Ted Haggard

==New Life Church==
According to Haggard, in November 1984, when he was an associate pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]], his confidant and mentor Danny Ost, a missionary to [[Mexico City]], had a vision of Haggard founding his church in Colorado Springs. Accordingly, Haggard moved to Colorado shortly afterwards, and founded [[New Life Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado)|New Life Church]]. <ref> Tim Stafford, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/november/20.41.html World Good Morning, Evangelicals!], christianitytoday.com, USA, November 4, 2005 </ref> Initially, the 22 people who met in the basement of Haggard's house formed his church, which then grew to rented spaces in [[strip malls]].<ref>Sharlett, pp. 43–44.</ref>

After 22 years, New Life Church operated from a campus in northern Colorado Springs and had a congregation of 14,000.<ref name=Zoll-2006-11-10>{{cite news | last = Zoll | first = Rachel | title = Haggard scandal raises questions about 'superstar' pastors | publisher = Associated Press | date = 2006-11-10 | url = http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2006/11/10/haggard_scandal_raises_questions_about_superstar_pastors/?page=1 | access-date = 2006-11-10 }}</ref> In 1993, during what Haggard describes as his "first prayer journey," he traveled with a group to [[Israel]]. They stood on the [[Mount of Olives]], where Haggard claims that he felt the Holy Spirit speak to him. "From that time until now," Haggard writes in ''The Life-Giving Church,'' "apostolic power has blessed me. My only problems are with me&nbsp;– not with the enemy, not with circumstances, not with people."<ref>Haggard, T: ''The Life Giving Church'', p. 36. Regal Books, 2001.</ref>

Under Haggard's leadership, New Life Church formed the Association of Life-Giving Churches. It has been listed as a denomination by the U.S. [[National Association of Evangelicals]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nae.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=nae.members&listId=denominations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104104522/http://www.nae.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=nae.members&listId=denominations |title=Current NAE Members |website=National Association of Evangelicals |archive-date=January 4, 2007}}</ref> As of 2006, ''Harper's Magazine'' reported that it comprised some 300 congregations.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://harpers.org/SoldiersOfChrist-20061103288348488.html |title=Soldiers of Christ: Inside America's most powerful megachurch with Pastor Ted Haggard |magazine=Harper's Magazine |date=November 2, 2006 |last=Sharlet |first=Jeff |access-date=June 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106003523/http://harpers.org/SoldiersOfChrist-20061103288348488.html |archive-date=January 6, 2007}}</ref>

===Sex and drug scandal===
In November 2006, male [[prostitute]] and masseur Mike Jones alleged that Haggard had paid him for sex over a three-year period and had also purchased and used crystal [[methamphetamine]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/evangelist-i-bought-meth-from-gay-escort/|title=Evangelist: I Bought Meth From Gay Escort|work=CBS News|last=Serrano|first=Alfonso|date=November 2, 2006|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> Jones said he had only recently learned of Haggard's true identity, and explained his reasons for coming forward by saying, "It made me angry that here's someone preaching against gay marriage and going behind the scenes having [[gay sex]]." Jones made the allegations public in response to Haggard's political support for a [[Colorado Amendment 43]] on the November 7, 2006, Colorado ballot that would ban same-sex marriage in that state. Jones told [[ABC News]], "I had to expose the hypocrisy. He is in the position of influence of millions of followers, and he's preaching against [[gay marriage]]. But behind everybody's back [he's] doing what he's preached against."<ref name="Harris-ABC">{{cite news | url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2626067 | title=Haggard Admits Buying Meth | publisher=ABC News | date=November 3, 2006 | first=Dan | last=Harris | access-date=2006-11-06}}</ref> Jones hoped that his statements would sway voters.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5115225,00.html |title=Accuser recounts trysts with 'Art' |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |date=November 3, 2006 |access-date=2006-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120180326/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0%2C1299%2CDRMN_15_5115225%2C00.html |archive-date=November 20, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Haggard's immediate response was denial. He told a Denver television station, "I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver... I am steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife." Haggard also said, "I have never done [[drugs]]{{snd}}ever. Not even in high school. I didn't smoke [[cannabis|pot]]. I didn't do anything like that. I'm not a drug man. We're not a drinking family. I don't smoke cigarettes. I don't socially drink. We don't socially drink. We don't have wine in our house. We don't do that kind of thing." Many evangelical leaders initially showed support for Haggard and were critical of media reports, including [[James Dobson]] who issued a statement of support for Haggard, which stated: "It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media would report a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation.... Ted Haggard is a friend of mine, and it appears someone is trying to damage his reputation as a way of influencing the outcome of Tuesday's election{{snd}}especially the vote on Colorado's marriage-protection amendment, which Ted strongly supports."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wm.kusa.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/1162599872745-11-03-06-haggard-5p.wmv |title=A look at the contradictions in the different statements Pastor Ted Haggard has made to 9NEWS. |website=9NEWS |date=November 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107210059/http://wm.kusa.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/1162599872745-11-03-06-haggard-5p.wmv |archive-date=November 7, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/02/haggard.allegations/ |work=CNN |title=Evangelical leader quits, denies male escort's allegations |date=November 2, 2006 |access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref>

Cornered by his voicemail to Mike Jones requesting methamphetamine, Haggard told the press, "I bought it [methamphetamine] for myself but never used it. I was tempted but I never used it." Haggard claimed he bought the methamphetamine but threw it away,<ref>{{cite web |title=Confronting a Scandal|publisher=[[The Colorado Springs Gazette]]|date= November 3, 2006|url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/haggard-10876-church-jones.html}}</ref> and added that he had never met his accuser. Jones volunteered to take a polygraph test on a [[KHOW]] radio show hosted by [[Peter Boyles]], where Jones first made the allegations. However, Jones's responses during the section of the polygraph test about whether he had engaged in sex with Haggard indicated deception. The test administrator, John Kresnik, discounted the test results because of Jones's stress and lack of eating or sleeping. Regardless, Haggard responded by saying, "We're so grateful that he failed a polygraph test this morning, my accuser did." Jones was not asked questions about drug use. Jones expressed doubt that he would retake the test, saying "I've made my point. He's the one who has discredited himself. He should admit it and move on."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4597552 | title=Haggard's accuser fails lie detector | work=The Denver Post | date=November 3, 2006 | first= Mike | last= McPhee | access-date = 2006-11-03}}</ref>

Due to the scandal, Haggard went on administrative leave from New Life, saying, "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."<ref name="AP112">{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5112770,00.html |title=Haggard steps down amid sex allegations |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |date=November 2, 2006 |access-date=2006-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107224943/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0%2C1299%2CDRMN_15_5112770%2C00.html |archive-date=November 7, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On November 2, 2006, senior church officials told Colorado Springs television station [[KKTV]] that Haggard had admitted to some of the claims made by Jones.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/4557411.html | title=Church Leader Says Haggard Admits To Some Indiscretions|publisher=KKTV | date=2006-11-03 | access-date = 2006-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518165942/http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/4557411.html|archive-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> In an e-mail to New Life Church parishioners sent on the evening of November 2, Acting Senior Pastor Ross Parsley wrote, "It is important for you to know that he [Haggard] confessed to the overseers that some of the accusations against him are true."<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4597813 | title=Haggard admits buying meth | newspaper=Denver Post | date=2006-12-06 |first=Mike | last=McPhee |author2=Eric Gorski  | access-date = 2007-01-01}}</ref> Haggard admitted that he had purchased methamphetamine and received a massage from Jones, but denied using the drugs or having sex with Jones.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6430392|title=Haggard Admits Buying Drugs, Getting Massage|work=NPR|last=Whitney|first=Eric|date=November 3, 2006|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref>

As it became apparent that at least some of the claims were true, some evangelical leaders such as [[Pat Robertson]] and [[Jerry Falwell]] sought to distance themselves and downplay Haggard's influence on religious conservatives, his connections to the Bush administration, and the importance of the NAE.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/03/AR2006110301617.html | title=Minister Admits to Buying Drugs and Massage | newspaper=Washington Post | date=2006-11-04 | first=Alan | last=Cooperman | access-date=2006-11-16}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/03/haggard.allegations/ Church forces out Haggard for 'sexually immoral conduct'] 2006-11-03.</ref>

On November 4, 2006, the Overseer Board of New Life Church released a statement that Haggard had been fired as senior pastor: "Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct." Ross Parsley, the Associate Senior Pastor, was then named Haggard's successor. Haggard then entered counseling by a team including [[Jack Hayford]] and [[Tommy Barnett (pastor)|Tommy Barnett]] who stated their intention to "perform a thorough analysis of Haggard's mental, spiritual, emotional and physical life," including the use of polygraph tests. The team was to include James Dobson, who later stepped aside, citing time constraints. H. B. London, [[Focus on the Family]]'s vice president of church and clergy, took Dobson's place on the team.<ref name="Focus on the Family VP Joins Haggard Restoration Team">{{cite web |last=Donovan |first=Kevin |title=Focus on the Family VP Joins Haggard Restoration Team |website=The Christian Post |date=November 15, 2006 |url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061115/focus-on-the-family-vp-joins-haggard-restoration-team/index.html |access-date=July 23, 2009}}</ref> After the scandal was publicized, Haggard entered three weeks of intensive counseling, overseen by four ministers. In February 2007, one of those ministers, Tim Ralph, said that Haggard "is completely heterosexual."<ref>{{cite news |title=Haggard Pronounced 'Completely Heterosexual' |date=2007-02-06 |publisher=Associated Press |url= https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Haggard-Sex-Allegations.html?hp&ex=1170824400&en=e85aa315c9092d7e&ei=5094&partner=homepage | page =1 |access-date= 2007-02-06}}</ref>

On November 3, 2006, Haggard's resignation from his leadership role at the National Association of Evangelicals was accepted.<ref name="kktv-sex, drugs, writing">{{cite news | url=http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/5067391.html | title=Sex, drug allegations could affect Haggard's writing career | agency=Associated Press | first=Ted | last=Haggard | access-date=2007-01-09 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928122113/http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/5067391.html | archive-date=September 28, 2007 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Eventually, Haggard admitted to having used drugs<ref name="auto"/> and having been masturbated by Jones.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/story/pastor-ted-haggard|title=The Last Temptation of Ted|work=GQ|last=Roose|first=Kevin|date=January 26, 2011|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref>

===Other allegations===
On January 23, 2009, less than one week before ''The Trials of Ted Haggard'' was released on HBO, officials from Haggard's former church announced that a young male church member had come forward in 2006 and that there was an "overwhelming pool of evidence [of an] inappropriate, consensual sexual relationship [that] went on for a long period of time [with Haggard]... it wasn't a one-time act." Haggard's successor, [[Brady Boyd]], said the church reached a six-figure settlement with the man, who was in his early 20s at the time.<ref name="Newliferesponse">{{cite news|url=http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9729019 |title=New Life Addresses NEWSCHANNEL 13 Investigation |publisher=[[KRDO-TV]] |date=January 25, 2009 |access-date=2009-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204060159/http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9729019 |archive-date=February 4, 2009 }}</ref> According to the man, the contact was "not consensual".<ref name="Newliferesponse"/> Later reports indicated that the relationship did not involve physical contact, but that on one occasion Haggard masturbated in front of the young man.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/65-news-main/18250-reopening-old-wounds-for-new-life | title=Reopening Old Wounds for New Life | date=January 27, 2009 | work=Ministry Today Magazine | access-date = 2009-06-25}}</ref> The man, Grant Haas, added that New Life Church paid him $179,000 for counseling and college tuition.<ref>"[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,483405,00.html Former Church Member: Haggard Performed Sex Act]", Fox News/Associated Press, January 27, 2009.</ref>

Haggard openly admitted to an inappropriate relationship with Haas on [[CNN]] and in other media; when asked if he had had additional gay relationships that have been unreported, Haggard did not provide a direct answer.<ref>"[http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/29/lkl.ted.haggard/ Disgraced pastor Haggard admits second relationship with man]", CNN-TV Larry King, January 29, 2009.</ref>

On July 26, 2022 religionnews.com published an article on new allegations against Haggard. Stating "The most recent allegations were made by Kirk “Seth” Sethman, who was ordained as a minister by St. James Church in 2012. Sethman recorded the statements of two young adult men who said Haggard touched them inappropriately on several occasions at the church. One of them was a minor at the time the touching began in 2019. Sethman said he first approached church elders with allegations about Haggard in 2020."<ref>{{cite web
| url          = https://religionnews.com/2022/07/26/disgraced-pastor-ted-haggard-faces-new-allegations/
| title        = Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard faces new allegations
| last         = Shimron
| first        = Yonat
| date         = 2022-07-26
| website      = religionnews.com
| publisher    = Religion News Service
| access-date  = 2022-12-08}}</ref>