New Life Church Cuts Last Ties with Haggard

In a step long overdue, New Life Church has cut its last ties with “I’m cure of homosexuality in a three weeks” Ted Haggard. Try as I might, I find it hard to have much sympathy for Haggard give his duplicitous double life leading New Life Church and preaching an anti-gay message while meanwhile paying for gay sex on a regular basis. If he had any remaining integrity, he’d be honest with himself and his family. Being gay doesn’t mean he cannot be there for his children and still be a concerned and involved parent. In contrast, I do feel sympathy for his wife and children, although I question how she can buy into the bogus “I’m cured” routine. Either she wants to believe it out of denial or she hopes Ted will find a new way to make money while peddling Jesus. Here are some highlights from the Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8179778):

The relationship between Ted Haggard the Colorado Springs mega-church he founded is over, according to a statement from New Life Church this evening. Haggard was fired from the church in November 2006 after he admitted to "sexual immorality," presumably the allegations made by a gay Denver escort who said Haggard paid him for sex over a period of three-years. The statement notes that Haggard agreed to "a process of spiritual restoration" in January 2007, but now has asked to end his relationship with the church. Haggard could not be reached for comment.

New Life has been at odds with its former pastor since he left. In its statement Tuesday night, church officials said, "New Life recognizes the process of restoring Ted Haggard is incomplete and maintains its original stance that he should not return to vocational ministry. However, we wish him and his family only success in the future."

In August, Haggard told a Colorado Springs television station that he would be joining the counseling staff of The Dream Center, a drug-addiction halfway house affiliated with Phoenix First Assembly. The job, however, never materialized, officials with the Phoenix church said after Haggard's proclamation.