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Christianity Today, November, 2007 |

Haggard Reprimanded

Former president of the NAE told to stop seeking financial support.

Sarah Pulliam | posted 10/23/2007 08:55AM

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A request from Ted Haggard for money to keep his family afloat was "inappropriate" and "unacceptable," according to the pastors overseeing his restoration.

In late August, the former president of the National Association of Evangelicals e-mailed friends asking for financial support while he pursues a master's degree. Haggard said his family was planning to minister and live at the Phoenix Dream Center, a half-way house for the homeless, those coming out of prison, recovering alcoholics, drug addicts, and prostitutes.

But the overseers' statement said "it was never the intention of the Dream Center that Mr. Haggard would provide any counsel or other ministry. He will be seeking secular employment to support himself and his family."

Haggard resigned from the NAE and was removed as senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs last November, after his relationship with a former male prostitute was revealed.

Haggard's four-pastor team of overseers seeks to contact him weekly, said Mike Ware, a member of the team and pastor of Victory Church in Westminster, Colorado. Ware confirmed that Haggard is attending the University of Phoenix, but said Haggard had not discussed with the overseers his plan to seek financial support.

Haggard declined comment to CT.

"If you look back on previous scandals, guys who get caught in these things, they tend to want to get back into the ministry very quickly," said Jim Newheiser, president of the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship. "[Haggard] will need to learn to be a member of a church under the leadership of others."

Ware said the overseers' goal is to restore Haggard to public life as a Christian. Ware declined to discuss Haggard's possible restoration to public ministry.

Related Elsewhere:

David Neff blogged on the meaning of Haggard's fundraising letter as the story unfolded.

Our previous coverage of the 2006 Ted Haggard scandal is available in our special section.

Haggard's positions as pastor of New Life Church and president of the NAE have been filled by Brady Boyd and Leith Anderson, respectively.

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November 2007, Vol. 51, No. 11

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Patrick Gann

Posted: October 23, 2007 5:38 PM


This situation will forever be messy, eh?

marianne Miller

Posted: October 24, 2007 6:45 PM

Obviously, Ted Haggard feels a sense of entitlement to other people's money, a far-too-common trait among current Evangelical leaders. The best way for him to get healed is to put duct tape over his mouth and serve others quietly and anonymously in some obscure corner of the universe. Also, like I once told my 17-year-old son: "GET A JOB!" What is he thinking when he asks others to support his family? Hasn't he ignored their needs enough as it is??

Ovala Toiaivao

Posted: October 23, 2007 6:42 PM

I find it very sad that Mr. Haggard is relegated to the role of practically a beggar for the financial survival of his family after being kicked out from his lofty role as head of his megachurch and president of the NAE where I'm sure he enjoyed the luxury of a pampered lifestyle with a lucrative salary. What's even sadder is the reality that all these so called Christian churches seem to be nothing more than money making enterprises for their founders and leaders who use the pulpit in the name of Christ to fleece their flocks and "make merchandise" of their members. How ironic that they are the very ones who keep bashing and condemns the Mormons to hell for supposedly being an evil and Satanic cult, yet you won't find a single one of that faith who will pastor or preach for a salary but rather for the love of the gospel and the Lord. Wonder how many evangelical pastors will stay on and continue to tend for their flocks if they are ever told they will no longer be paid. Anyone???