New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Eddie Long said on Sunday that he's taking a leave from the church to focus on his family after his wife filed for divorce on Friday, according to reports.
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Eddie Long (L) said on Sunday that he's taking a leave from the church to focus on his family after his wife filed for divorce on Friday, according to reports. Reuters

She's out. She's in. And now, she's out again. Bishop Eddie Long's wife has been back and forth with whether or not she's seeking divorce from the controversial minister. In a couple of days, the saga involving Vanessa Long and her divorce, or not, from Eddie Long has been twisted.

Now, however, it appears that after a back-and-forth swing, Vanessa Long does want a divorce from Eddie Long.

In a statement late Friday, Vanessa Long's attorney said she has determined that dismissal of her divorce petition is not appropriate at this time, according to The Associated Press. In other words, she is proceeding with the divorce. Yet, earlier Friday, Vanessa Long had issued a statement saying through Eddie Long's church, saying she loves her husband and was withdrawing her divorce petition, which sought to end their marriage of more than 20 years.

On Thursday, Vanessa Long had filed for divorce from her husband, Eddie Long -- the anti-gay preacher of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., who was once accused of coercing four men into having sexual activity with him. When he began as pastor of the church in 1987, it had about 300 members. Now, it reportedly has more than 20,000 members.

In Vanessa Long's initial statement on Friday about her divorce filing, she said, After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The couple has been married since 1990. They have three children. Eddie Long was previously married to Dabara Houson, who filed for divorce in 1985 and, according to ABC News, accused him of beating her while she was pregnant.

After releasing the statement saying she was divorcing Eddie Long, Vanessa Long issued another statement on Friday -- this time saying she planned to stay married. According to CBS Atlanta, they planned to find healing and move on. I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength, and courage. My filing followed years of attacks in the media that frustrated and overwhelmed me, she said.

Vanessa Long's initial statement about the matter on Friday reads:

After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long. Accordingly, I authorized my attorneys to file for divorce on December 1, 2011.

It is my sincere hope that this matter can be resolved expeditiously, harmoniously, and fairly. I ask that you respect my privacy and that of my family, as my attorneys and I have agreed that we will not try this case in the media, and I do not intend to make any further statements concerning this matter.

I also ask that the public pray for my entire family during this difficult period of transition.

Thank you, and may God continue to bless and keep each of you.

Religion