2008 Woodie Awards
Scandal met with thankfulness
Nathan Harrison, Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/14/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
The U.S. Congress was not the only governing body to see a change in leadership in recent weeks - accusations of sexual misconduct led to the Nov. 2 resignation of Colorado Springs pastor Ted Haggard as president of the National Association of Evangelicals. Haggard placed himself on administrative leave from his pastoral duties at New Life Church, following claims made by Mike Jones, a gay escort, that Haggard paid him for sex and methamphetamines over the course of several years.
As could be expected, the impact from the accusations is being most acutely felt among the congregation of New Life Church that Haggard built from the ground up. The source of the claims struck a nerve as well, since Haggard helmed a nationwide evangelical network (National Association of Evangelicals) that has made a point out of emphasizing marriage as between a man and a woman.
Despite a set of circumstances that could have opened the door for bitterness and counter-allegations from New Life, the church body has instead responded with an attitude of humility and even thankfulness for the scandal being made public.
Speakers in the church on the Sunday following Haggard's resignation emphasized not interpreting the revelation of the claims as political, since they so closely preceded the then-looming elections. Repeatedly, the point was made that if the allegations did have any effect on the outcome of votes on sensitive issues, it should be interpreted as God's will and not the result of political scheming.
Such a humble perspective comes like a breath of fresh air in an election year plagued by scandal, with many affected candidates accusing their opponents of timing accusations for maximum effect on the vote - and should indeed be the difference that distinguishes between those in Christian leadership who abuse the trust of those who have placed them in power.
And yet, that a protestant religious movement could have so much invested in one man seems to contradict many of the principles that led to the Protestant Revolution in the first place. Both the church and the evangelical movement that Haggard spearheaded were notable for their top-down authority structure, with multiple levels of leadership all ultimately gathering underneath his guiding influence.
As could be expected, the impact from the accusations is being most acutely felt among the congregation of New Life Church that Haggard built from the ground up. The source of the claims struck a nerve as well, since Haggard helmed a nationwide evangelical network (National Association of Evangelicals) that has made a point out of emphasizing marriage as between a man and a woman.
Despite a set of circumstances that could have opened the door for bitterness and counter-allegations from New Life, the church body has instead responded with an attitude of humility and even thankfulness for the scandal being made public.
Speakers in the church on the Sunday following Haggard's resignation emphasized not interpreting the revelation of the claims as political, since they so closely preceded the then-looming elections. Repeatedly, the point was made that if the allegations did have any effect on the outcome of votes on sensitive issues, it should be interpreted as God's will and not the result of political scheming.
Such a humble perspective comes like a breath of fresh air in an election year plagued by scandal, with many affected candidates accusing their opponents of timing accusations for maximum effect on the vote - and should indeed be the difference that distinguishes between those in Christian leadership who abuse the trust of those who have placed them in power.
And yet, that a protestant religious movement could have so much invested in one man seems to contradict many of the principles that led to the Protestant Revolution in the first place. Both the church and the evangelical movement that Haggard spearheaded were notable for their top-down authority structure, with multiple levels of leadership all ultimately gathering underneath his guiding influence.
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