Haggard leaves posts amid gay-sex scandal

Former male escort says he, pastor had 3-year relationship

Todd Hartman, Charlie Brennan And John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 3, 2006 at midnight

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A Colorado Springs-based giant of the conservative Christian movement, with direct access to President Bush, stepped down Thursday as leader of the National Association of Evangelicals in the wake of allegations by a former male escort that the two had a three-year sexual relationship.

The Rev. Ted Haggard also took leave as senior pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church he founded in his living room in 1985.

Haggard said in a statement he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations."

He said he would step down to allow the church to carry out an investigation and so that he could "seek both spiritual advice and guidance."

His three-paragraph statement contained no denial of the allegations by 49-year-old Mike Jones, of Denver.

Jones, a bodybuilder and personal trainer, went public with a general claim of a sexual affair with a prominent pastor on Peter Boyles' morning talk show on KHOW radio Wednesday, but neither he nor Haggard was identified. KUSA's 9News first reported Haggard's and Jones' names Wednesday night.

Haggard, 50, initially denied the allegations, telling 9News Wednesday night that "I've never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife."

But KKTV in Colorado Springs reported that New Life Associate Senior Pastor Ross Parsley told a meeting of church elders Thursday night that Haggard had met with the church's overseers earlier in the day and "had admitted to some indiscretions."

Parsley told the elders that Haggard had said some of the allegations were true, but not all of them.

Jones said on Boyles' show Thursday he felt compelled to come forward because he believes Haggard, an opponent of gay marriage, is a hypocrite. Jones said he received money from Haggard for sexual liaisons in Denver and that he witnessed Haggard using methamphetamine.

"After sitting back and contemplating this issue, the biggest reason is being a gay man all my life - I have experience with my friends, some great sadness of people that were in a relationship through the years" and were not able to enjoy the same rights and privileges as a married man and woman, Jones told Boyles on air.

"I felt it was my responsibility to my fellow brothers and sisters, that I had to take a stand, and I cannot sit back anymore and hear (what) to me is an anti-gay message."

Jones, who has said he is no longer in the escort business, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year. Court records indicate Jones had debt surpassing $100,000 spread over nine credit cards and one personal loan.

In 2003, Jones was issued a ticket in Littleton, accused of a municipal ordinance violation for breaking out the door of a house he was trying to enter. Two others with him at the time were charged with drug possession. The outcome of the case couldn't be determined Thursday.

To bolster his allegations against Haggard, Jones offered to take a polygraph test. Boyles said Jones will take the test this morning and the results will be provided during his radio show.

His explosive charges come as Colorado voters are considering a constitutional amendment - backed heavily by the evangelical community - that would define marriage as between a man and a woman. Another measure, opposed by many evangelicals, would allow same-sex civil unions in the state.

The story also comes at a politically charged time nationally, with Republicans - who have leaned enormously on the vote of conservative Christians in recent years - already reeling from a series of congressional scandals. Those include one earlier this fall involving revelations that Republican congressman Mark Foley sent lurid, sexually suggestive messages to young men employed as congressional pages.

Haggard was well-known to the Bush administration. Various news articles over the years have made reference to Haggard's close ties to the White House, which sees the evangelical community as a major source of political support.

Last year, Harper's magazine, in a profile of Haggard, said "Pastor Ted" talked to Bush or his advisers on a weekly basis. Haggard was phoned personally by an administration official after Bush nominated conservative John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court last summer.

James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, a nationally known conservative Christian organization based in Colorado Springs, blasted the media for its "unconscionable" reporting of "a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation."

"Ted Haggard is a friend of mine, and it appears someone is trying to damage his reputation as a way of influencing the outcome of Tuesday's election - especially the vote on Colorado's marriage-protection amendment - which Ted strongly supports," Dobson said in a statement.

Whether the bombshell will have any fallout for Republicans in any state political races remains to be seen. "Our resolve has not been shaken," said Chuck Broerman, former chairman of the El Paso County GOP. "We are working hard for all of our great Republican candidates."

In regard to homosexuality, Haggard has been opposed to same-sex marriage, but hasn't been as outspoken against gays as some colleagues in the evangelical community, including Dobson, who recently warned voters in the 7th Congressional District that "homosexual youth" were working for Democrat Ed Perlmutter.

What's next

For Haggard:

• A board of overseers will conduct an inquiry into Mike Jones' allegations. The board consists of the Rev. Larry Stockstill, senior pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker, La.; the Rev. Mark Cowart, senior pastor of Church for All Nations in Colorado Springs; the Rev. Tim Ralph, senior pastor of New Covenant Fellowship in Larkspur; and the Rev. Michael Wade, senior pastor of Victory Church in Westminster. Depending on the outcome, the board could discipline Haggard, remove him from his position or restore him to ministry.

For Jones:

• Jones has agreed to take a polygraph test during Peter Boyles' show this morning on KHOW-AM (630) radio. The show airs from 5 to 9 a.m.

For the church:

• New Life Church Associate Senior Pastor Ross Parsley will serve as acting senior pastor. He has urged patience and respect for the investigative process.

hartmant@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5048

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