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Nick Langewis In November of 2006, Haggard resigned his leadership of the National Association of Evangelicals and tentatively let go of his post at the Church after Denver escort Mike Jones went public with accounts of his encounters with Haggard, which included gay sex and the acquisition and use of methamphetamines. Haggard would soon after confess "sexual immorality," lodge a solemn apology and later, in January of 2007, enter a "restoration program" in Phoenix. After three weeks with "handlers" backed by Focus on the Family, Haggard would emerge with a proclamation that he had become "completely heterosexual." The following statement, via Colorado Confidential, adds a new dimension to this claim: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ted Haggard's leadership of New Life Church for many years was extraordinary and the depth of spiritual maturity that is found today in the church is in large part attributed to his leadership as the founding senior pastor. In January 2007, Ted Haggard voluntarily agreed to enter a process of spiritual restoration. He has selected Phoenix First Assembly and Pastor Tommy Barnett as his local church fellowship and is maintaining an accountability relationship there. He has recently requested to end his official relationship with the New Life Church Restoration Team and this has been accepted by them. New Life Church recognizes the process of restoring Ted Haggard is incomplete and maintains its original stance that he should not return to vocational ministry. However, we wish him and his family only success in the future. Because spiritual restoration is a necessarily confidential process, the church does not anticipate that it, or its Overseers or Restorers will make further comment about it.
New Life Church announced founder and former senior pastor Ted Haggard's official departure Tuesday night.#
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Originally published on Thursday February 7, 2008.