Wednesday, November 08, 2006
What New Life Did Right
As many of you know, Ted Haggard served as a senior editorial adviser to Ministry Today and wrote a column in each issue of the magazine until this past May, when his increasing duties at New Life Church and the National Association of Evangelicals precluded his ongoing involvement. During the time he served in this role, we appreciated his warm personal encouragement and insight--as well as his incisive wit in writing and conversation. We're still reeling as we read the accusations, admissions and announcement of his resignation from the NAE and dismissal from the pastorate of the church he founded and successfully led for so many years.
We do not want to understate the long-term effect this scandal will have on New Life Church, the Body of Christ at large and the world's public perception of God's people. But while we are sobered by the events of the past week and vividly reminded of our own frailty and vulnerability to sin, we are also strangely relieved. Why? Because this could have gone so much worse had it occurred at one of many other charismatic congregations whose leaders do not have the sense to structure their church government to account for such a dreadful situation.
Consider the case of the Atlanta church essentially run by a family of untouchable religious potentates, several of whom have been accused of ethical and moral lapses, but who have maintained control of their church through a bizarre combination of blackmail, bribery and spiritual manipulation. The congregation of thousands has shriveled to a handful, leaving a trail of shattered and disillusioned souls.
Then, there's the Arlington, Texas, pastor who drugged women in his church with methamphetamines and then raped them. Although allegations of misconduct had swirled around him for some time, it was not until he was hauled off to prison to pay for his crimes, that his pastoral position was pried from his grasp ... and given to his wife.
This is not to say that denominational churches are immune to such spiritual thuggery. Most of us remember the Southern California pastor who divorced his wife, remarried a week later and pulled his 10,000-member church out of his denomination when its leaders had the guts to confront him for his outrageous conduct.
In contrast, the bylaws of New Life Church were written in such a way that within 72 hours of the initial allegations of Haggard's conduct, he had been investigated, removed from his post by a team of overseers and elders from inside and outside the church and placed in the restorative care of three respected church leaders.
This is not to say that the system worked perfectly--a "perfect" system would have prevented this scandal from occurring in the first place. As the story unfolds, it will doubtless be revealed that warning signs were ignored and safeguards were overlooked. Even the most efficient structures of accountability and discipline cannot contain the destructive forces of our human depravity. But the leaders to whom Haggard was accountable should be commended for the swift and decisive manner in which the situation was dealt with.
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Weigh in on this discussion by posting your comments below, and look for an in-depth exploration of accountability, discipline and restoration in the January/February issue of Ministry Today.
We do not want to understate the long-term effect this scandal will have on New Life Church, the Body of Christ at large and the world's public perception of God's people. But while we are sobered by the events of the past week and vividly reminded of our own frailty and vulnerability to sin, we are also strangely relieved. Why? Because this could have gone so much worse had it occurred at one of many other charismatic congregations whose leaders do not have the sense to structure their church government to account for such a dreadful situation.
Consider the case of the Atlanta church essentially run by a family of untouchable religious potentates, several of whom have been accused of ethical and moral lapses, but who have maintained control of their church through a bizarre combination of blackmail, bribery and spiritual manipulation. The congregation of thousands has shriveled to a handful, leaving a trail of shattered and disillusioned souls.
Then, there's the Arlington, Texas, pastor who drugged women in his church with methamphetamines and then raped them. Although allegations of misconduct had swirled around him for some time, it was not until he was hauled off to prison to pay for his crimes, that his pastoral position was pried from his grasp ... and given to his wife.
This is not to say that denominational churches are immune to such spiritual thuggery. Most of us remember the Southern California pastor who divorced his wife, remarried a week later and pulled his 10,000-member church out of his denomination when its leaders had the guts to confront him for his outrageous conduct.
In contrast, the bylaws of New Life Church were written in such a way that within 72 hours of the initial allegations of Haggard's conduct, he had been investigated, removed from his post by a team of overseers and elders from inside and outside the church and placed in the restorative care of three respected church leaders.
This is not to say that the system worked perfectly--a "perfect" system would have prevented this scandal from occurring in the first place. As the story unfolds, it will doubtless be revealed that warning signs were ignored and safeguards were overlooked. Even the most efficient structures of accountability and discipline cannot contain the destructive forces of our human depravity. But the leaders to whom Haggard was accountable should be commended for the swift and decisive manner in which the situation was dealt with.
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Weigh in on this discussion by posting your comments below, and look for an in-depth exploration of accountability, discipline and restoration in the January/February issue of Ministry Today.
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I believe the best response is found in these words, "The greatest test of character is our response to someone else's sin. If our responses are from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which emphasizes punishment instead of restoration, judgment instead of redemption or justice instead of mercy, then our responses might sow seeds that will ultimately destroy our own lives. But if our responses are out of the tree of life, we will not only protect our own hearts from subtle deception but will give the one who is in trouble maximum opportunity to find liberating life." - Ted Haggard, Life Giving Church
# posted by 
: 9:34 AM
: 9:34 AM
As a practicing lawyer (in Arlington of all things) who reviews church polices and procedures, your comments are dead on. Many independent churches have not considered any type of governance procedures for the moral failure of staff and/or members. Often when such an event occurs, a ministry split occurs between those supporting the offender and those who support the offended. Ted Haggard's church properly framed the governance policies and procedures to reflect the importance of the sheep instead of the fallen minister.
I have been following the story of Pastor Ted and watching the response of the American Church. I must praise God for you all in the manner you have handled the situation. I have observed that the Church has grown comparing past to present. I personally want to appreciate him for the work that he has done. The work that God gave him is still in one piece. The shepherd has been struck but he made sure to carry other shepherds to care for the flock while he is away. Thanks to the great team.
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# posted by : 11:40 AM
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