"I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver".
With these words on 1 November 2006, Ted Haggard - presidential adviser, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Christian pastor - began his journey into the wilderness, with pay:
"Over a 14-month period ending Dec. 31, 2007, New Life Church paid the Haggard family $309,020 in salary and benefits, according to a church document obtained by The Associated Press.
With these words on 1 November 2006, Ted Haggard - presidential adviser, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Christian pastor - began his journey into the wilderness, with pay:
"Over a 14-month period ending Dec. 31, 2007, New Life Church paid the Haggard family $309,020 in salary and benefits, according to a church document obtained by The Associated Press.
The payout included $152,360 in salary for Ted Haggard, $62,177 in salary for his wife, Gayle, $26,426 for counseling, $11,168 for legal fees and $26,000 to help care for the couple’s special-needs son, who is in his early 20s."
Plus, it should be noted: A pickup truck, health insurance, and moving expenses, and he got to keep his ranch. Surely Moses and Jesus would agree that the wilderness ain't what it used to be.
Haggard hails from Yorktown, Indiana. His father was a veterinarian as well as (reportedly) the founder of a church and an international charismatic ministry. Young Haggard's born-again epiphany occurred at age 16 under the spell of Bill Bright. One can only imagine the enchantments added by age 22 when he graduated from Oral Roberts' University. Six years later came the vision of Colorado Springs and the birth of his now scandalized New Life Church.
Haggard's new church describes his ministry career thusly:
"For thirty years Ted Haggard has effectively equipped strong leaders in the body of Christ and this he continues to do at Saint James Church."
Saint James is a church incorporation, and Haggard's new holy pulpit ordained by God. Saint James seems an odd name choice for an evangelical's home-ranch-church establishment, given that Protestants do not worship saints. No matter the name, as a church it excavates non-profit revenue from the smallest of purses to the largest of investments. Saint James' encourages donations in the form of offerings ("Blessing Others") and tithes ("The Storehouse"). Haggard also has a 'random acts of kindness' gimmick that he perfected early in his career. He calls needy people to stand before the congregation so that church members can put money at their feet.
(As one who occasioned herself of church 'gifts' to supplement a secretary's income that was supporting two children, I say that this practice (and any variation on the theme) is humiliating and degrading for the recipient. Quite the opposite of course for the good Samaritans secure in the knowledge and glances of their fellows that it is more blessed to give than to receive. As for the good shepherd-choreographers, who's to guess their rewards?)
Sans the "Saint" title, one can understand Haggard's inspiration for his church's name. The opening statement in The General Epistle of James:
My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.
Haggard has plenty of joy behind him and plenty ahead - now that he has admitted he is a bisexual who is old enough (age 54) to "exclusively have sex with my wife and be perfectly satisfied". The bisexual aspect of his nature is a recent revelation. In February 2007, after initial evaluation and therapy for his confession, Haggard was reported to be completely heterosexual. In December 2008, he said that he never claimed to be heterosexual. His latest assessment of himself as a bisexual-under-heterosexual-commitment is not discussed at Saint James' website. Presented instead are "Crisis Facts" (It wasn't that bad) and a "Healing Overview" (He was tricked out of his empire). The difference in tone and content between his website disclosures and his press pronouncements bears witness to the fact that he can, somewhat capably, talk out of both sides of his mouth.
The press and entertainment corporations were more than happy to enable Haggard in his God delusion (curtsy to Dawkins). If faith-based initiatives are what government wants, well then that is what shall be, using the most shareholder-profitable methods of system delivery available. Fortuitously, Haggard was camera-ready to chronicle his slip into exile, from the moment his agent of enlightenment, Michael Jones, tossed the banana peel at him.
The media blessed Haggard and sent him forth into print and film.
Haggard's access to the press was obvious eight months into his wilderness journey when he issued a public appeal for support of his indulgences scheme. This was the beginning of the Haggard restoration period, an era of self-promotional junkets on the celebrity circuit (GMA, Oprah, Larry King et al.). Ted Haggard peddled Ted Haggard projects. His wife, Gayle, had a Ted Haggard book to sell. Alexandra Pelosi had a Ted-Haggard-in-exile movie to plug (starring Ted & Gayle, natch). (This effort is not to be confused with Pelosi's 2006 production which featured Haggard as a Friend of God during his secret sinning days.) The Learning Channel had a RelativelyReal Ted Haggard projection to promote. Even the Wall Street Journal opened its pages to Ted Haggard.
Media blessings were not the only ones Haggard received. One year after his public confession, God blessed Haggard with a Voice-to-heart communication. God "called" Haggard back to his home in Colorado Springs; to the $700,000 ranch with the barn that now serves as Saint James Church.
Whose exile blessings have been the greater portion according to Ted Haggard - man's or God's? Guess no more.
Haggard's new church describes his ministry career thusly:
"For thirty years Ted Haggard has effectively equipped strong leaders in the body of Christ and this he continues to do at Saint James Church."
Saint James is a church incorporation, and Haggard's new holy pulpit ordained by God. Saint James seems an odd name choice for an evangelical's home-ranch-church establishment, given that Protestants do not worship saints. No matter the name, as a church it excavates non-profit revenue from the smallest of purses to the largest of investments. Saint James' encourages donations in the form of offerings ("Blessing Others") and tithes ("The Storehouse"). Haggard also has a 'random acts of kindness' gimmick that he perfected early in his career. He calls needy people to stand before the congregation so that church members can put money at their feet.
(As one who occasioned herself of church 'gifts' to supplement a secretary's income that was supporting two children, I say that this practice (and any variation on the theme) is humiliating and degrading for the recipient. Quite the opposite of course for the good Samaritans secure in the knowledge and glances of their fellows that it is more blessed to give than to receive. As for the good shepherd-choreographers, who's to guess their rewards?)
Sans the "Saint" title, one can understand Haggard's inspiration for his church's name. The opening statement in The General Epistle of James:
My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.
Haggard has plenty of joy behind him and plenty ahead - now that he has admitted he is a bisexual who is old enough (age 54) to "exclusively have sex with my wife and be perfectly satisfied". The bisexual aspect of his nature is a recent revelation. In February 2007, after initial evaluation and therapy for his confession, Haggard was reported to be completely heterosexual. In December 2008, he said that he never claimed to be heterosexual. His latest assessment of himself as a bisexual-under-heterosexual-commitment is not discussed at Saint James' website. Presented instead are "Crisis Facts" (It wasn't that bad) and a "Healing Overview" (He was tricked out of his empire). The difference in tone and content between his website disclosures and his press pronouncements bears witness to the fact that he can, somewhat capably, talk out of both sides of his mouth.
The press and entertainment corporations were more than happy to enable Haggard in his God delusion (curtsy to Dawkins). If faith-based initiatives are what government wants, well then that is what shall be, using the most shareholder-profitable methods of system delivery available. Fortuitously, Haggard was camera-ready to chronicle his slip into exile, from the moment his agent of enlightenment, Michael Jones, tossed the banana peel at him.
The media blessed Haggard and sent him forth into print and film.
Haggard's access to the press was obvious eight months into his wilderness journey when he issued a public appeal for support of his indulgences scheme. This was the beginning of the Haggard restoration period, an era of self-promotional junkets on the celebrity circuit (GMA, Oprah, Larry King et al.). Ted Haggard peddled Ted Haggard projects. His wife, Gayle, had a Ted Haggard book to sell. Alexandra Pelosi had a Ted-Haggard-in-exile movie to plug (starring Ted & Gayle, natch). (This effort is not to be confused with Pelosi's 2006 production which featured Haggard as a Friend of God during his secret sinning days.) The Learning Channel had a RelativelyReal Ted Haggard projection to promote. Even the Wall Street Journal opened its pages to Ted Haggard.
Media blessings were not the only ones Haggard received. One year after his public confession, God blessed Haggard with a Voice-to-heart communication. God "called" Haggard back to his home in Colorado Springs; to the $700,000 ranch with the barn that now serves as Saint James Church.
Whose exile blessings have been the greater portion according to Ted Haggard - man's or God's? Guess no more.
