Lessons from the Trials of Ted Haggard

It has been an interesting revisit back into the life of the fallen evangelical leader, Ted Haggard.

The leadership team and the members of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO will always have a warm place in my heart because I went to college with a lot of friends that either attend, work or are affiliated in some way with New Life Church. I just want to go on record and say that I love the ministry of New Life Church. Pastor Brady Boyd and his team have done and are doing an incredible job.

As you all know this week is the airing of the HBO documentary – “The Trials of Ted Haggard” produced by Alexandria Pelosi (daughter of Nancy Pelosi -Speaker of the House).

This week, more news was released pertaining to Ted’s unfortunate secret life plus additional national media coverage covering the scandal and update on Ted & Gayle Haggard on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.

One must stop to think what can this next generation of leaders take away from this  situation that we watched back in November 2006 and now revisiting again in January 2009.

A few things come to mind.

• Open accountability is everything
• Transparency locks-in real accountability
• Never let the ministry pull you away from growing daily in Christ

Will this be the last prominent Evangelical Leader to fall?

I wish I could say, yes. But, I doubt it. It’s very sad when these things happen, but the truth will always come to light. Be transparent with your close friends!

How should the Church respond to public Scandals?

The church should respond in compassion, love and acceptance to any fallen leader or person. If the world is viewed by responding in a compassionate way to a fallen leader and not the church, something is wrong. We must never forget that our main message is the message of forgiveness and compassion. Don’t let church politics in the moments of a scandal trump or fog the message or your ability to walk and live a life of forgiveness and compassion to leaders that fall.

Your Thoughts?