I've mostly withheld comment, in keeping with my practice of not saying much publicly about my 8 years of working for Haggard. But this month, after a couple meetings with Haggard and some of his old associates, I have been working on a small reflective essay, and I have been preparing for a scheduled interview with Haggard this coming Tuesday.
Well, I suppose my careful preparations are for naught. The AP is reporting new allegations against Haggard. A young man who has been silent about an alleged relationship with Haggard has decided to speak out. Last night, New Life Church's pastor, Brady Boyd, issued a statement preparing church members, and the public, for the breaking news, and saying that while church leaders knew about this man and supported him financially, they did not give him hush money.
Here's the story. I'll post the New Life statement below the fold.
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Dear New Life Family,In the days ahead, there will be new press reports of allegations made by a man who knew Ted Haggard through his involvement with New Life Church. This man has decided to speak to the media about his alleged relationship with Mr. Haggard. Since these allegations were first brought to our attention, New Life Church leadership has reached out to him with compassion by providing him with pastoral care, professional counseling, and financial assistance. We did this with the hope that he would experience healing and move forward with purpose in his life.
At that time, he and church leaders agreed that publishing his allegations or our church's assistance to him would not be in his best interest. This decision was made not as an attempt to conceal wrongdoings, but to protect him from those who would seek to exploit him. His actions now suggest that he has changed his mind.
A few weeks ago, when the news of the upcoming documentary about Mr. Haggard surfaced, this man informed me that he was considering telling the media the details of his relationship with Mr. Haggard. He was obviously upset about the reported content of the documentary and wished to tell his story.
After Mr. Haggard's fall, we received reports of a number of incidents of inappropriate behavior. In each case, we have tried our very best to do the right thing, including disciplinary action when appropriate. Our concern has been and continues to be for every person affected. We renew our invitation today for anyone who believes he or she has been hurt to please come forward.
Our current elder team and all of our overseers have been aware of these allegations and have given us wise, prayerful counsel every step of the way. I regret that we have to revisit the unpleasant issues of the past, but I am convinced we are on the path of healing and great days are ahead for all of us. Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support.
Love,
Pastor Brady
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All I can say is that it is too bad that a church that claims to be "Christian" can't accept ALL of their God's creations...I assume they believe that "God" made everything..earth, animals, people.... It that is the case, then why isn't a person who was created to be homosexual accepted? Doesn't that go against their beliefs? If indeed there is a "maker" of all... he/she might make some mistakes, something that a "maker" wouldn't do, right? Thus a homosexual is just like a heterosexual.....created by a Supreme Being who doesn't make mistakes. So if Ted is indeed a homosexual, what's all the fuss about? Of course it seems Ted doesn't seem to know just what he is. As long as no inappripriate sexual advances or behavior has occured, (which happens with heterosexual folks also)why can't Ted just be left alone to figure out his life?
Not hush money? Yeah right. Like congregations just ply their congregants with cash whenever they're having a hard time. What a bunch of bs.
Let's throw away the made to be homo/heterosexual argument for a moment because I think it misses the point of your argument.
You say, "As long as no inappropriate sexual advances or behavior has occured, (which happens with heterosexual folks also)why can't Ted just be left alone to figure out his life?"
This is the whole point. Inappropriate behavior DID occur. Ted had an inappropriate relationship with Mike Jones, and now these new allegations, if true(and they likely are), show another inappropriate pattern of behavior.
Forget, like you say, the homo/hetero aspect of it. Ted is a married man, and was in a position of trust and leadership. This kind of behavior is unacceptable because he abused trust regardless of the sexual orientation of the acts.
And as to "why can't Ted just be left alone to figure out his life?"
We here who know him and the details wholeheartedly agree.
If you'll remember the order of events here, Ted went to HBO to tell his story, and as a result there is media coverage, the rest of us just wish it would go away, and wish that he would keep his mouth shut long enough to figure out the issues with which he has been wrestling, purportedly for years.
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