Ted Haggard Post-Ministry

I was reading in Newsweek the other day about Ted Haggard, former head of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. He is the “former” president and pastor because he was “outed” by another man for having a homosexual affair.

I empathize with his story because I have also felt let down by the church when I was at my weakest point. It seems this has happened to me too many times. No I wasn’t the president of a national organization or pastor of any mega-church but it still hurt when the church treated me as a leper when I hurt the most.

Why does the church always crush its broken people? I think it has to do with the fact that many there are still trying to convince themselves they have their lives all together. When leaders fail they have to ask themselves the question, “If they don’t have their life together, what does this say about me?” Rather than admitting their weakness and dependence on Christ for his love they distance themselves from the leader as much as they can. For Haggard this meant forced exile from his home state, church, and friends. For me it meant a couple elders picking up all the church related materials from my home on the same day I resigned- they couldn’t say goodbye fast enough.

All this proves is how badly the Church still needs Jesus. I hope, someday, to be able to share this Good News with the church again. In the meantime I this leper finds the healing touch of Christ- and I pray the same for Haggard as well.