This is a email from New Life Church, formerly headed by Ted Haggard. Haggard has admitted some of the accusations by 49 year old Mike Jones are true.
Dear New Lifers and friends of New Life Church. Many of you have expressed concern about today’s news regarding our pastor. Thank you all for your prayers and support, and for your concern for our church family.
As you’ve likely heard by now, Pastor Ted has voluntarily placed himself on administrative leave as New Life’s senior pastor to allow our external board of overseers to work effectively. Below is the statement that we released to the media on Thursday afternoon.
Since that time, the board of overseers has met with Pastor Ted. It is important for you to know that he confessed to the overseers that some of the accusations against him are true. He has willingly and humbly submitted to the authority of the board of overseers, and will remain on administrative leave during the course of the investigation.
I am serving as the acting senior pastor of New Life Church. I met with the pastoral staff and elders Thursday night, and I assure you that the leadership team is strong and united. We remain resolute in our commitment to serving New Life Church and the people of our community.
Please continue to keep Ted and Gayle and their family in your prayers.
I love serving God with you all,
Ross Parsley
via: Non- Prophet As of this posting media has not yet picked up this release, and it has not yet been posted on the New Life Church website or The National Association of Evangelicals.
From KUSA TV
Jones provided two voice messages to 9NEWS he claims are Haggard calling him. The voice mails for from a man who calls himself “Art.”
It should be noted Haggard’s middle name is Arthur.
The first voice message, left on August 4 at 2:18 p.m., says:
“Hi Mike, this is Art. Hey, I was just calling to see if we could get any more. Either $100 or $200 supply. And I could pick it up really anytime I could get it tomorrow or we could wait till next week sometime and so I also wanted to get your address. I could send you some money for inventory but that’s probably not working, so if you have it then go ahead and get what you can and I may buzz up there later today, but I doubt your schedule would allow that unless you have some in the house. Okay, I’ll check in with you later. Thanks a lot, bye.”
The second voice message, left on August 4 at 5:10 p.m., says:
“Hi Mike, this is Art, I am here in Denver and sorry that I missed you. But as I said, if you want to go ahead and get the stuff, then that would be great. And I’ll get it sometime next week or the week after or whenever. I will call though you early next week to see what’s most convenient for you. Okay? Thanks a lot, bye.”
Jones claims Art is referring to methamphetamine in the messages.
9NEWS had a nationally known voice recognition expert, Richard Sanders, listen to the voice mails to determine if it is Haggard. Sanders has previously worked on such high profile cases as the Oklahoma City bombing trial, the Columbine High School shootings, the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation, and the Kobe Bryant case.
“This certainly sounds like the same person,” said Sanders, after listening to the voice mails.
The Gazette – Colorado Springs
KKTV – Colorado Springs – raw footage of Ross Parsley interview after confession
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The bigger they are the harder they fall.
Some leaders tend to make sheep, not disciples. Sadly the ‘sheep’in his church will be hurt by this because their ‘shepherd’ was so vehemently homophobic. If it causes them to fall away, then Ted Haggard has more to worry about in the context of eternity than his sex life.
I don’t think God will be impressed by the extremists reactions to this.
As for TH, haven’t we all sinned? God doesn’t put a degree on sin.
Since Canada is trying to reintroduce the legislation that allowed gay marriage and gay rights, it makes one wonder why the Christian right is so opposed to that lifestyle. Scientists have discovered the gene that causes homosexuality, and I think most Canadians see the reintroduction of this subject as a non-issue.
We are not the assistant Holy Spirit in people’s lives and the government does not belong in the bedroom.
To me TH actions are a red-herring to the issue. The Scripture is clear that the actions are sin whether or not certain leaders adhere to Scripture or don’t with regard to these issues. It reminds me in Elijahs day 10,000 people who were in a cave who “didn’t bow their knees to Baal.” All of the entire nation was worshiping other gods (not unlike doing sinful behavior) yet God didn’t stand by and condone this behavior. It isn’t homophobic in that we love all homosexuals. At thesame time we don’t condone the behavior. There is a difference. Homophobic is due to attitude of the person saying the statment as opposed to the statment itself. There is a difference