I’m all for grace, and my prayer and hope is that the Haggard’s continue to heal, grow and be restored to the Lord. I do think the decision to be back in ministry, as well as the national spotlight is extremely premature. Hard to imagine that he has gone back to the people he has betrayed to be forgiven by them, and has been restored by the Church.

Thanks for posting this. I whole-heartedly agree with your thoughts on it. I always love a story of redemption but it’s also a bit scary if it’s too public too soon.

I guess I always go back to the qualification of being “above reproach”. When a leader in the church falls, it’s not the end of their Christian life…. it’s the end of their public ministry, and it should be. And that doesn’t mean the Lord can’t use them in other ways… they just probably won’t have the kind of authority, income and comfort thay had grown accustomed to. I’m guessing that why they felt betrayed, because I remember a long list of people willing to work with him, but not restore them to their accustomed position.

Really good. I appreciate the honesty with which you write and I often feel as if I am reading something I wrote as your thoughts often reflect my own. Thanks for being real.

Thanks for the observations. I recently hosted Ted and Gayle in my church. This story is going to force the evangelical church to reevaluate the way we handle these matters. Should we treat offending leaders like frauds who have been discovered or should we treat them like family members who have fallen and need us.
The New Life Church and their pastor were severed from one another by those assigned to oversee the matter. Furthering the damage done by Ted’s sin.

Your note of a victim mind-set is of interest. Especially that you would apply it to Gayle. She and her five children really had nothing to do with the offense and had their suffering compounded rather than relieved by the overseers. This is the very essence of our myopia regarding our fallen leaders. Exile is nowhere envisioned as a means of restoration within the new covenant community of scripture.

Ted’s sin could have occasioned his church’s finest hour. Our task now is to lead toward that end. We have a ways to go. As leaders let us forge the way ahead. Ted’s family and his church deserved better from both Ted and those who handled the matter.

It would be a lot easier to swallow Ted’s pain at the way he was betrayed and his critique of the Church’s commitment to the gospel if he hadn’t made his career on a campaign of hatred and exclusion of the very sorts of people he turned out to be — human.

Maybe it is being report wrong but as I have heard in the Christian press the reason that the leaders overseeing the restoration asked them to sever times was that he was going public before they thought he was ready and he started fundraising almost 2 years ago against their requests. I may be wrong about that, but that is what I have read in credible Christian press.

I don’t think that he can never be a part of the Christian world, but the public view that he seems to be asking for seems too much.

Amen! thank you Alan for your inspiring words.I wish more people like you wear around when my family fell,it was Hell.I really hope people in the church will stop Exiling fallen leaders.I don’t think some realize what it dose to the whole family,and it makes us as christians look like hypocrites,As if Jesus death was not for church leaders. I Hope this new generation will learn to forgive and truly restore… I am so tired of the same old same old, just in cooler clothes and tattoos.I am included in that group. GRACE JAY!

Jay,

I wish I had thought that way when your father fell. It was his story that began to change my thinking about these things. Your father’s book I Was Wrong…was a healer for many of us who had very jaded views.

Strange to healed by the ones you scorned. I am sorry for my previous attitudes about your family. I too WAS WRONG.

and Adam,

If you had the whole story it would not look quite that way. You have an open heart. Keep listening for the rest of the story. But do not take my words as an indictment of those who handled the Haggards. They too have a story that I have not heard and I wish them no ill. I am sure they were well-meaning. But we have to do better.

ah

I was glad I got to hear from Ted in this presentation. To be fair across the board I wish we had heard from those in the leadership of the church, from the group of men organized to see him spiritually restored, some of the 44 staff who have lost their jobs in the aftermath and decline of the church, and even from the two men whose lives Ted’s sin directly impacted.

Leaders are called to a high mark in Scripture. We must hold them to that mark. To say the burden of leading a group is heavy and you can’t be real denies those fine men and women of God who have led with authenticity and without grave sin. When a leader falls we must gather around in find restoration. Yet we also must be wise enough and gracious enough to create space so they can’t hurt anyone else soon.

If you have ever seen spiritual restoration occur after a serious fall it is one of the most grace-filled, God honoring happenings in creation. I hope in another several years we might see that with my brother in Christ Ted Haggard.

Tim,
I think you should watch the entire docu. if you can consider the fact that ted said he was sorry and is seeking restoration, and believe that… you would not be on such a witch hunt to find this man is unpure in his motives – “I can’t see their hearts” – you say this and then you scream victim mentality. the fact was he treated horribly, and through the events of his sin, he did in fact become a victim. and why does the website have to focus on his sin – where is that in scripture??? one last thing (i’m not trying to be a jerk i swear – if only you could see my heart…) why are you so concerned about the 14,000 members? the truth is, they will be fine(churche’s always are) – the people who people need to be concerned with are ted, his family, the hooker, etc. – as your 20 friends were

I’ve listened to the Ted Haggard interview by Steven Furtick at Elevation Church, and read the notes in blog post above.

What I’m curious to hear more about is the restoration process and those who are walking along side and being part of the healing process for the Haggards through all this. I think this would be a good thing that’d restore our confidence of God’s genuine work of grace and truth in their lives, and would give fellow Christian leaders reassurance of integrity.

Alan, you rock.

Thanks for saying this.

Good thoughts, Tim. I think as Christians, we need to define what restoration really looks like. If the idea of restoration for Ted Haggard is just to get him back into Christian leadership in such a short time after what he’s done is troubling.

God is interested in refining our character as we begin to live and act more and more like Christ. It’s not just a behavior change but a transformation of the heart. And God will use our circumstances–even our poor sinful choices–to help refine our character. If God chooses to restore someone into ministry, I think that should be done in the Lord’s timing, not man’s. This feels like Ted Haggard is pushing to get back into ministry.

I was involved in a ministry where one of the leaders had a moral failing but was eventually restored back into ministry not at his pushing but as the Lord did it–but it was a number of years before that happened. And his restoration was a beautiful thing. True biblical repentance is far more than an apology.

I do hope that the church can learn better how to restore leaders without simply quickly putting them back in leadership because we think gifting is greater than character.

Listen, I agree in principle with the discussion and many things you’re saying Alan but to agree with your last point, you don’t know the whole story. I was an intern at New Life when Ted fell and was very ‘close’ to the situation, closer than I ever wanted to be. The specifics are in the past but I know the details of what happened there that weren’t released to the public. The New Life leaders and pastors, including Ross Parsley and Rob Brendle acted with nothing but COMPLETE love, grace, and integrity in how they handled the situation and how they treated Ted and his family. For him to complain about not being shown grace and mercy is insulting to those men who walked with integrity and kindness in the midst of betrayal and hurt. They NEVER turned their backs on their friend, they obeyed God and acted in the best interest of the people God called them to pastor and shepherd. It’s simply not logical for him to complain about being a victim by the people who stepped in and sacrificed their own lives to help clean up the mess he created. Those leaders who Ted now says ‘failed him’ were more Godly, compassionate, and suffered more through that experience than anyone, save Ted’s family.

I was there when Ross called the church and its leaders to wake up at 5am every single day for months to pray for Ted and ask God to see us all through that season. I watched Ross and the pastoral staff on their faces before God seeking direction and healing and the weight they carried around on their shoulders day after day. The pastors and leadership of New Life at that time are the ONLY reason I still have faith in church leadership at all after that experience.

I believe with all of my heart that the blood of Jesus covers Ted’s past and can completely restore him, maybe even restore his ministry some day. But to come out now, against the wishes and advice of those men who love him and want what’s best for him and the church is simply an insult to everyone who was involved and gives us all SERIOUS doubts about whether this repentence is genuine. Had he listened to Godly counsel and waited, accepted authority and God’s discipline in his life, a great many of us would have welcomed him back into ministry with open arms. But instead, to come out now and speak against those men who laid down their lives to try and help him? I’m sorry, but I cannot sit here and read about that without getting upset. Those men deserve better.

Tim – thank you for posting this. The Haggard’s journey has been heavy on my heart for a while now & I’m thankful to know that God is indeed meeting them where they are, extending forgiveness & grace.

Alan – thank YOU for your comment, esp. as it relates to Gayle. As it is, Gayle’s married existence and mine are closely mirrored; we both have husbands who are “straight with issues,” as Ted aptly put it, and we both know the pain of infidelity and public scorn for our husbands’ choices. I think if Gayle didn’t feel somewhat victimized or betrayed in this scenario, she’d be highly abnormal. She, I, and countless other women (statistics say that 40% of married men struggle with same-gendered attraction in some form) live with the choices and consequences that none of us have actively chosen, with scorn from those who like to “classify” levels of sin, and often feel very much “closeted” in the process.

In my ideal world, the church’s response would be that of disappointment with acceptance, forgiveness, restoration, and no amount of shame or guilt for the wives & children. As it is, secular groups who work with women like me consider Gayle & Ted to have a “MOM” – a Mixed Orientation Marriage – and see her as a bit of an anomaly due to her faith. Would that the Church would take this opportunity to meet strugglers where they are, Gayle’s example, and Jesus’ heart of healing and use it as a public example of what we CAN be as a body of believers – especially to the secular world which has come to expect (based on our past behaviours) that we will stab our wounded and leave the writhing bodies on the ground as we walk away.

I’m thankful for what God seems to be doing in the Church in regards to sexual ethics and healing/restoration; I wish it would extend further to those who struggle (most often in silence) with same-gendered attraction.

Maybe, We should ask those who have been through such suffering how we could do a better job? I really get tired of people talking about restoration that sounds like non/semi amazing Grace. My understanding of the bibles idea of restoration is to restore to better than new. but we have to start restoring first. Who knows you may be the next one to need Amazing Grace.

Pete,

Thank you for your impassioned defense of the church staff. I do not think Ted has spoken out publicly against any of those men or their actions.

The matter in question is the contract that amounted to an exile with severe terms. Ted’s only outcry has been the strictures that forbade him live in his home or state. The contract was handled, I believe, by the overseeing leaders from outside the church and not the church staff. Who to my knowledge have not been questioned.

As I also stated I am sure the overseeing leaders have their reasons for their actions and those reasons will doubtless be heard. My writing here was to indict no one personally but to plea for better. I am more than willing to dialogue on the matter.

Alan Hawkins
http://www.newlifecity.org
Albuquerque NM

I was at the Q conference and heard Ted and Gayle as well. I don’t doubt their sincerity and willingness to move ahead. I wish them the best. My heart goes out to Gayle and the kids, as well as the young men who were seduced or sexually available.

What I have a problem with is the process used to bring restoration. Ted describes it here: http://tedhaggard.com/overview.htm …

Look carefully at his letter – it shows there is very little real relational accountability and counselling/psychological intervention. Many different pastors are listed in various communities… no continuity of pastoral care is given or offered.

Ted says that God told him that he didn’t need to listen to the restriction of not moving back to Colorado. But isn’t that why we have “accountability”? To admit that we need others to give guidance? And in this case, Ted ignored them because of a supposed word from God. And who can argue with that??

Stephan — I will be sure to watch the entire documentary. Thanks for the reminder.

If you think the 14,000 member church doesn’t need concern – you are sadly mistaken. Ted gave people hope that they could walk free of addictions. Some of those gave up that hope. Many lost hope in God. One went back into drugs and was shot in a drug deal. One man watched the news about Ted and decided that New Life Church would be an good place to unload thousands of rounds of ammunition, and 2 girls were left dead, some were wounded and a whole congregation terrorized. Several people lost their jobs. Thousands of people lost the freedom to trust leadership. Several have spent extensive time in counseling. Marriages have been assaulted in unparalleled ways.

Yes, God is faithful to the 14,000, just as he is to Ted. But there are those who have had it harder, as hard as that may be to believe. Those who have actually had family die, and it was directly related to this sin.

Sin always costs us more than we want to pay, takes us places we don’t want to go, and keeps us much longer than we want to stay. Even when it is not necessarily our sin. Ted preached this to us in a great sermon called “How much is your sin going to cost me?” When another great man fell. We always think our sin just effects us, but it genuinely hurts many more than just us.

I appreciate your concern for the Haggard’s and others, and I am thankful for their recovery and look forward to their complete healing. But don’t think the 14,000 are just fine, and don’t assume that any of us will be able to make a quick recovery. Time does not heal, Jesus does, but Jesus does work in his time, not ours.

this is all a lot to take in and try to formulate a convincing argument for or against, it’s interesting to see that things are moving ahead, and one can only assume that if God is truly sovereign he has this in his hands as well.

“What I have a problem with is the process used to bring restoration.” Really,ok what do you think it should be? I know when my family went through are fall/scandal (PTL Club/The Bakker’s) there was no restoration. So I am glad to here people are at least helping. And as fair as asking some one to leave the state, that just seems cruel to me.
And if you really “have problem with the process used to bring restoration” you should do something to help restore Ted and his family.(You Might already be?)