::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

By Mona Austin In what appears to be an unprecedented gesture, Bishop Paul S. Morton, founder of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship (FGBCF) that ordained Eddie Long as Bishop, has openly rebuked him for remaining completely mum after settling a sexual coercion scandal involving four young men from his church, New Birth Cathedral (New Birth) in Georgia. To date Long, who is under a gag order, has not so much as offered parishioners, the community or the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship an acknowlegement, apology or admission of innocence or guilt about the allegedly licentious relationships. An audio recording of Morton addressing the matter in a Father's Day message appeared on You Tube. (View video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjkcauYEGg&feature=player_embedded) Indicating Long stopped returning his phone calls, Morton said in the recording, ". . . Tell me something. Those that have stood with you. Tell us something. Tell your church somethi...

Caesar, Franklin and Morton honored at EMF By Mona Austin Church fans, devotion, an overflow room, spirit-lifting preaching and an all star gospel music line up: It’s Sunday Morning worship a la Essence Magazine's 16 th Annual Essence Music Festival All Star Gospel Salute (EMF) .   Gospel music sometimes gets pushed to the sidelines of major events, but here it had headline status, adding sparks to the fest's Independence Day activities. After two days of empowerment and partying, thousands packed an exhibit hall in the New Orleans Convention Center to praise. The program had the feel of mega church with world class gospotainers in tow to pay tribute to the legendary  Shirley Caesar , gospel music innovator Kirk Franklin and founder of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship , Bishop Paul S. Morton and his wife Deborah. Kirk Franklin’s words were filled with emotion as he accepted the honor with his wife, children and in-laws on the stage. ...