New Birth Church in News Again But Not for Bishop Long

As reported by CNN in Atlanta, Georgia, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is at the center of yet another lawsuit, albeit this time their pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, is not a defendant.

Former church employee, Tama Colson, has claimed that employees of the church retaliated against her for complaining of sexual harassment.  She has filed the suit, for unspecified damages, in the U.S. District Court of North Georgia.

Colson claims that one male employee showed her a picture of a penis on his cellular phone and that when she complained about it he, and other employees, harassed her.

The suit is filed against New Birth Missionary Baptist Church for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of fiduciary duty and infliction of emotional distress. 

Bishop Eddie Long, and church spokesman Art Franklin, said in a joint statement, "New Birth has a strict policy against sexual harassment that requires employees to report the complaint within 48 hours of the abuse.  Tama Colson's complaint allegedly happened in October of 2009.  Although, Tama Colson was aware of the New Birth sexual harassment policy she did not make her complaint known to New Birth authorities until August of this year. New Birth moved swiftly to launch an investigation that is ongoing."

CNN has not been able to obtain a statement from Colson's attorneys.

The church is also named as a defendant in some of the lawsuits currently filed against Bishop Long alleging that Long used his power in the church to lure young male members into unwanted sexual trysts.

Colson, a member of the church and hired in August 1998 as its audio engineer, was asked by a supervisor of another department to check out a photo on his phone.  Colson agreed as she had only seen innocuous pictures on the same man's phone before.

On the same day Colson reported the incident to a security officer at New Birth.  She would have reported it directly to her own supervisor but she was concerned because both he, and the man that showed her the photo, "were part of Bishop Eddie Long's inner circle and were never disciplined for any wrongdoing."

After that Colson discovered that she would be thrust into more contact with the man as both of their departments were to be merged.  At this point, Colson contended, she complained to several church leaders.

Colson was then demoted. She felt humiliated by the change in her status at work and, at the same time, the man who had shown her the photo was tormenting and humiliating her.

Church elders, and church officials, accused her of poor work performance a year later.  They also claimed hat she lied about ever having a conversation with the security official.

The suit concluded by stating that Colson obtained a doctor's excuse from work because of a lupus condition - and because church officials would not allow her to transfer to another department where she would be more comfortable.

With that a church official, and an attorney, refused to accept the doctor's word and fired her instead.

If you feel that you were taken advantage of by a church, or its employees, click here to find a personal injury attorney to advise you of your rights.