Haggard steps down amid gay affair inquiry

Americas Moralty, bought down by the Republicans and the Christian Right Perverts, Those so called corrupt moralists
OUCH. To step down this quickly is an admission of guilt. Another GOP pervert gets caught. I'll bet there's many more coming.
November 2nd, 2006 at 17:35:12
From: JUDGE, JURY AND PROCECUTOR

By Eric Gorski, Felisa Cardona and Manny Gonzales
Denver Post Staff Writers
DenverPost.com
Article Last Updated:

Ted Haggard, one of the most prominent evangelical pastors in the nation, resigned today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations that he carried on a three-year sexual relationship with a male prostitute.

Haggard, founder of the 14,000-member New Life Church, has denied the accusations but said in a statement released by the church today that he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning."

He has placed himself on administrative leave pending investigation, spiritual counsel and a decision by the church's board of overseers, the church's legal counsel said.

"I am voluntarialy 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," Haggard's statement said.

The former prostitute, Mike Jones, 49, of Denver, went public with the accusations on Tuesday, saying he felt compelled to do so because he believes Haggard, a strong opponent of same-sex unions, has been hypocritical.

"I made myself cry and I made myself sick," Jones said about his decision to come forward. "I felt I owed this to the community. What he is saying is we are not worthy, but he is."

Jones says he was contacted three years ago by Haggard for sex - he thinks through a gay newspaper advertisement or an online ad he posted on rentboy.com.

Today, Jones showed the Denver Post an envelope addressed to him from "Art," a name Jones says Haggard used - sent from an address in Colorado Springs. Jones said the envelope came to him with two $100 bills inside.

Jones also played a recording of a voicemail left for Jones from "Art." Jones refused to reveal what the topic of the voicemail was about because there could be legal problems and he wants to consult with an attorney.

"They want to protect the sanctity of marriage and I am trying to figure out what that means because they are not doing a good job," Jones said of anti-gay marriage proponents. "To have someone in such a high profile position preaching against them and doing opposite behind other people's backs is hypocritical."

Jones said he would take a lie detector test to validate his claims.

The church's lawyer, Martin Nussbaum, said Haggard's resignation is in no way an admission of guilt. He's already denied Jones' accusations, but feels that when an allegation like this is made, he needs to take this step, Nussbaum said.

Nussbaum, paraphrased: The bylaws state that when an allegation of immorality is made, this process is triggered, where he puts himself on leave. The outside board makes the final decision.

In the interim, the church's associate senior pastor, the Rev. Ross Parsley, will serve as acting senior pastor of the church.

Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com

Link Here

Evangelical Head Emphasizes Need for Change in Rising Generation

The president of the largest U.S. evangelical body opened up a U.S-focused annual mission conference by emphasizing that youth ministry is the most important factor in changing the culture.

“The youth pastors are some of the most important leaders in the city,” said the Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), on Tuesday, according to a Mission America Coalition (MAC) report.

“We are not going to let this generation go to Hell,” Haggard told nearly 150 church, ministry, and lay leaders from across the country. “We are not going to let MTV be more dominant in this generation than the Church. We are not going to turn away from this generation…we are going to do something decisive in order to make a difference.”

Haggard spoke on the first night of the annual Mission America Coalition that concludes Thursday in St Louis. The three-day conference entitled, “Cultural Shift: Have we Passed the Tipping Point?” strategizing how to bring about a cultural shift in America.

“Our cultural is gone the wrong way and much of it is focused on spiritual darkness,” MAC chairman/CEO Paul Cedar told The Christian Post late last month, ahead of the conference. “But our goal and prayer is to help bring spiritual light to cities and communities across the nation.”

During his speech, Haggard pointed to increasing secularism in the culture and noted that the changes made in our culture will not last if the generation of youth does not know Christ.

“It doesn’t matter if we protect the definition of marriage in this generation if the next generation doesn’t have a clue what marriage means,” he said.

The NAE president affirmed the need for the Church to work together.

“If we do it on our knees…we can see this generation saved,” Haggard affirmed.

Mission America Coalition is a network of American churches, ministries, denominations, and Christian leaders with the goal to work together to spread the Gospel through prayer, evangelism, and revival. Since its inception, leaders from 81 denominations, over 350 ministries and dozens of ministry networks have been involved in the coalition. MAC serves as the evangelism partner of NAE and Haggard has been involved in MAC since its beginning.

Other MAC conference speakers include Daniel de Leon of Hispanic Association of Bilingual/Bicultural Ministries, Paul Cedar of Mission America Coalition, John Nichols of Lazarus Foundation, Lon Allison of Billy Graham Center, and Dave Olson of American Church Research Project. LinkHere