
Other well-known pastors who were considered for the position included pastor John Gray of Relentless Church in Greenville, S.C.; and Bishop Marvin Sapp of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., and a gospel recording artist.
