Ted Haggard Falls from Grace and Gay Bashing
BBSNews Commentary 2006-11-03 -- The news trickled out slowly, the head of the thirty million member National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), Ted Haggard has admitted to some "indiscretions" according to Ross Parsley, the "worship pastor" of "New Life" church. Immediately resigning as head of the NAE when the allegations first surfaced, Haggard also put himself on administrative leave from the mega-church he founded, "New Life Church." The scandal started when Mike Jones, a former callboy in Colorado, posted an internet ad advertising himself available for gay sex, and Haggard apparently availed hinself.
"New Life" is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, claims 14,000 members and they are all fervently anti-gay and anti-gay marriage. Well, now we know maybe not all. At least one member, and a prominent one indeed, seems to not mind some reportedly gay "indiscretions" -- the renowned and plugged into the White House "pastor Ted" Haggard.
In a release from the church yesterday:
"Rev. Ted Haggard, Senior Pastor of New Life Church, stated today that he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning." He, therefore, placed himself on administrative leave, pending investigation, spiritual counsel, and a decision by the church's board of overseers. Pastor Haggard said, "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. 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."
But Thursday evening KKTV in Colorado Springs broke the news that Haggard's denials were falling apart:
"After Pastor Ted Haggard went public Wednesday night denying allegations of a homosexual affair, senior church officials told KKTV 11News Thursday evening, Pastor Ted Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by a former male escort. The church's Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells KKTV 11 News that Pastor Haggard has admitted to some of the indiscretions claimed by Mike Jones, but not all of them."
Will James Dobson's World View Now Change?
It's doubtful that James Dobson will change his mind about gays, he will no doubt continue to work to deny them equal rights. But his scenic view from his campus "just down the road" from Haggard's New Life compound just got a little gayer. And no doubt when he is driven past the New Life building his mind will wonder how could it have happened? After all being gay is a "life-style" choice to close-minded men like Dobson. Being gay can be overcome by just the right amount of Jesus. Dobson will probably not realize that Haggard's story perfectly illustrates that being gay is not a choice. It is simply part of the individual from birth and it will eventually come out of the closet that Dobson and those of his ilk have created for gays.
Will The Haggard Scandal Affect Anti-Gay Marriage Referenda Around the US?
It's too soon to tell what effect this huge fall from grace Ted Haggard is currently experiencing will have on anti-gay initiatives around the country, including Colorado. But if evangelicals, a reliable part of the evangelical Christian base that the White House relys on and gives lapel pins to were already put off from voting by Iraq; and uncontrolled spending that our children's children's children will still be paying for provided we survive the greater threat from terrorism that the Bush administration has created by ignoring Israel, and invading Iraq while leaving Bin Laden for dead; and the Mark Foley page scandal; and officially sanctioned water torture; and a real lack of the promised "compassionate conservatism" that was supposed to be the hallmark of this presidency ... Will evangelicals have the stomach to vote in favor of discriminating against gays in their respective States or will they finally see that even the greatest among them can wind up being a great big flamer?