Pastors, church leaders get accountable today and save everyone some pain…..
J.R.

Here is New Life’s press release…

November 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From New Life Church
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Rev. Ted Haggard, Senior Pastor of New Life Church, stated today that he could “not
continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made on Denver
talk radio this morning.” He, therefore, placed himself on administrative leave,
pending investigation, spiritual counsel, and a decision by the church’s board
of overseers. Pastor Haggard said, “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.” Under the governing structure
of New Life Church, there is a board of overseers consisting of four senior
pastors of other congregations. Those overseers have authority to conduct an
inquiry, to discipline the senior pastor, to remove him from his position,
or to restore him to ministry. The overseers of New Life Church are: Rev. Larry
Stockstill, Senior Pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center, in Baker, Louisiana;
Rev. Mark Cowart, Senior Pastor of Church For All Nations in Colorado Springs;
Rev. Tim Ralph, Senior Pastor of New Covenant Fellowship in Larkspur, Colorado;
and Rev. Michael Ware, Senior Pastor of Victory Church in Westminister, Colorado.
In the interim, New Life Church Associate Senior Pastor, Rev. Ross Parsley,
will serve as Acting Senior Pastor of the church. Rev. Parsley has served in
senior ministry positions at New Life Church for fifteen years. Rev. Parsley
requested the community’s compassion and prayers for the person who came forward
with accusations, for the Haggard family, and for the New Life Church community.
He also said, “New Life Church long ago adopted an overseer model of governance
for situations just like this. People need to be patient and allow this process
to unfold as it was designed to do.” Pastor Haggard also resigned today as
President of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Here is the news report…

A sudden about-face in the scandal facing New Life Church’s pastor. After
Pastor Ted Haggard went public Wednesday night denying allegations of a homosexual
affair, senior church officials told KKTV 11News Thursday evening, Pastor Ted
Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by a former male escort. The
church’s Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells KKTV 11 News that Pastor
Haggard has admitted to some of the indiscretions claimed by Mike Jones, but
not all of them.

An email has also reportedly been sent to Church staff saying Haggard admitted
to some of the accusations.

What those indiscretions were remains a mystery. Mike Jones took a polygraph
examination, and was asked about his claim of a sexual relationship with Haggard.
The polygraph examination showed “some deception.” However, the person who
administered the test said on Denver radio station KHOW that the results could
be skewed by Jones’s “mental and physical exhaustion.”

Thursday morning, Jones went on a Denver radio talk show and said Pastor Haggard
paid him for sex over the past 3 years. Jones also claims Haggard used drugs
with him.

Right now, the situation is under investigation by an independent panel of
leaders from four outside churches. The leaders are from Colorado Springs,
Larkspur, Westminster and Louisiana. The panel’s role is to decide if Haggard
will be exonerated, released from his duties or restored to his pastorship.

Earlier Thursday, Haggard resigned as President of the National Association
of Evangelicals, and placed himself on administrative leave as head of New
Life Church. New Life Church has an estimated 14,000 members, while the NAE
claims roughly 30 million members.