Ted Haggard to make a “Surprising” and “Groundbreaking” announcement next week…
- Posted on May 28, 2010
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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.
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.
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Peter Hamm on Fri, May 28, 2010
John writes
[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.]
Yeah, gotta disagree there. Not going to discuss it on Todd’s forum, but Todd has definitely messed with orthodoxy. badly.
CS on Fri, May 28, 2010
John:
Here’s the key verse in the Bible where Bentley, Haggard, Lamb, and others have failed:
“Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:7)”
They fail the test of having a good report in the church (and the rest of our culture, for that matter). Additionally, like Peter was saying, the people who are consulting with Bentley are heretics who believe in a word-faith, prosperity-laden gospel, so they are further discounted from this important position.
—
CS
Fred on Sat, May 29, 2010
Ted Haggard is no different than any of the other reality show media hogs. He will do anything he can to put the spotlight on himself. It has nothing to do with judgment when I say I wish he would disappear. He is a Narcissistic person and is seeking after ego strokes and money.
John Burton on Sat, May 29, 2010
I think this is such a massively important conversation.
Just to clarify my position a little bit, I very much believe that holiness must be on the increase in leadership… it’s not OK to handle our callings and ministries lightly.
I also believe judgment is probably on the rise as we approach the end.
That being said, there is the matter of grace too.
It hurts so much to hear people voice their disgust and irritation about people that Jesus is weeping over, people that Jesus honestly and passionately enjoys, cares for and loves.
An equally important point is this—regarding heresy, there are so many people taking their pet doctrine, and anybody who disagrees with it is labeled a heretic. This really must be addressed.
There are very few heretical doctrinal points… meaning, we have to consider the absolutes of scripture. If someone were to announce that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, they are teaching heresy.
But, if someone teaches that speaking in tongues is or isn’t for today, that’s not heresy.
The pure faith movement isn’t heresy. In fact, a lot of amazing, wonderful Christians who embrace the cross of Christ, who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, do embrace that teaching.
It’s not heresy. You may not agree with it, and that’s totally fine, but it’s not heresy, those people aren’t evil and they aren’t automatically Hell bound.
The same is true regarding a female angel. Not heresy…maybe not agreed with, but not heresy.
Christopher Fontenot on Sun, May 30, 2010
He has lost all authority as a leader in the body of Christ and to place himself into a role of leadership is in direct opposition to the Word of God. This man is all about Ted Haggard.
Tim Martin on Sun, May 30, 2010
Last week I was priviledged to attend a meeting where Todd Bentley openly discussed, took questions and repented for his failures. Only time will tell if this was true repentance. I trust there are others out there that have been in touch with Ted Haggard and truly know his heart. Once again, time will tell. Regardless, we all need restoration!
I’ve yet to meet the perfect pastor or christian. The church cannot afford to lose even one individual, including Todd & Ted….if people are receiving ministry and getting saved, what else do we desire. Let us resolve to help restore those who’ve fallen short!
John Burton on Mon, May 31, 2010
Tim, I couldn’t agree more.
None of us are privileged to be in all of these personal meetings, or someone’s prayer closet. How in the world can we know if someone repented or not? It doesn’t make sense. That’s why we have to yield to the person’s authority.
I have to admit that it really makes me sick when people kick ministers who have failed to the curb. It’s horrific!
I don’t get it. People who are supposed to be oozing with zealous love for people, blood bought Christians, are often actually eager to see a minister eliminated. It’s as if they embrace the enemy’s plan to kick them when they are down and leave them for dead.
Biblically it’s our job to actually restore those who have fallen. What part of that isn’t clear? Restoration means full recovery to their former status.
Grace and mercy are very much needed right now. We can’t afford to let the wounded die.
I don’t know where Ted Haggard is spiritually now, but I’ll tell you… he preached twice in my church and the anointing and love and passion for God that I experienced in him was beyond description.
I met Todd Bentley recently too… his anointing was extreme, and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the type of love in someone’s eyes like I did in Todd’s.
These are people that Jesus really has a lot of love for… and Jesus would never want them to disappear.
For those who do want them to disappear, I’d suggest you have need of healing and restoration yourselves.
Top Online Universities on Mon, May 31, 2010
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.
Peter Hamm on Mon, May 31, 2010
John,
It makes me even sicker when we celebrate people who are leading their flocks badly, engaging in ongoing sexual immorality and then justifying it till they get “caught”, and preaching selfish messages of personal gain rather then the Gospel which states that I am to imitate Christ who laid his life down for others.
Biblically, as pastors, it’s our job to equip our people for works of ministry… WAY before it’s our job to restore people like Todd and Ted to ministry.
I hear a lot from certain camps about how much grace and mercy we need to extend to Todd and Ted. And, for the record, I agree. But why does that mean quickly restoring them to a ministry position? And what about the people that we might need to protect from folks who would do them harm? What about their grace and mercy.
Sorry, but both of these men have made themselves and their ministries very public, and as a result, their real heartfelt repentance and restoration needs to be very public and proper. It has not been.
Again, if neither of these men is returned to public ministry that does NOT mean they have been left to die. Perhaps they can be part of a church and work a “regular job”... maybe even for the rest of their lives.
Sadly, even it that is the wise thing to do, I am pretty confident it will not be the outcome here.
Blessings,
Peter
John Burton on Mon, May 31, 2010
Peter, I totally understand your reply… I’m not fully opposed to your feelings by any means. I really get it.
However, when we are called to restore, I believe that means what it says.
Something you said I hear quite a bit… let them work a ‘regular job’ while they work in a ministry.
The feeling that gives is that people desire to be punitive. They don’t want the people to be fully restored, just partially restored.
I think people get mad when people fall, and they want to them to hear their disapproval and they often want them to feel the pain of being stripped of what they are called and wired to do. They want them to put on the stripped uniforms and break rocks behind armed guards and barbed wire fences.
Regarding repentance, I’m not sure what else people what them to do… they have both repented a ton. Tedd has gone up to countless people in coffee shops in Colorado Springs and other places and refused to defend himself… and asked people to forgive him. He’s repented publicly on national TV many times.
Todd has as well.
Peter Hamm on Mon, May 31, 2010
John,
Saying “I messed up and I’m sorry” doesn’t show repentance in and of itself. In these very egregious cases, that is far from sufficient. These people have left a trail of selfishness behind them, even SINCE they started their “restoration” processes, a mile wide. It’s all in the public record.
Sorry, but you seem to be more interested in giving these people an opportunity to minister again than possibly protecting people from their continued unrepentant behavior. For goodness sake. Todd didn’t repent. He married his mistress for crying out loud! Ted wimped out of his restoration process and has basically decided to self-direct it. And this latest “publicity stunt” just adds to that.
I don’t really want to continue to discuss this, as we are not going to agree. But make no mistake… I would be very happy if neither of those men ever served in pastoral ministry again. I believe that they are not fit for it. There are plenty who are. Let’s get the people into ministry who should be.
I honestly am amazed that people with a knowledge of the Bible and common sense want to follow them anyway.
John Burton on Mon, May 31, 2010
A couple quick points:
1. We have to restore them. We cannot choose not to. (Gal 6:1)
2. We can’t know the condition of their heart. That’s why we, as the general public, really should be free from opinion… it’s insufficiently supported. We don’t have all the facts, and aren’t supposed to. The person’s authority is the person or people who have the info necessary to make the call.
Tim Martin on Mon, May 31, 2010
Rom 11:29
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
KJV
Jer 3:8
8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
KJV
Both these men have gifts & a call on their lives…God was divorced…have others in our ministries been hurt…probably!
My God forgives, forgets & gives 2nd chances! Thank you Jesus!
Peter Hamm on Mon, May 31, 2010
Okay, I’m done here.
John, Galatians 6:1 is not about being restored to a position of ministry leadership. At all. It’s about being restored to the church, and I never said they shouldn’t be.
And the condition of their heart has no bearing here. 1 Timothy 3:7, quoted by CS above, makes it clear that people with this bad a reputation are not fit to lead in the church. It’s very clear.
Tim, Romans 11:29! Very good! Perhaps Ted and Todd should have considered this before they rendered their gifts and calling no longer use-able in the body because of their abhorrent behavior. Romans 11:29 does NOT obviate passages such as the 1 Timothy passage above. And honestly, I think that you are making excuses for them.
Again, they DO have another chance. NO question about it. But they are no longer fit for leadership in God’s church. If that’s all that it’s about for them, then they are even less fit for that.
I’m really done here. Too many would rather see people who are basically predators restored to a position of leadership in the Church than to protect the people of God from them.
John Burton on Mon, May 31, 2010
Which sins disqualify someone from leadership forever?
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