The leader of one of the nation's best-known megachurches was accused in a civil lawsuit in Georgia of encouraging church members to invest in a scheme that promised 20% annual returns on safe investments but diverted their money to a failing company.

Bishop Eddie Long, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the Atlanta suburb of Lithonia, and his church marketed, sponsored and hosted "Wealth Tour Live" seminars in October 2009 through which an entrepreneur and another firm recruited investors for a "Ponzi...