imploding influence

the very first lesson we were taught on our first retreat as school of worship students was, "there are not secrets."  everything done in the dark will be brought to the light.  the overseers for the church released this statement:

November 4, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Life Church
Colorado Springs, Colorado

We, the Overseer Board of New Life Church, have concluded our deliberations concerning the moral failings of Pastor Ted Haggard. Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct.

The language of our church bylaws state that as Overseers we must decide in cases where the Senior Pastor has "demonstrated immoral conduct" whether we must "remove the pastor from his position or to discipline him in any way theydeem necessary."

In consultation with leading evangelicals and experts familiar with the type of behavior Pastor Haggard has demonstrated, we have decided that the most positive and productive direction for our church is his dismissal and removal. In addition, the Overseers will continue to explore the depth of Pastor Haggard's offense so that a plan of healing and restoration can begin.

Pastor Haggard and his wife have been informed of this decision. They have agreed as well that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected according to the rules of replacement in the bylaws.

That process will begin immediately in hopes that a new pastor can be confirmed by the end of the year 2006. In the interim, Ross Parsley will function as the leader of the church with full support of the Overseers.

A letter of explanation and apology by Pastor Haggard as well as a word of encouragement from Gayle Haggard will be read in the 9:00 and 11:00 service of New Life Church.

this is an extrememely sad day.  the secrets committed in the dark have been brought to the light and a huge part of me wishes they hadn't. 

listen to me.  if you have never listened to me before, listen now.  you need someone in your life that you can tell absolutely everything to.  you need to get this.  don't skim over it.  get someone now.  and be completely honest.  don't leave anything out. 

shortly after we moved here, pastor ted was preaching from 1 samuel, from the story about saul losing the kingdom and about how david was going to be chosen.  ted talked about how if saul had done what is right, his destiny would have been fulfilled, but since he disobeyed God, his ministry and future would be given to someone else.

ted referred to jimmy swaggart.  he talked about how he was still annointed, he still spoke the truth in a powerful way, its just that noone listens to him.  his ministry and future has been given to others to accomplish.  he quoted jimmy as having said, "who could jimmy swaggart tell?"  and ted said he should have told anyone, the mailman, anyone.  and now...we see that ted should have told someone.

there will be others that will stand up and recieve ted's ministry, his influence, his future, and God will still succeed in his plans, but for right now, it looks as though ted haggard, sadly, will not be a part of it.

Comments

[IsaacT]

Hey Gregg, I am in a state of mourning over this whole deal. What a sad day, such an influential man with such a huge pedestal. It's too bad that his fall now affects the rest of us in such a bleak way. My heart and thought and prayers for you and your fellow classmates in this difficult time. What a time and privilege for you to be there through all this. As in the book of Esther, who knows if for such a time as this that you have been put in a place of influence.

[EV]

My heart grieves tremendously.

The moral failings of one man have never cut to me like those of Pastor Ted Haggard. Not because I had him on a pedestal or because I thought him a hero. I grieve over the terrible wake that is left. This is a tremedous blow to the cause of morality in the US.

May his wife and children find comfort under the shadow of God’s wing.