Haggard: I’m not starting a church
September 30th, 2009, 7:19 pm · 10 Comments · posted by Mark Barna
Rumors about Ted Haggard starting a Colorado Springs church never seem to go away, and a story on Haggard in the latest edition of The Independent will no doubt fan the rumor flames.
But Haggard told me Wednesday, Sept. 30, that he is not starting a church and has not re-entered the ministry.
In a news release from The Independent, Haggard is quoted as saying he is now motivated “to re-enter full-time ministry” and is considering opening a church in Colorado Springs.
Here’s what Haggard says about that. “We have no plans to start a new church,” he told me, “ but (Gail and I) do consider it from time to time. We are regularly asked by people to start one, and that is flattering.”
Haggard also told me he has no plans to be a pulpit minister. He is currently making his living doing weekend speaking engagements at churches across the country, as I reported in The Gazette months ago. Last week, he said, he spoke at a church in Phoenix, and the week before that at a church in Orlando, Fla. “We’ve gotten more than enough invitations to fill the weekends,” Haggard said. “For the last six weeks it’s been non stop.”
But Haggard emphasized that he is not speaking as a pulpit minister. “We are guest speakers,” he said. “I am there as a Christian businessman. Not a pastor.”
And finally, Haggard took issue with The Independent saying in a news release, “Haggard also admits that despite prior denials, he was a repeat user of methamphetamines.”
”I initially denied using it in the beginning (but days later) admitted it,” Haggard told
haggard
me. “That’s been well known.”
Haggard says he’s enjoying Colorado Springs since returning from exile 15 months ago. He plans to stay here a long time.
“We are so grateful for the way Colorado Springs has responded to us and our family,” he said. “The city has provided a healing environment to all of us.”
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The man is a completely deluded liar extraordinaire! Of COURSE he’s going to try to start another church; another edifice to fleece hundreds of people out of their hard-earned money. Barna, tell him to his face that we do NOT want him preaching here in COS anymore. We don’t want his drama; we don’t want his hatred of gays (even though he IS one); we don’t want HIM, period. Tell him to go to another small, conservative city and take advantage of THEM. I cannot believe you are giving this guy ANY print whatsoever!
QM
Is is too late to bring out the tar and feathers??
Hey Meth Queen
LEAVE COLORADO
YOU ARE NOT WANTED
I certainly wish Ted and his family well. And of course starting a new church is on his mind …. its what he knows, kind of like how some people know to be laywers or mechanics. It was his career & im sure he misses it. But if he’s angry with the Indy for bringing up one of his demons, then its seems clear Ted still has some healing to do. He should focus first on getting to know himself.
I’m sorry, Ted who?
Lots of word parsing going on here, easy to see through.
- Not starting a “new” church. Okay, that leaves the door wide open to take over an existing church.
- Re-enter the ministry. Could mean many things, essentially an open-ended remark.
- Obviously, looking out his window at New Life Church a half mile away is an obsession. He considers it HIS church and he wants it back, badly. He liked being the big cheese, loved all the attention of the good old days, the political power he once had, and he wants that back too.
What’s the big deal? Everybody knows what happened. If he opens a church he would be one of the most open and honest pastors out there. He is not hiding anything anymore. What’s with all the hate pouring out of christian people who want him vanished from the face of the earth. Burn in hell for eternity because he made some mistakes which he as had to face completely? Some loving religion you all have!
The healthiest decision for Haggard and his family would be to go live somewhere other than Colorado Springs. God (and some people here) may forgive, but no one will forget. He intentionally deceived a lot of folks during his escapades. He no doubt caused a lot of anguish and pain to many.
Will he re-enter the ministry? I have no doubt. Will he start another church? Of course he will. This man’s ego is far too large for him to retreat where he won’t have an opportunity to be on the front page of all our local newspapers & the lead item on the nightly News.
Hey Mark,
Way to get comment on a story that neither you nor Haggard had even read. I know your site gets 15 hits/day, but I didn’t know that journalistic ethics or professionalism stopped as soon as you start calling it a blog.
You stay classy Gazette!
Thanks, Bob the Builder, for being my 15th hit of the day.
Best,
Mark Barna
Colorado Springs Gazette
Religion Reporter
[...] Haggard said just recently he had no plans to start a church, he changed his mind two weeks ago after talking to a friend in Florida who was involved in prayer [...]