Posted on 11/02/2006 2:45:28 PM PST by dogbyte12
The leader of one of Colorado's most popular mega-churches, Ted Haggard, is temporarily stepping down from his leadership role, after allegations from a male prostitute that Haggard solicited gay sex.
Haggard, the founder and senior leader of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs and president of the multimillion- member National Association of Evangelicals, denied the accusations raised by the prostitute on Wednesday.
Today, a press conference by church leaders to support Haggard was cancelled shortly before it was scheduled to take place.
In stepping down, it was emphasized that Haggard did not admit any wrongdoing, but that he felt his effectiveness would be hampered by the cloud of inquiry.
Male escort Mike Jones of Denver told 9News he'd had a three-year sexual business relationship with Haggard.
Jones went public about their alleged relationship Wednesday morning on talk radio.
"People may look at me and think what I've done is immoral, but I think I had to do the moral thing in my mind and that is expose someone who is preaching one thing and doing the opposite behind everybody's back," Jones told 9News.
The station spoke to Haggard outside his home in Colorado Springs, and he fervently denied the allegations. Haggard is married and has five children.
"I've never had a gay relationship with anybody. ... I am steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife. I don't know if this is election-year politics or if this has to do with the marriage amendment or what it is," Haggard said.
The Denver Post could not reach Haggard for comment.
Haggard has been one of the major proponents for a state constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Excuse me, the main stream media is reporting how an Evangelical LEADER is doing meth and having gay sex.
OK, got that?
A leader lied to you all, did exactly what he preached against and broke several laws.
Would you rather that the media didn't report on that? Do you want them to censor only the things you agree with?
No, the pastor isn't running for office, neither were Swaggart, Crouch, Hinn, Popoff, or Tilton.
They just lied their asses off to you all and collected the dough from the ignorant flock. Get over it, you all were had, once again.
Sunny, i happen to agree with your attitude on this matter.
It is a popular saying in Evangelical culture that The Christian Army is the only one that 'shoots' it's wounded., and that is true. My concern is that i have found that both experiencially and biblically (not in that order of priority), the Christian army does not shoot straight enough. We need to do that. If necessary, we need to 'drive a wooden stake though their hearts' if that's what it takes to keep these who Paul would have called "Disqualified" ...ajdovkimo" in the Greek, from returning to a position of leadership.
Common sense would have stopped him. So it's a gay hit piece, and you want him to step in front of an hostile media? The guy does know better than that.
I just think the MSM is using the guy as a bloody shirt while they ignore the misdeeds of Jesse Jackson and other "Reverends" like him.
It's a double standard and definitely political. And don't you believe in innocent until proven guilty? Apparently not, but I do. Let a trial and a jury sort things out.
Spoken like a true worker bee.
He admitted to using meth.
I would call that guilt.
I have given money to this church, it is my church. I am not sure what your spiritual beliefs and values are, but mine do include tithing. I was ignorant in the true sense of the word which means I did not know. But I do now and will make sure that any future tithe is accounted for. I understand your cynicism, the church thru time has not lived perfectly what it preaches, but that does not mean you throw away the standard just because we do not always live up to it. It does not change my beliefs in Christ because one man sinned, my Bible is full of examples of that.
Please understand I am not trying to preach to you. I know you are right in your observation in what just transpired.
Better yet, keep the money you were going to give, go out and have a nice dinner and take care of yourself.
Giving to this clown only means that it will be wasted.
If any of you are interested in finding out what the new head of the Christian Coalition, Joel Hunter, might have to say about the Haggard resignation, you may want to watch the live webstream of his sermon at 5PM today (Saturday). I would imagine he will have a comment.
Go here http://www.northlandcc.org/ and click on webstream worship in the featured links on the right side of the page. Then right click on the word "here" and click "open" at this hot link: View the Webstream here.
If you miss the live video today, you can catch it at one of the other times listed below:
As always, we invite you to join with us live at any of our seven, identical weekend services, as follows (all times are Eastern Standard):
Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m.
Sunday morning at 8:15, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.
Sunday afternoon at 5 and 6:30 p.m.
Monday evening at 7 p.m.
bttt
I think I was his strongest supporter on this site. I am wrong. I am a New Life member. I will keep going there. I am sorry that many members here are upset and pissed off. I think you have that right. And to my conservative friends who do not believe as I do, keep asking the questions, I do believe that is one our Freepers tags...
Good bless our country, God bless my friends on this site.
I am sorry.
Scott
Scott, you did Exactly the right thing. You maintained the value of innocent until proven guilty. You have nothing to be ashamed of or sorry for, and certainly nothing to repent from. You didn't do anything, Pastor Haggard did.
Being a member of a conservative Presbyterian Denomination, and staying away from contemporary Evangelicalism, i had no knowledge of Pastor Haggard, although my denomination is a member of the NAE.
What you have done is maintained an attitude and values that are not only American, but from my reading of the bible, Biblical. That's something that is getting rare these days, even among so-called conservatives, and sadly, even on this board.
A society where we presume people innocent until they are proven guilty does make me feel better, thank you very much. And surely, the Founders weren't spinning anything when they adopted that concept. I sure wouldn't want to be tried by a jury using your standard of guilt.
Instinct is great and often the gut knows best, but I wonder what you'd be saying if it had turned out that (gasp!) a meth-dealing prostitute was not telling the press the truth.
The fact that he stepped down THAT FAST without much of a protest in wake of some horrible allegations for someone of his stature .....
Many wanted to think the drug-dealing gay prostitute was lying - but from the get-go this whole thing made no sense to me and his weak denials/actions were appalling.
I'm glad he didn't continue to lie and fessed up and so we won't have to be dragged down that path of more lies from Haggard.
Ping me when she divorces him, I predict it should happen soon, that poor woman/family.
Scott,
You were great for standing up for your brother in Christ! Pray that he comes back to grace despite his falling. Do not abandon him and his family in their hour of need. I hate fags, just like all true Christians from FreeRepublic, but Jesus can redeem anyone! Ted has hope! Do not abandon Ted, his wife, and his family. Pray for them and let them know they are loved. God has shown us time and time again that He can redeem ANYONE... some of his favorite people in the Bible commited HORRIBLE crimes, such as indirect murder (David). Be there for Ted and his family. He's messed up, but he needs our prayers and help. Most people will abandon him and his family. YOU can make a difference, and I believe that is the Christian thing to do.
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.