Berkowitz-TED HAGGARD: Once James Dobson's boy; how far the mighty have fallen
WKBB...@aol.com
(http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/2/11/165046/717)
_Not so fast Teddy boy_
(http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/2/11/165046/717/Dominionism_in_the_military/Not_so_fast_Teddy_boy)
The disgraced Ted Haggard wants an end to his "restoration" process, but a
New Life Church official says the process is `incomplete'
By Bill Berkowitz, Talk2Action, February 11, 2008
On the same day it was reported that Focus on the Family's Dr. James Dobson
had endorsed the candidacy of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, one of
Dobson's previously anointed was also in the news.
"A year after [Ted] Haggard agreed to enter counseling with four ministers
after his sex scandal, he asked to end the team's oversight of his recovery
program," The Christian Post reported last week. "But New Life Church officials
believe the termination of the relationship is premature."
In November 2006, Haggard resigned as president of the National Association
of Evangelicals, and was fired from the New Life Church, the Colorado Springs,
Colorado-based church he had founded, "after a former male prostitute
alleged a three-year cash-for-sex relationship," the Post reported. "Haggard
confessed to undisclosed `sexual immorality' and to buying methamphetamine."
At the time, Haggard said: "The fact is I am guilty of sexual immorality. And
I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar.
There's a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been
warring against it for all of my adult life."
Now, the man who in 2005 was listed by Time magazine as one of the top 25
most influential evangelicals in America, is claiming he is far enough along the
road to "recovery" that he wants out of the restoration program.
The 'termination' of the restoration program is 'premature' say former
colleagues
Now living in Phoenix, Arizona, Haggard is a member of Phoenix First Assembly
of God, where Pastor Tommy Barnett, one of the overseers of Haggard's
restoration team, said he will maintain an "accountability relationship" with
Haggard.
The Christian Post reported that New Life Church officials "believe the
termination of the relationship is premature" and that Haggard's "restoration
process could take years."
However, on February 6, 2007, Tim Ralph, one of four ministers who oversaw
three weeks of intensive counseling for Haggard, stated that Haggard "is
completely heterosexual." Ralph added that therapy "gave Ted the tools to help to
embrace his heterosexual side."
The story from New Life Church officials was markedly different. Senior
Pastor Brady Boyd issued the following press release:
Ted Haggard's leadership of New Life Church for many years was extraordinary
and the depth of spiritual maturity that is found today in the church is in
large part attributed to his leadership as the founding senior pastor.
In January 2007, Ted Haggard voluntarily agreed to enter a process of
spiritual restoration. He has selected Phoenix First Assembly and Pastor Tommy
Barnett as his local church fellowship and is maintaining an accountability
relationship there. He has recently requested to end his official relationship
with the New Life Church Restoration Team and this has been accepted by them.
New Life Church recognizes the process of restoring Ted Haggard is
incomplete and maintains its original stance that he should not return to vocational
ministry. However, we wish him and his family only success in the future.
Because spiritual restoration is a necessarily confidential process, the
church does not anticipate that it, or its Overseers or Restorers, will make
further comment about it.
'Ex-gay' programs 'don't work' says TruthWinsOut executive director
"As far as predictions go, the failure of Haggard's 'ex-gay' program was not
exactly like picking the New York Giants over the undefeated New England
Patriots in the Super bowl," said TruthWinsOut.org's Executive Director Wayne
Besen. "It is pretty much a given that these programs don't work and we hope
Haggard comes to a genuine place of love and self-acceptance."
"It is time for conservative churches to admit that their approach to
homosexuality is an experiment that has failed," said TWO's Besen in a press
release dated February 8. "How many lives will be shattered, families destroyed and
careers ruined before the religious right accepts gay people for who they
are?"
According to its website, TruthWinsOut.org is a non-profit organization "that
counters right wing propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates
America about gay life."
New dreams, old schemes
Haggard got in trouble with his "restoration team" in August 2007, when,
according to Wikipedia, he "released a statement asking for monetary donations
to help support his family while he and his wife attend classes at the
University of Phoenix." Haggard pointed out "that his family was moving into the
Dream Center, a Phoenix based halfway house which ministers to recovering
convicts, drug addicts, prostitutes etc. Haggard is pursuing a degree in counseling
while his wife Gayle is studying psychology."
Wikipedia noted that "Questions also surfaced about the tax-exempt group
Haggard asked that donations be sent to, on his behalf: Families With a Mission.
According to Haggard, the group would use 10% of donations for administrative
costs and forward 90% to Haggard. But the group was dissolved in February
2007, according to the Colorado Secretary of State."
Shortly after Haggard's initial email solicitation, "his restoration team
stepped in to say his statement was `inappropriate' and that `Haggard was a
little ahead of himself.' They indicated that Haggard would not be working at
the Dream Center or in ministry of any kind and that they advised Haggard to
seek secular employment to support himself and his family."
In 2005, Jeff Sharlet reported that Haggard "talks to... Bush or his advisers
every Monday" and Sharlet stated that "no pastor in America holds more sway
over the political direction of evangelicalism."
A few days before Haggard admitted his "guilt," James Dobson said in a news
release dated November 2: "It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media
would report a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation.
Ted Haggard is a friend of mine and it appears someone is trying to damage his
reputation as a way of influencing the outcome of Tuesday's midterm election
-- especially the vote on Colorado's marriage-protection amendment-- which
Ted strongly supports."
Not to worry; the Haggard family is not destitute. In 2006, he received
$115,000 for the 10 months he worked and also received an $85,000 anniversary
bonus shortly before the scandal broke; after the scandal broke, the board of
trustees of New Life Church agreed to give him an $138,000 severance.
Additionally, the Haggards have a home in Colorado Springs, Colorado that is valued at
more than $700,000 and Haggard still receives royalties from books he has
authored.
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