Posted on 11/05/2006 7:45:14 PM PST by Alex Murphy
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Saying that he was a "deceiver and liar" who had given in to his dark side, the Rev. Ted Haggard confessed to sexual immorality Sunday in a letter read from the pulpit of the megachurch he founded.
The disgraced former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, which represents 30 million evangelical Christians, apologized and said "because of pride, I began deceiving those I love the most because I didn't want to hurt or disappoint them."
"The fact is I am guilty of sexual immorality. And I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar. There's a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all of my adult life," he said.
Haggard, 50, resigned last week as NAE president, where he held sway in Washington and condemned homosexuality, after a man claimed to have had drug-fueled homosexual trysts with him. Haggard also placed himself on administrative leave from the 14,000-member New Life Church, which he founded in the 1980s. Its independent Overseer Board fired him Saturday.
The letter was read to the New Life Church by another clergyman, the Rev. Larry Stockstill, senior pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker, La., and a member of the board that fired him. Neither Haggard nor his wife, Gayle, attended.
In his letter, Haggard said "the accusations that have been leveled against me are not all true, but enough of them are true that I have been appropriately and lovingly removed from the ministry."
He did not give details on which accusations were true. Haggard had acknowledged on Friday that he paid Mike Jones of Denver for a massage and for methamphetamine, but said he did not have sex with him and did not take the drug.
The Overseer Board, made up clergy from various churches, used stronger language.
"Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct," the board said in a statement.
As the letter from Haggard was read, some people in the standing-room only crowd in the 8,000-seat auditorium wiped away tears.
In a separate letter, Haggard's wife prompted laughter when she promised to remain with her husband and said church members no longer had to worry about her marriage being so perfect she couldn't relate to them.
Youngsters were sent from the room before elders began discussing the church crisis.
"Worshippers are always challenged by crisis. And when tragedy and crisis strikes it is at that moment that you truly decide if you are a worshipper of the most high God. And today as the worship pastor of this church I am very proud of you," said the Rev. Ross Parsley, who has replaced Haggard.
Ryan Price and his fiancee, Karen Geyer, were impressed. "It seemed genuine - from the heart. It's unfortunate but it happens," said Geyer.
"He's reaching out and asking for forgiveness," said Price.
Jones, who said he is gay, said he was upset when he discovered who Haggard was and that New Life opposed same-sex marriage - a key issue in Colorado, with a pair of issues on Tuesday's ballot.
"I am sad for him and his family. I know this is a tough day for him also," he said in a telephone interview Sunday. "I wish him well. I wish his family well. My intent was never to destroy his family. My intent was to expose a hypocrite."
The scandal has disappointed Christian conservatives, whom President Bush and other Republicans are courting heavily in the run-up to Tuesday's election.
Many were already disheartened with the president and the Republican-controlled Congress over their failure to deliver big gains on social issues even before the congressional page scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley.
Haggard, who had been NEA president since 2003, has participated in conference calls with White House staffers and lobbied Congress last year on Supreme Court nominees.
---
Associated Press reporter Robert Weller in Denver contributed to this report.
He and Foley should get a room!
At least he has admitted to his sin, and has asked forgiveness. I am not sure we should all be included, as we are not who he has deceived, but I pray that his family is given comfort in this. They are the victims here. I had never heard of this man before this, and I will not cast a stone.
The letters from him and his wife are available for reference in this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1732899/posts
wow..at the risk of being called stupid.."WHO THE HELL IS TED HAGGARD?"..I thought I was pretty much up to date on politics..then I watched msm tell me that this loser was a major force in the Bush White House..news to me..
...maybe the can rent a room from Jimmy Swaggert
Ted Haggard is the Senior Pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado....and more importantly, the President of the National Association of Evangelicals......bad news.....
My prayers for him, his family, and his congregation.
You would think if that were true we would know who this guy is. I hadn't heard of him either. Seems a political ploy to connect him to Bush. My guess is the guy who ratted him out had a nudge to do so. Not that I am defending Haggard, I am not.
How many times must this be posted?
It's the first time I've posted it, and the first time it's appeared in the Religion Forum.
You might be confusing this with a similarly-worded title that I posted last week, pre-Haggard's-firing: Evangelical pastor confesses to 'some' accusations [Ted Haggard / NAE]
Protestant as well as Jewish, Muslim, Catholic and other religions and denominations are routinely invited to the White House under all administrations for conferences, consultations, prayer breakfasts and the like. This does NOT mean the leader or pastor of any church or federation of religious bodies is a "major force" over any other leaders.
Ostensibly, Billy Graham was a consistent presence at the private side of many presidents from both parties. Whether or not he was a "MAJOR force" in the politics of the White House during the past decades is open to anyone's interpretation.
Leni
He couldn't have been using meth for too long of a time though. Otherwise he wouldn't have that plasticoid, too perfect look about him that all televangelists seem to have.
I would think that those in higher positions and those which do much to expand His kingdom, must face greater temptations than I could imagine. For Satan can easily afford to ignore those who count for little or nothing.
I pray for Ted Haggard, his family and congregation. That their faith will be strengthened by this, that their love will be deepened by this and that they find the hidden opportunity in this, which will bring God glory and expanded His kingdom.
The changing story ...
" ...has participated in conference calls with White House staffers ..."
Earlier, it was "he talks to President Bush once a week," accompanied by video of Haggard with Pres. Bush in front of an airplane, implying they were traveling together.
I agree with your view lady. This must be terribly hard on his wife and children but God will uses it to His glory. We are all sinners and capable of the worst sins unless we cling to His hand daily.
I remember Tammy and Jim Bakker. Tammy fell away because of the scandel while Jim repented and started a successful prison ministry that saw many people added to the kingdom. The tares fall away. Christians are drawn closer.
Lead us not into temptation.
Christians are not suprised. The secular left seems to think we should be. I don't know what the left hoped to gain out of hyping this--are conservatives supposed to say, "I'm so ashamed. I guess I'll just have to vote for Democrats."--?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.