Haggard to address

his fall from leadership

Vancouver church to host former

evangelical chief at pastors' event

    VANCOUVER, Wash. — Pledging that he will answer all questions presented to him here June 19-21, Ted Haggard will openly address the sex scandal that led to his stunning fall from American evangelical leadership a year and a half ago.
     Living Hope Church, 10702 N.E. 117th Ave., has invited Haggard to speak at a special breakfast for pastors, church leaders and their spouses from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, June 19. Haggard, who will be accompanied by his wife, Gayle, also will be interviewed by Living Hope’s pastor, John Bishop, during worship services on Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21.
    “I have questions, like most of us, questions that will create a collision of truth and grace,” stated Bishop in a promotional letter. “How could this happen? Why would a man of God put his family through this? What will this do to the credibility of the Christian faith? These and many more questions flooded my mind, as I’m sure they did yours, and that’s why I believe it is important to hear from Ted and that’s why I have invited him.”
     According to Bishop, Haggard is very open to taking all questions. “He was great with it. He told me, ‘I want people to learn from my failures and mistakes.’ ’’
    Haggard turns 53 on June 27. As a result of the scandal, he resigned in November 2006 as pastor of 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., a church he had founded. He also stepped down from his presidency of the National Association of Evangelicals, representing 45,000 churches with 30 million members.
    The resignations came after Haggard acknowledged soliciting a male prostitute for homosexual sex and methamphetamine. Initially Haggard denied even knowing the prostitute, but as a media investigation proceeded he admitted that some allegations, such as his purchase of methamphetamine, were true. He later added “sexual immorality” to his list of confessions. He has since undergone intensive restoration counseling overseen by several ministers.
    Church leaders can reserve a seat at the free breakfast by going to www.livinghopechurch.com.