Ted Haggard to make a "Surprising" and "Groundbreaking" announcement next week...

Ted Haggard to make a “Surprising” and “Groundbreaking” announcement next week…

Posted on May 28, 2010
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(69) comments

Ted Haggard's publicist said today that the ousted founder of New Life Church will announce plans for his future at a press conference at his Colorado Springs home Wednesday morning.

Haggard's spokesman said he would make a "surprising" and "groundbreaking" announcement with his family.

Ted Haggard and his wife Gayle on April 29 incorporated a new church, St. James, sited at their home at 1865 Old Ranch Road.

At the time, Ted Haggard said it was done for accounting purposes as the couple managed dual speaking careers. However, Haggard did tell the Colorado Springs Gazette that he likely would return to ministry one day and wouldn't rule out that St. James would one day be a real church.

More here...

On a personal note... I really wish Ted didn't have a publicist or any kind of groundbreaking or surprising announcements. A ground breaking announcement could be that is starting an 'official' new church. A surprising announcement could be that it would be an affirming church. I have no idea what the announcement will be; but my cynical side tells me that it will probably be neither groundbreaking nor surprising.

Comments

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Peter Hamm on Fri, May 28, 2010

Perhaps it will be that he’s decided he’s not yet fit for pastoral ministry after all… That would be surprising… and welcome…
bishopdave on Fri, May 28, 2010

So you have a news release to annonce that there will be an announcement in the next news release. I’m going to try that Sunday—“Be here next week for a special ground breaking announcement—we’re taking up the offering after the third song instead of the fourth.”
Richard on Fri, May 28, 2010

Am reading a book on narcissism by Dr. Drew Pinsky. Provides an interesting overlay on stories like this.
CS on Fri, May 28, 2010

My bet is that he’s starting some sort of new ministry or declaring himself to be absolved and returning to the pastorate. Kind of like what Gary Lamb did a few months ago.

By the way, how do you incorporate a church without it being a, “real church?”

—
CS
John Burton on Fri, May 28, 2010

I’m not sure where Ted is personally and spiritually… we’ll have to wait that out… but, I’m very concerned about the quickly diminishing grace and love in this nation toward ministers who have failed.

We hear people say things like, “Why won’t he just disappear?”

We have seen this with people like Ted, Todd Bentley and others.

I’m all for holiness, and I’m confident that God’s judgment will be more swift than ever on those who remain unrepentant.

But, judgment should lead people to repentance… that should be the expected result. Then, restoration… ministry, leadership, etc… in most cases.
Peter Hamm on Fri, May 28, 2010

John,

Both of these individuals have been far from diligent in their own restoration process. That’s the issue here and it’s pretty much public record. They are not “above reproach” and therefore should very likely not return to ministry until and unless they are.

We can not be so quick to restore to ministry that we just set men up for the same failure again.

Todd Bentley has other issues involving honesty about his ministry and orthodoxy that we’ve discussed here before.
John Burton on Fri, May 28, 2010

The appropriate protocol is to allow the individual’s authority (board, overseers, etc.) make the judgment regarding their restoration process.

Rick Joyner is working with Todd… he’s the one with the data necessary to make that call.

Not sure who Ted’s working with.
Peter Hamm on Fri, May 28, 2010

I know the public details of Todd’s restoration process: He’s making it up as he goes along according to his own rules after marrying his former mistress.

These people have placed themselves and their restoration process in the public forum on purpose, and deserve any scrutiny they receive.

It is unfortunate that some choose to follow them.
John Burton on Fri, May 28, 2010

Are you saying you don’t honor Rick Joyner as his authority? He’s quite reputable… loads of integrity.

Further, do you have more info than Rick does in regard to the condition of Todd’s heart?

Further still, how ‘restored’ must we be before we minister again? Who makes that call?
Peter Hamm on Fri, May 28, 2010

John,

We’re off topic, but in short… I can’t honor the restoration of this man in any way shape or form. He has repented of nothing. Joyner needs to be very careful that his reputation doesn’t go down the tubes with Bentley.

For starters, he could repent of his ridiculous false claims and faulty theology, he has shown no interest in that. The whole “Emma” thing was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. Then this nonsense of marrying the mistress and THEN entering into the restoration process.

If it looks, smells, and acts like a duck… well…
John Burton on Fri, May 28, 2010

I’m convinced we have to be a bit more careful… there’s a lot of ‘final judgment’ out there on the web…

For example, people have determined that the mention of a female angel is heretical since the Bible doesn’t mention female angels.

Well, you can’t determine something to be heretical due to biblical omission on the topic. Todd very well may have seen one.

Also, regarding repentance, which this thread is about, how can you say he didn’t. That really doesn’t make sense. Of course he’s repented… do you really think Rick would allow someone who hasn’t repented to be restored?

I’m not saying the process was smooth… but that’s also the point of this thread… is it possible for truly messed up people, who may still have inclinations and emotional struggles, to repent and be restored to ministry?
Peter Hamm on Fri, May 28, 2010

John writes [is it possible for truly messed up people, who may still have inclinations and emotional struggles, to repent and be restored to ministry?] Yes, that’s the point. And yes it is.

That said, let’s see some signs of repentance before the restoration process, and in the case of blatant marital infidelity, let’s proceed very very slowly.

That’s in Ted’s case. I’m not even sure, based on what he says and obviously believes, that Todd is anything but a shyster.
John Burton on Fri, May 28, 2010

Just a quick followup regarding signs of repentance.

What are you looking for? Isn’t it enough for someone to say it and live well from there on out?

And, again, I don’t think it’s our role at all, as the general public who has maybe one tenth of the necessary info to make an accurate judgment, to determine a total stranger’s restoration path.

We don’t know if someone may have gone through deliverance, inner healing, deep repentance, etc. just last week. Maybe they are ready to be restored but we aren’t privy to the details.
Peter Hamm on Fri, May 28, 2010

John,

You are right, it is not my job to decide negatively, just as it’s probably not your job to decide positively.

It is my job to recognize that there is enough question about these men’s behavior (and especially in Todd’s case, theology), for me to decide that I will never trust nor believe them again. I simply don’t know them well enough to. And I most likely will not.
John Burton on Fri, May 28, 2010

Fair enough.
Regarding theology, isn’t it fair to simply agree to disagree? Meaning, Todd hasn’t messed with any of the absolutes of scripture… he’s solid there… he just has differing ideas on other theological matters. Many Christians agree with him, many others disagree.

It’s similar to the differences between different denominations… I’m far from Baptist, but I can get along really will with a Baptist person.

Now, if Ted or Todd or anybody were to violate an absolute (an absolute, when violated, would deem one a ‘non-Christian’)... then, we’d have to take a decisive stand.