New life church scandal

New Life Church is a non-denominational Christian church located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2007, the church was involved in a scandal surrounding the departure of its senior pastor, Ted Haggard.

Ted Haggard was the senior pastor of New Life Church from 1985 until his resignation in 2006. During his tenure, the church grew rapidly and became one of the largest churches in the United States. However, in 2006, Haggard was accused of having an affair with a male prostitute and using methamphetamine.

The scandal began when Mike Jones, a male prostitute, claimed that he had a three-year affair with Haggard and that the pastor had paid him for sex. Jones also claimed that Haggard had used methamphetamine during their encounters.

Haggard initially denied the allegations, but later admitted to "sexual immorality" and resigned as senior pastor of New Life Church. He also stepped down as president of the National Association of Evangelicals, a position he had held since 2003.

The scandal led to a significant decline in attendance at New Life Church, and the church's leadership was criticized for its handling of the situation. In 2008, the church's elders apologized for their handling of the scandal and acknowledged that they had failed to adequately address the allegations against Haggard.

In the years following the scandal, New Life Church has worked to rebuild its reputation and restore trust with its congregation. The church has implemented new policies and procedures to prevent similar scandals in the future, and it has also undergone significant changes in its leadership and governance structure.

Despite the scandal, New Life Church remains one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States. The church continues to be a major presence in the Colorado Springs community, and it remains a popular destination for Christians from around the world.

Some of the key events and developments in the New Life Church scandal include:

Overall, the New Life Church scandal was a significant event that had far-reaching consequences for the church and its leadership. While the scandal was damaging, the church has worked to rebuild its reputation and restore trust with its congregation.