Posted on 11/02/2006 4:52:59 PM PST by jamese777
The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual affair with a gay man.
Haggard also stepped down as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church pending an investigation by a church panel, saying he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations."
"I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity," Haggard said in a written statement. "I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."
Haggard, a married father of five, denied the allegations in an interview with KUSA-TV late Wednesday: "Never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife."
Mike Jones, 49, of Denver told the AP that Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years. His allegations were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.news.aol.com ...
If we're all supposed to celebrate diversity and all that, why does he feel compelled to resign?
Why did Mc Greevey resign, if he's proud to be a gay American?
Why did Mark Foley feel compelled to let the world know that he is gay after resigning because of his bad behavior?
If being gay and in an alternative lifestyle is cause for celebration, then why is it a factor in a case like this?
Because Ted Haggard is a "VERY" influential conservative Christian. Egad. Not good.
Does being accused make him guilty? I'm not so sure of that.
but did he lie about it under oath?
Are you serious or being sarcastic? This man is supposed to be a Christian and a pastor. This is not a lifestyle that is compatible with scriptures and Ted is a very influential Christian who no doubt preaches and teaches that homosexuality is sin.
timing of this questionable.
This is an excerpt from The Wall Street Journal. Complete article available at http://www.wsj.com.
By Elizabeth Bernstein
Wall Street Journal, Weekend Journal
13 August 2004
The Rev. Ted Haggard, President of the National Association of Evangelicals and senior pastor of New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colo. Mr. Haggard founded New Life with 20 members in 1985, after having a vision of the church while fasting for three days atop Pikes Peak. Today, the church has 11,000 members, and is building one of the largest church sanctuaries in the state. Mr. Haggard, president of the 30 million-member National Evangelical Association, speaks nationally against abortion and in favor of the war in Iraq, as well as other topics.
The weekly conference call with the White House lets Mr. Haggard, 48, give the administration "the pulse of the evangelical world," he says. One recent Monday, he says, the discussion centered on Sen. Kerry's post-convention polling (participants were delighted there was no large "bump"). "It's useful to communicate," he says.
Mr. Haggard is also trying to boost evangelical voter participation. On Sept. 19, he will co-host a two-hour broadcast encouraging viewers to make it to the polls and to call their congressional representatives in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would ban same-sex marriages. The show will be carried on three Christian television networks and as many as 1,500 Christian radio stations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Haggard makes no secret of his support of President Bush. Of the three framed pictures hanging outside his office, two are of himself and the president. (The other is of himself and Mel Gibson, who pre-screened "The Passion of Christ" at a conference organized by Mr. Haggard.)
Does being accused make him guilty? I'm not so sure of that.
No, evidence would clear him or confirm his guilt.
All we know thus far is someone is lying and that the Homosexual Addict Democrats have been looking for scalps amongst the Republican flock.
>And it's National Evangelical Association. But you knew that.
If one doesn't want to include evangelical Catholics or pentecostal/charismatics in the tent of "evangelicals," one begins to wonder what's left. Oh, I know, "the faithful remnant."
Finally, I have no idea how the "fight" between conservatism and liberalism in New Life Church and/or the NAE would have any result in an accusation of a homosexual affair. Perhaps you have inside information.
Who cares if the timing is questionable. If the guy is gay and a pastor and "fighting against gay marriage" he is sending the world he message that "Christians are hypocrits". Timing is never good for people being two-faced and having secret lives.
I can't help but wondering if there's some sort of penis brigade that Rush Limbaugh talked about to sully Republicans before the election. Also, what congressional office is this fellow running for? /sarc
Prayers for his congregation as they sort this out.
The church will always be under attack by the enemy and this is one area the church is vulnerable.
Sounds like you are convinced it is a true story, I'm not. Agree with you if it turns out to be factual, but this close to the election, I smell a RAT.
Yes, there is a vast homosexual addict conspiracy and yes they want to affect the elections. Did you really think we were not at war with them ?
I don't believe the prostitute; I think Haggard is being lied about.
Somewhere, I detect the filthy fingers of Mike Rogers...
I think that none of us knows, one way or the other. It's probably the best thing to just say he has been accused and wait before declaring anything.
There have been some cases like this one, where the person ended up having done what he was accused of. It's just possible that it's all true, and I'm going to wait and see on this one.
It's obviously politically timed, either way, of course, but it's best to just see what happens.
I wonder if he shared this guy with Paul Crouch.
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