I have been following this story since it broke in November 2006. I have done extensive research on the connection between spiritual transformation and leadership, particularly in a Pentecostal/charismatic context. Ted Haggard is just the latest in a long string of moral failures in charismatic leadership. I do know where Haggard goes from here. I am concerned that he would end his relationship with the restoration team BEFORE they are ready.

I think New Life Church has conducted themselves with class and dignity. A real testimony to Haggard’s leadership IMHO. It makes his fall that more tragic.

Todd—Thanks for the Sunday Afternoon Update. Maybe we should change the name to SAU!

Derek

New Life has indeed handled itself well. Ted has not. I wonder, if I were in his shoes, if I wouldn’t be the same.

Comments on this situation should be weighed carefully.  Most of us are not in the know of all the details and facts.  A man’s life and family is on the line.  Perhaps the better is no comment.

Roderick Logan is right on. We are reading these miniscule pieces of news on Monday morning and in the media and any of us who has worked in this type of ministry knows that we know little of what is really happening.  I am going to keep praying for Ted and his family, as I should do.

New Life Church is a model in the ways in which they met the Haggard crash and the murders on their campus.  Their openness, their quick, yet intentional actions, their compassion tempered by care and protection of the Body should inspire us all.

Perhaps Haggard led a solid foundation, perhaps there are others behind the scenes, but ultimately the glory must go to the Spirit of God who has led them.

Don—Let me clarify.

My research is in the area of spiritual transformation in pastoral leadership. I use the term “research” because this was my doctor of ministry dissertation. I am not researching Haggard per se, but researching how theology, leadership, and spiritual intersect in pastoral ministry. 

My goal is to find ways to help other leaders (myself included) PREVENT moral failures. I haven’t done much research on why these guys have fallen. I am certainly not one of the Hunt,Hanegraaf, MacAuthur watchdog types, but I care deeply about leadership in the local church.

And as I stated in my early post, I don’t know what Haggard should do and I am certainly not presuming that I have all of the answers.

We do not need to gossip, but it is good for leaders to think, consult, dialog, reflect, brainstorm, etc. about leadership and its pitfalls. So it is worth our time to discuss issues surrounding Haggard and his restoration...IMHO.

Derek

At first it sounded as if this was Ted pulling out of the restoration process and New Life restating that they didn’t want him to enter ministry again.  Now after re-reading I get that it could be Tommy Barnett will be overseeing the restoration process locally and this isn’t Ted thumbing his nose at the restoration team.  I’ve been a little of where Ted is… I won’t go into my story, but thankfully God preserved me from entering a sexual relationship. Still I lost my credentials and restoration has been slow (5 years now). I have felt the need to remain submitted even though I felt in some ways the penalty may be overly harsh. I’ve watch Tommy’s success rate with Jim B. and others and I have to say if a transfer is taking place then its for the best.  New Life might have responded better in saying there was a transfer of responsibility as this sounds a little like they may felt he was “pulling out.”

I personally believe restoration is possible, but seldom exercised by the church.  Its unfortunate but we talk a good game until it comes to leaders who break our trust.  Sometimes I wonder how we can counsel a spouse who has been hurt by adultry to forgive and let trust be rebuilt but at the same time we practice not forgiving out leaders who were frankly human.

I will say this in closing. Many who poo poo Ted’s situation (and it is serious) and say how they think he’s awful and should never be allowed back into ministry often have been surfing porn sites themselves before posting. What I’m saying is sometimes its not he who is without sin that throws the first stone, sometimes its he who has some of the biggest sins and desires to get the focus off of him or herself.  Having said that, I don’t think we should rush Ted back into ministry. Again I think a great example is Jim B. Tommy helped restore him and Jim is in a much better place spiritually now. It doesn’t mean he’ll stay there, after all there are no guarentees that even the strongest most vocal disciple won’t deny Christ… (remember Peter?)
My prayers are with Ted, and New Life both have obviously been under serious spiritual attack.  Lets not add fuel to the enemy’s fire.

Dear Derek, I wonder where you got your thoughts concerning the restoration of “pentecostal/Charismatic preachers. It had to come from the ones who would not cooperate. As a minister with the Assemblies of God I can tell you it is not so easy to re-enter public ministry with the A/G. So don’t throw us all in the same sake. It is a Baptest etc. problem as well.

Rich

Rich,

Most of my research is in leadership development and not leadership restoration, so I don’t know if I have an informed opinion about the restoration process. I think that a p/c leader can be restored. Where should certainly show grace to those who are fallen and help them in the restoration process if they have fallen.

You are right, I can’t throw all p/c denominations or movements into the same pile. Many of them approach leadership differently. I interviewed 20 pastors on the issue of spiritual transformation and leadership and I did get a variety of responses. There are some shared values of Pentecostal spirituality and theology that are common among p/c Christian. There are enough commonalities to talk about p/c leadership and p/c spirituality, although some who call the p/c movement home may disagree with some of the details.

And again let me say that I am not claiming that only p/c churches have problems. I am doing research in that area because it has been the incubator of my faith.

Derek

Lori,

Your response is well thought out. However, I have to question ONE of your points.  You said..."The Bible has plenty of examples of fallen people, restored, but with consequences that last a lifetime and loss of previous ministry status.”

Really? Can you name ONE with a “loss of previous ministry status?” I can’t. Seems Peter was restored by Christ himself to an even great status.  Judas, of course, chose to end the process so he doesn’t really count.  What I’m saying is biblically I see NO person who was willing to be restored who was not restored to previous ministry status!  Granted there aren’t a lot of restoration stories in the Bible, but those there are are pretty clear to me that if you submit to God, he restores completely and sometimes to a ‘better place” than before.

It causes me great confusion to think that the Grace of God may not be deep and strong enough to forgive even the grossest of sins; and that God only chooses to remember special sexual sins, and then chooses to remember no more other sins.

It is also disconcerting to think that when God calls one to the vocational ministry, and that son falls into sin, but becomes reconciled to the Lord, we have the audacity to now inform God and the Church that they should no longer be considered called of God.  If ones life has been changed by the Holy Spirit through the Biblical process of confession, renewal, restoration, restitution, etc., are we not again One in Christ?  Or does such a person become an ugly step child for whom the Church cannot forgive —even those same sins which God remembers no more? 

It is gutsy for any of us to point out sexual (or any other) sins of one who falls to the temptations of satan and the flesh in such unacceptable sins as Ted Haggard —and then tend to hide in closest the sins of scores of pastors and church workers who who have fallen into heterosexual sin or other less terrible sins[?].  And—of all the nerve—pointing out this in charasmatic groups!  Shall we all sit down and write lists of Who’s Who In Sin”—and list their affiliations.  I’m afraid all of our churches will be on that list—and probably equally so. 

Satan truly is seeking to destroy the Church and its testimony to the world, as well as seeking to devour those who are Christ’s servants—irrespective of the sin used to devour them or the affiliated church from which they come.  Our job should be one of total forgiveness and reconciliation, particularly after a proven period of time. 

God bless Ted Haggard, Tommy Barnett and New Life CHurch—and may God help us all to be lifters up to those who fall—not pushers away.  There is no sin that God’s grace will not cover!

Sheeesh….I feel so misunderstood.

Sergio,
I am not saying that Ted Haggard’s moral failure is connected to moral failures in charismatic leadership. I am not saying that Ted Haggard’s fall is because he is a charismatic Christian. I am not saying that charismatics are the only Christians with problems. All I am saying is that Haggard is the latest in a long history of Pentecostal/charismatic leaders who have fallen. This is an observation and not a criticism. I am not attacking Haggard or judging him.

I do think there are some theological problems with some Pentecostal/charismatic Christians and leaders that put them in a place where they are more likely to have a moral collapse. Some of the reasons why leaders fall are common to the Body of Christ. Some reasons are specific to certain kinds of Christians. Different Christian traditions have different spiritual disciplines that they emphasize and they have different concepts of leadership. So leadership development will look different in different Christian traditions.

My concern is not restoration (although I think leaders who have fallen can and very often should be restored), my concern is that we who are Christian leaders today (and specifically those of us who are leaders in Pentecostal/charismatic churches) do not repeat the mistakes of those who have fallen. This is what has fueled my research. I know that I am as fallible as Haggard. I am aware of my own sin and weaknesses, and so I am asking, “What do I need to do as a leader to prevent myself from being in the position Haggard got into?”

I desire this not just for myself, but for other leaders. What is it that we can do to partner with the Holy Spirit to allow him to shape us to be men and women like Jesus? What kind of spiritual habits should I practice? What kind of relationships do I need? How does my theology and practice of leadership need to change so that the Holy Spirit can change me?

I have followed the Haggard story with sorrow, not with detached academic indifference. I care deeply for the Church and for the Pentecostal/charismatic tradition. We should certainly not “shoot our own wounded,” but we should care for, love, restore, pray for, and show compassion for those who have fallen. BUT at the same time we need to rethink our own leadership and practice of spiritual disciplines so we are in the best place to allow the Spirit to change us, so that we can faithfully live out the gospel. 

Derek

Larry C., You are dead on track!