The Rev. Ted Haggard, left, has been accused of paying Mike Jones, right, for sex. Haggard was forced out of power at the New Life Church and has resigned his post as president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Posted on 03/05/2007 8:50:15 AM PST by Alex Murphy
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The megachurch founded by evangelist Ted Haggard, who was fired over drug and sex allegations, has laid off 44 people amid falling income.
The cuts announced during services Sunday amount to about 12 percent of the church's work force, associate pastor Rob Brendle said.
The 14,000-member church had experienced 22 years of attendance and financial growth, Brendle said. That ended after Haggard was fired in November after a Denver man alleged Haggard used methamphetamine in his presence and paid him for sex. Haggard has acknowledged "sexual immorality." He also stepped down as president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Brendle estimated that church income has fallen 10 percent since the scandal, forcing layoffs including pastoral staff, support staff and nursery workers.
"The reality is, we ask our people to be faithful stewards of their money and living within their means. We have to do the same," Brendle said.
Ross Parsley, the church's interim senior pastor, said some positions will be consolidated, and volunteers could replace some paid staff.
Financial documents provided to The Gazette showed overall church revenue rose from $14.4 million in 2003 to $24.4 million in 2005, while expenditures rose from $13.3 million in 2003 to $23.4 million in 2005.
Figures for 2006, including the time after Haggard's departure, were not yet available.
A "non profit" ends up with a million dollars in cash at the end of the year? What do they do with their surplus?
Good works, I'm certain of that!
I really have no desire to pick at the scab of all these arguments we've had over the last few days, but this Haggard thing seems to be prima facie evidence of how attacking the benighted moderates can elicit blowback by association with these kind of "spiritual leaders."
IMO following these idolatars waving the bloody flag of abortion, as Haggard certainly did, is neither a righteous path or an intelligent one.
I think Christians can discern between a Haggard (who I never heard of prior to his dishonor) and a James Dobson, at true leader. "Waving a bloody flag of abortion" is better than piling up 50 million dead babies in a dump somewhere. Where is your sense of decency?
Use it to finance the following year's payrolls, efforts, activities, bills, etc.
The Rev. Ted Haggard, left, has been accused of paying Mike Jones, right, for sex. Haggard was forced out of power at the New Life Church and has resigned his post as president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Apparently pay prostitutes and buy drugs.
Looks like they may have to find ways to increase revenues.
Prayers for those who lost their jobs and the families they supported.
Of course old Jimmy wouldn't have any issues with watching two chicks getting it on together.
With money donated from the "flock".
'Step right up for your fleecin' folks'
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March 1, 2007 — A former Hollywood madam's memoir drops a bomb on Tinseltown as the tell-all book of alleged "tricks" hits stores this week.
Actors Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis and baseball legend Tommy Lasorda are among about two dozen celebrities, CEOs, producers and politicians named as high-paying clients in Jody "Babydol" Gibson's book, "Secrets of a Hollywood Super Madam." (Corona Books)
...The escort service reportedly charged clients as much as $3,000 a day for companionship and sexual favors. Gibson, who went by the name "Sasha" when running the illegal enterprise, says at one point 300 women worked for her in 16 states and Europe.
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If they've got that much
left over, either they get
a church discount, or
they must be buying
very low-rent hookers and
back-alley street drugs . . .
A church founded on personality and not on the Gospel?
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