455 The Ted Haggard Scandal
On November 4, 2006, Ted Haggard resigned as senior pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs and as President of the National Association of Evangelicals after a former male escort alleged they had sex repeatedly and that Haggard sometimes was on methamphetamines during their trysts.
This scandal didn’t just expose a hidden “dark side” of Ted Haggard, it also revealed the “dark side” of many churches.
I’ve been a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) for over 20 years. For twelve of those years was an elected NAE leader in my community. Furthermore, I’ve been to New Life Church several times and have met Haggard on a couple of occasions, so I feel I have some background from which to make the following observations.
There is no justification for Ted Haggard’s behavior. He screwed up and is now experiencing what we all dread - his deepest secrets being exposed for all to see. As a fellow sinner with secrets of my own, my prayers and well wishes go out to him, his family, New Life Church and the NAE.
In a November 5, 2006 letter to his congregation Haggard said, “I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it all of my adult life. …Through the years, I’ve sought assistance in a variety of ways, with none of them proving to be effective in me. Then, because of pride, I began deceiving those I love the most because I didn’t want to hurt or disappoint them. The public person I was wasn’t a lie; it was just incomplete. When I stopped communicating about my problems, the darkness increased and finally dominated me. As a result, I did things that were contrary to everything I believe.”
Haggard went on to say that he is “100% responsible” for all that has befallen him. I disagree. The system he and many pastors are immersed in must shoulder some of the blame for this disgrace. It is a system that sets up its followers, especially pastors, for failure.
Again, I’m not dismissing Haggard’s immoral and illegal behavior, but there came a point when he couldn’t be a “complete” person even if he wanted to – and still keep his job. Acknowledgement of his struggle with homosexuality and drugs would have no doubt led to Haggard’s dismissal from office by both his church and the NAE. Thus, he was trapped between a rock (his sin) and a hard place (the church).
In a statement released regarding Haggard's resignation as president the NAE said: “Knowing Rev. Haggard, we found the initial reports of misconduct to be shocking and difficult to believe. As evangelicals we recognize, however, the stark reality of the power of sin in all our lives, and acknowledge that we are all capable of grievous moral failures. Moreover, we believe that the Bible holds Christian leaders to higher levels of accountability. Therefore, it is especially serious when a pastor and prominent Christian leader deliberately violates God's standards of conduct."
The “higher levels of accountability” the NAE refers to is no doubt the Bible passage which says that an “overseer (pastor) must be above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2). If “above reproach” is taken to mean sinless, then woe to anyone who becomes a pastor for they are doomed to fail.
Every person is a flawed individual who wrestles with a “dark side.” That doesn’t change just because the title of “pastor” is slapped in front of their name. That’s why, unlike the NAE, I am never surprised (though I’m oftentimes disappointed) when a pastor’s dark side is exposed. How many pastors are “incomplete” and hypocritical because the system won’t allow them to be sinners and leaders at the same time? (Our political system is no better.) I seriously doubt that Haggard’s behavior would ever have gotten out of control had he been free to be an imperfect leader.
Isn’t this the reason why the Bible teaches that Jesus is to be the head of the church …never a human? God knew that no one could hold such an office without having it eventually cause more harm than good to both the leader and the church.
Furthermore, where did the notion come from that the admission or discovery of a pastor’s dark side mandates immediate removal from office?
In the Old Testament, it was revealed that King David (we would agree that “King” is an even more prominent position than that of Haggard’s) had been involved in some horrific immoral and illegal crimes. Indeed, David had committed adultery with the wife of one of his most loyal soldier’s and then had him murdered in an attempt to cover it up. Talk about scandal!
Like Haggard, once David was exposed he took full responsibility for his actions and humbly submitted to God’s correction. Interestingly, unlike the current church system, God didn’t remove David from office. After a time of correction (and some serious consequences), David was restored and continued as King of Israel.
Yes, Haggard screwed up. Yes, there should be consequences. But he has accepted responsibility for his behavior. His marriage and family are very much in tact. He has submitted to a lengthy restoration process. Why not, if the church members are willing, allow him to one day return as pastor of New Life Church?
The beauty of the Christian faith isn’t that God makes people perfect and then works through them. It is that God works through imperfect people.
If Haggard was a great pastor when he was a liar and deceiver harboring a destructive secret sin life, think of how great of a pastor he would be as a humble, honest, imperfect person! But that will never happen because many churches really aren’t a place for sinners; they are a place for sinners who have to pretend they aren’t – especially pastors.
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