Bishop Eddie Long is taking a brief leave from the church he transformed into one of the nation’s biggest and most influential, telling congregants at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Sunday he was going to use the time to heal his family.

As Eddie Long announced he was taking a leave from his pastor duties at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, protesters outside called for him to leave his post. “I’m still your pastor. You’ll still receive my direction,” Long said Sunday. “You’ve given me some weeks to take care of some family business.”

Long’s wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce late Thursday afternoon. She said Friday morning, via a statement prepared by the church’s spokesman that she had changed her mind but by day’s end announced the divorce was on.

In remarks released Friday evening, Long said his love for his wife of 21 years is “deep and unwavering. It remains our sincere desire to continue working together in seeking God’s will in these circumstances.”

Long, during Sunday’s service, reaffirmed he had no plans to resign, adding he had not “stepped down” but instead “stepped up.”