MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Ted Haggard Moves Back to Colorado Springs

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, June 23, 2008
Viewed 64
(8) comments so far

Boyd said Haggard was in private business but didn’t have any further details. He said there were no plans for him to work again at New Life.

On a personal note… I don’t see how this can be good for Ted or New Life Church. It will be interesting to see how this progresses. My understanding is that Ted and his wife were attending school in Phoenix to get some counseling degrees. Anybody know if they finished up that program? And if so, maybe this is the ‘private practive’ that Boyd talks about.

Here’s the link to the AP article...

According to New Life Senior Pastor Brady Boyd, Ted Haggard has left his spiritual restoration program and doesn't have any ties to New Life Church, but has moved back to Colorado Springs and has moved back into the family house there.

Under a severance deal that Haggard reached with the church in 2006, he agreed to leave Colorado Springs and not talk about the scandal publicly. The deal expired at the end of 2007. Boyd said Haggard was now free to live where he wanted and has returned to Colorado Springs.

"They have moved back and they live in the original house that they lived in for many years," Boyd said of Haggard and his wife, Gayle.

According to the Associated Press, Haggard answered the telephone at his Colorado Springs telephone number on Sunday and confirmed he was in the city but said he couldn't talk to reporters.

Comments

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Melody on Mon, June 23, 2008

I agree. This doesn’t sound like a good thing to me either. I’m remembering the Billy Weber matter years ago. Typically, it’s a bad sign when first they decline to follow through with the church’s discipline, then when they return to the church.

I’m having a bit of trouble, as well, with the idea of him “counselling” formally after such a short interim. Even without the other red flags, this should be a concern.

Only slightly OT, but when I worked at a seminary I couldn’t help but notice how many of those who were pursuing counselling as a primary ministry focus seemed to be a little unstable. Certainly not all of them, and not necessarily a majority, but a significant enough number to be uncomfortable.
melody on Mon, June 23, 2008

ack! pimf

That is, “return to the area of the church.”
Jim on Mon, June 23, 2008

On one hand, I can understand him returning to his home, because of financial and social connections. Yet, on the other hand, it will, most likely, not be a good move for him, or for the congregants who were hurt by his moral failures. I’m sure that there will some who love and support him-they are eager to forgive and forget,. Yet, there will be many others who will not forget, and they will distrust him and his intentions, regardless of the new business he’s in. Unfortunately, I don’t see this situation being a healing situation for him or the community.

As for his pursuing a counseling degree, how he will do will fully be determined by his own healing process. If he is spiritually healed-he’s repented and is walking in Christ, then he might have a good ministry and impact within certain members of the community. However, if he hasn’t come to a true repentence of his sinful behavior, then he will slide into defending his behavior, and his counseling will take on, over time, helping others to embrace and justify their own sinful behavior, especially among the homosexual community. If this happens, then he will hurt his community, as well as his former church’s ministry even more. If I were him, I would not have returned to the same community. Yet, I don’t know the man, neither do I know if he’s seeking God’s leading in this decision. If so, it may be God who is leading him back to his home town. Only time will answer all of the questions and settle all of the concerns.
Ty on Mon, June 23, 2008

I think leading such a large church for such a long time Haggard would have developed alot of professional connections in Colorado and as such, starting a new career outside of the full time church ministry (which is hopefully what he is doing). As far as counseling goes, I would wonder what type of counseling he would do. He’d probably be great at marketing or business. My heart and prayer still goes out to his wife and kids.
kc on Mon, June 23, 2008

it’s all about ted-always has been, always will be.
Craig Lee on Mon, June 23, 2008

I am wondering why it is any of our business? Wouldn’t this line of discussion be like gossip? Just asking.

If it were me and my family I would not have moved in the first place, what right is it of the churches to ask him to move from their private home, even in discipline.

Wow, I hope some who have condemned him aren’t on the team who judges me!

As to the remarks about those seeking counseling degrees as “unstable”, that is uncalled for and not at all encouraging and uplifting as scripture teaches.

And by the way, I don’t have a counseling degree, nor have I sought one and I am as unstable as they come. And in the real world we are all unstable when seeking anything other than Christ.

Todd, I love the update on Monday’s, but this one could have been skipped.

C
joshMshep on Mon, June 23, 2008

No, Todd, I do not believe that Mr. Haggard finished the program with Phoenix First Assembly (http://www.phoenixfirst.org/ ).

As reported here:

http://www.gazette.com/articles/haggard_32813___article.html/life_new.html

Here is the e-mail that New Life Church sent:

————————————————————————————————————————

Pastor Brady Boyd Tue, Feb 5, 2008 at 7:07 PM

Subject: Update on Ted Haggard’s Restoration

Dear New Life Church family and friends,

Today, our church’s board of trustees will release a statement regarding the end of the restoration process for Ted Haggard. This process may receive some media attention, and I want you to hear of it from us before you read about it in the newspaper or hear it on the evening news.

Let’s continue to pray for Ted, Gayle, and their family.

God bless you,

Brady Boyd

Senior Pastor

New Life Church

Colorado Springs, CO

—

FOR IMMEDIATE 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.

And lastly, a summary of the whole Senior Pastor Transition story at New Life:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=102956282&blogID=308470843

peace,

-joshMshep
Ricky on Tue, June 24, 2008

“it’s all about ted-always has been, always will be.”

Exactly!

I’ve known Ted for over 25 years and I can tell you that within a year or two, there will be another “church” that will compete with New Life.

Maybe Ted will call it “New New Life Church?”

But don’t think for a minute that this is unusual. The system creates these monsters and they can’t give up that power so easily.