How to Calculate Pi by Throwing Frozen Hot Dogs
Throwing a pie in someone's face is good. Throwing food at pi is better. Believe it or not, of all the countless ways to approximate the most prolific irrational number in the universe, there are none quite as interesting or as surprisingly satisfying as throwing perfectly good food around your kitchen. In fewer steps than it takes to circumscribe your house in a circle of baguettes, you, too, can easily add a slice of pi into your dinner menu tonight. The best part is...it really works!
Steps
Select your food item to throw. There are a couple of qualifications. First, it must be long, thin, and straight, like a frozen hot dog, for example. There are lots of other items that fit this criterion including Otter Pops, celery sticks, and churros. (If you simply can't come to grips with throwing perfectly good food, see the Tips section for some additional ideas.) Second, it must be a reasonably stiff item. Third, it should be somewhere between six and eighteen inches long. The experiment can be performed otherwise, but read on, and you will see why this size is optimal.
Select the spot from where you will throw your mathematical cuisine. You will probably need about 6-10 feet in front of you as you will be throwing straight ahead.
Clear the area. The place at which you are throwing should be devoid of objects that your food item could possibly run in to. So, if you are throwing in your kitchen, consider moving the table into another room or at least throwing in such a way that your food won't hit the table during its flight.
Measure the length of your projectile (i.e. your frozen hot dogs). A tape measure should do the trick. Be as accurate as you can, even down to the millimeter, for best results.
Lay down masking tape in parallel strips across the floor as far apart as your projectile is long. The strips should be perpendicular to the direction you will be throwing (see picture below). Do about 6-10 strips if your item is 6-18 inches long; fewer, if longer; more, if shorter.
The throwing set-upGet a piece of paper and across the top make a column for “Tosses” and another column for "Crosses." The "Tosses" column is to keep track of how many times you throw your food item. The "Crosses" column is to keep track of how many times your item, once it lands and stops moving, is laying across one of the lines.
Now, get into position, and THROW YOUR FOOD! Throw just one item at a time. Once it is at rest, observe whether or not it is crossing one of the lines. If it is, put a tick under "Crosses" and a tick under "Tosses." If it isn't, just put a tick under "Tosses." Repeat this as many times as you like. You should start seeing some interesting results by around 100 to 200 throws (it doesn't take as long as it sounds, especially if you use a pack of 10 frozen hot dogs so you're not out retrieving the one hot dog after every throw).
Once you are done throwing your food, multiply the number of tosses by two and divide by the number of crosses. For example, if I threw 500 times, and it crossed 320 times, I would calculate 500 x 2 / 320. And, as if a miracle has occurred, you will have an approximation for pi! Now, don't you feel less stressed?
Tips
For those who are troubled by throwing perfectly good food, consider throwing sticks, dowels, bats, or a very stiff person. In fact, any item will do so long as it is long, thin, straight, and stiff.
If room is a concern, consider just drawing lines on a piece of paper and dropping toothpicks onto the paper from about three feet up. This definitely is not as refreshing as throwing food across the room, but it works.
The more the merrier! If two or three throw food together, you will get a better approximation faster because you will be able to get more throws in a shorter amount of time.
As long as you have your calculator, you could just press the "pi" key.
For the mathematically-inclined, this experiment is actually real! The proof and other details can be found at mathworld.wolfram.com: Buffon Needle Problem
Warnings
Remember that this is an experiment, so the idea is not to TRY and get the food to land on one of the lines. Just throw it randomly towards the lines. It should still land amongst them, but don't jinx the experiment by encouraging your dinner to land onto the tape.
Resist the temptation to use bananas. Not only are they not really straight, but they really won't last more than 50 throws before creating a big mess. Really.
Things You'll Need
Pen and Paper
Masking Tape
Calculator
Long, Thin, Straight, Stiff Food. Preferably a pack of frozen hot dogs
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
So it does appear that Haggard has been ousted by his church as leader. I wonder what will happen as far as his spiritual healing goes? It breaks my heart that another high profile evangelical Christian has fallen, even if I did not fully agree with his theology. It is going to be very interesting to see who the NAE picks as their next leader as well as who New Life Church gets as their next pastor. We so need to keep these things in prayer.
Disgraced pastor fired by church
RAW STORY
Published: Saturday November 4, 2006
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Embattled Evangelical Rev. Ted Haggard, who admitted yesterday to purchasing methamphetamines and soliciting a 'massage' from a gay escort, has been removed from his position at the New Life Church, according to a statement released by the church on Saturday.
While Haggard announced a leave of absence from the New Life Church on Friday, he was officially fired by the church board Saturday afternoon.
Excerpts from the New Life Church statement:
#
"We, the Overseer Board of New Life Church, have concluded our deliberations concerning the moral failings of Pastor Ted Haggard. Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct.
The language of our church bylaws state that as Overseers we must decide in cases where the Senior Pastor has "demonstrated immoral conduct" whether we must "remove the pastor from his position or to discipline him in any way they deem necessary."
In consultation with leading evangelicals and experts familiar with the type of behavior Pastor Haggard has demonstrated, we have decided that the most positive and productive direction for our church is his dismissal and removal.In addition, the Overseers will continue to explore the depth of Pastor Haggard's offense so that a plan of healing and restoration can begin.
Pastor Haggard and his wife have been informed of this decision. They have agreed as well that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected according to the rules of replacement in the bylaws. That process will begin immediately in hopes that a new pastor can be confirmed by the end of the year 2006. In the interim, Ross Parsley will function as the leader of the church with full support of the Overseers.
A letter of explanation and apology by Pastor Haggard as well as a word of encouragement from Gayle Haggard will be read in the 9:00 and 11:00 service of New Life Church."
RAW STORY
Published: Saturday November 4, 2006
Print This Email This
Embattled Evangelical Rev. Ted Haggard, who admitted yesterday to purchasing methamphetamines and soliciting a 'massage' from a gay escort, has been removed from his position at the New Life Church, according to a statement released by the church on Saturday.
While Haggard announced a leave of absence from the New Life Church on Friday, he was officially fired by the church board Saturday afternoon.
Excerpts from the New Life Church statement:
#
"We, the Overseer Board of New Life Church, have concluded our deliberations concerning the moral failings of Pastor Ted Haggard. Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct.
The language of our church bylaws state that as Overseers we must decide in cases where the Senior Pastor has "demonstrated immoral conduct" whether we must "remove the pastor from his position or to discipline him in any way they deem necessary."
In consultation with leading evangelicals and experts familiar with the type of behavior Pastor Haggard has demonstrated, we have decided that the most positive and productive direction for our church is his dismissal and removal.In addition, the Overseers will continue to explore the depth of Pastor Haggard's offense so that a plan of healing and restoration can begin.
Pastor Haggard and his wife have been informed of this decision. They have agreed as well that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected according to the rules of replacement in the bylaws. That process will begin immediately in hopes that a new pastor can be confirmed by the end of the year 2006. In the interim, Ross Parsley will function as the leader of the church with full support of the Overseers.
A letter of explanation and apology by Pastor Haggard as well as a word of encouragement from Gayle Haggard will be read in the 9:00 and 11:00 service of New Life Church."
Friday, November 03, 2006
Haggard admits buying meth, says he got massage from accuser
LAST UPDATE: 11/3/2006 3:30:39 PM
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado church leader admits that he bought methamphetamine from a gay prostitute, and that he got a massage from him.
The admission from the Reverend Ted Haggard comes after Mike Jones accused him of paying for sexual encounters with him over the course of three years. As a result of the charges, Haggard resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals, which has 30 million members. He has also stepped down as leader of his 14,000 member New Life Church while the church investigates the charges.
Haggard told reporters that he bought the methamphetamine for himself. He says, "I was tempted, but I never used it." Haggard told reporters he bought the meth because he was curious -- but that he then threw it away.
He also says he never had sex with Jones. He says he received a massage from him after being referred to him by a Denver hotel.
Earlier, members of Haggard's church insisted that the charges were politically motivated -- coming just days before voters in Colorado and seven other states vote on amendments banning gay marriage. Jones admits that he went public with his claims because of the fight over the amendments -- and because Haggard and his church publicly oppose same-sex marriage.
LAST UPDATE: 11/3/2006 3:30:39 PM
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado church leader admits that he bought methamphetamine from a gay prostitute, and that he got a massage from him.
The admission from the Reverend Ted Haggard comes after Mike Jones accused him of paying for sexual encounters with him over the course of three years. As a result of the charges, Haggard resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals, which has 30 million members. He has also stepped down as leader of his 14,000 member New Life Church while the church investigates the charges.
Haggard told reporters that he bought the methamphetamine for himself. He says, "I was tempted, but I never used it." Haggard told reporters he bought the meth because he was curious -- but that he then threw it away.
He also says he never had sex with Jones. He says he received a massage from him after being referred to him by a Denver hotel.
Earlier, members of Haggard's church insisted that the charges were politically motivated -- coming just days before voters in Colorado and seven other states vote on amendments banning gay marriage. Jones admits that he went public with his claims because of the fight over the amendments -- and because Haggard and his church publicly oppose same-sex marriage.
Finally, a post not about Haggard...
Christian references infuse music, but...
By Ricardo Baca
Denver Post Pop Music Critic
Article Last Updated:11/02/2006 06:34:53 PM MST
As Page France singer Michael Nau sings about burning bushes and Jesus rising through the ground on his band's latest record, "Hello, Dear Wind," it's easy to be presumptuous.
They're a Christian band, right?
Technically, maybe, but perhaps not. As indie rockers from Nau to Sufjan Stevens are proving, that label is slippery - and confusing.
Much of Christian music's integration into the pop culture mainstream comes via the rockers who happen to be Christian - as opposed to the Christian rockers who wear their faiths on their sleeves and crosses around their necks. Each group of musicians is writing about what makes them tick, but one crafts its art with more subtlety, yet its intentions are never fully hidden by metaphor.
But how does a band choose the path of subtlety over outright preaching?
"It's a really big choice for a lot of Christian musicians: Are we a Christian band or are we Christians in a band," said Andrew Beaujon, a journalist and the author of "Body Piercing Saved My Life," an unbiased look at Christian rock. "You have to make the decision of what's the purpose of Christian music."
Is it a conversion tool? Or is it simply art? Indie rockers from Dave Bazan (Pedro the Lion), Jeremy Enigk (The Fire Theft, Sunny Day Real Estate), Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) and Sufjan Stevens have developed secular followings regardless of their faiths - and it's not always an easy road with certain listeners turned off by any mention of a god.
Which is where Page France comes in. The Maryland band's music is soft and sweet, melodic and melancholy, literate and lush - and heavily laced with Christian symbols, ideals and history. When the band plays the Hi-Dive tonight, it will surely play through the delightfully saccharine, xylophone-inflected "Junkyard," a chamber-pop delight that could be interpreted a number of ways, secular or religious.
But it could also take
Page France's music is soft and sweet, melodic and melancholy, literate and lush - and heavily laced with Christian symbols, ideals and history. on other tracks from "Hello, Dear Wind" - such as "Jesus" or "Bush," songs that, while artfully vague, are more pointed references to Nau's spirituality. Nau admits his writing comes in thematic sets, but insists they're straight from the subconscious.
"I didn't write ('Hello, Dear Wind') with a theme in mind or an agenda of any sort," Nau said recently from his home in western Maryland. "It was more of a stream-of-conscious kind of thing. I wrote all the songs in two weeks while we were recording, so I was definitely in the same mindset while writing it all."
Nau is weary of queries about religion's role in his music, something that is made obvious by the way he defends his creative process.
"I didn't intentionally adhere to any theme, and I wasn't trying to stress any point," he said, "but naturally, there's a theme within those songs."
From "Jesus," his lyrics are both sweetly naïve and knowingly staunch: "Jesus will come through the ground, so dirty/With worms in his hair and a hand so sturdy/To call us his magic, we call him worthy/Jesus came up through the ground, so dirty."
As the Pitchfork Media review of the record pointed out, "Nau's Jesus would rather sing and dance than condemn." And that childlike subtlety is perhaps what draws secular fans. David Lewis knows these artists' difficult plights all too well. As director of Riot Act Public Relations and Artist Management, he has worked with Page France and Dave Bazan. He has encountered critical resistance ranging from magazine journalists to his own family.
When Lewis was first working the Page France record, he lent it to his sister Kathryn. "She took it in her car, and she had the prototypical arc where she played it, got past the sweetness, really got into the music and then she heard the lyrics and 'Jesus came up from the ground,' and she immediately turned it off," said Lewis. "She said, 'It's not for me - too overwrought with Christian themes."'
Her reaction is typical, as the blogosphere is abuzz with baffled music fans debating their stance on the Page France "issue." But even with "Jesus," it's obvious Nau isn't out to convert anyone; that lack of proselytizing is what often brings fans over the line. Lewis' sister came to accept the record as great piece of music.
"On some level, those of us who aren't Christian are so bombarded with images and rhetoric that when we hear the word 'Jesus' it has much more to do with a personal motif than it has anything to do with the biblical or Christian right ideology," Lewis said. "When I see 'The 700 Club,' I get really upset because Pat Robertson represents a different side of this. But with indie rock, we can stand to be a little bit more open-minded and listen to things on face value."
Beaujon said he witnessed the spread of new fault lines after the 2004 re-election of President George W. Bush.
"David Bazan from Pedro the Lion won't even say he's a Christian because of what (evangelical Christianity) has come to mean culturally," said Beaujon. "Part of the cost of the political polarization is that Christianity has become a really loaded term, and it's hard for people to reconcile the basic fact that rock 'n' roll came out of the church."
Consider the upbringings of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and other early rockers: Gospel music and the Christian church - often a Pentecostal version of it - were seminal influences.
"If this is the environment you come from, and if your faith is important to you," Beaujon said, "you're gonna write about it."
But writing about it puts a musician in a precarious position. Many bands, including The Fray, who hail from Denver and are enjoying nationwide popularity, purposefully avoid religious issues in their music regardless of their devout faith. Other musicians' message is a baseball bat to the head. Then there are those in the middle - Page France, Stevens, Bazan & Co. - whose moderate approach leaves them scrutinized from both sides.
"Dave Bazan has been pigeonholed, and I worry about Page France in the same sense," said Lewis. "Here's a band that makes beautiful music. They're just being sincere, but when you go into a public sphere, you have to be ready to deal with that."
Pop music critic Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com.
Christian references infuse music, but...
By Ricardo Baca
Denver Post Pop Music Critic
Article Last Updated:11/02/2006 06:34:53 PM MST
As Page France singer Michael Nau sings about burning bushes and Jesus rising through the ground on his band's latest record, "Hello, Dear Wind," it's easy to be presumptuous.
They're a Christian band, right?
Technically, maybe, but perhaps not. As indie rockers from Nau to Sufjan Stevens are proving, that label is slippery - and confusing.
Much of Christian music's integration into the pop culture mainstream comes via the rockers who happen to be Christian - as opposed to the Christian rockers who wear their faiths on their sleeves and crosses around their necks. Each group of musicians is writing about what makes them tick, but one crafts its art with more subtlety, yet its intentions are never fully hidden by metaphor.
But how does a band choose the path of subtlety over outright preaching?
"It's a really big choice for a lot of Christian musicians: Are we a Christian band or are we Christians in a band," said Andrew Beaujon, a journalist and the author of "Body Piercing Saved My Life," an unbiased look at Christian rock. "You have to make the decision of what's the purpose of Christian music."
Is it a conversion tool? Or is it simply art? Indie rockers from Dave Bazan (Pedro the Lion), Jeremy Enigk (The Fire Theft, Sunny Day Real Estate), Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) and Sufjan Stevens have developed secular followings regardless of their faiths - and it's not always an easy road with certain listeners turned off by any mention of a god.
Which is where Page France comes in. The Maryland band's music is soft and sweet, melodic and melancholy, literate and lush - and heavily laced with Christian symbols, ideals and history. When the band plays the Hi-Dive tonight, it will surely play through the delightfully saccharine, xylophone-inflected "Junkyard," a chamber-pop delight that could be interpreted a number of ways, secular or religious.
But it could also take
Page France's music is soft and sweet, melodic and melancholy, literate and lush - and heavily laced with Christian symbols, ideals and history. on other tracks from "Hello, Dear Wind" - such as "Jesus" or "Bush," songs that, while artfully vague, are more pointed references to Nau's spirituality. Nau admits his writing comes in thematic sets, but insists they're straight from the subconscious.
"I didn't write ('Hello, Dear Wind') with a theme in mind or an agenda of any sort," Nau said recently from his home in western Maryland. "It was more of a stream-of-conscious kind of thing. I wrote all the songs in two weeks while we were recording, so I was definitely in the same mindset while writing it all."
Nau is weary of queries about religion's role in his music, something that is made obvious by the way he defends his creative process.
"I didn't intentionally adhere to any theme, and I wasn't trying to stress any point," he said, "but naturally, there's a theme within those songs."
From "Jesus," his lyrics are both sweetly naïve and knowingly staunch: "Jesus will come through the ground, so dirty/With worms in his hair and a hand so sturdy/To call us his magic, we call him worthy/Jesus came up through the ground, so dirty."
As the Pitchfork Media review of the record pointed out, "Nau's Jesus would rather sing and dance than condemn." And that childlike subtlety is perhaps what draws secular fans. David Lewis knows these artists' difficult plights all too well. As director of Riot Act Public Relations and Artist Management, he has worked with Page France and Dave Bazan. He has encountered critical resistance ranging from magazine journalists to his own family.
When Lewis was first working the Page France record, he lent it to his sister Kathryn. "She took it in her car, and she had the prototypical arc where she played it, got past the sweetness, really got into the music and then she heard the lyrics and 'Jesus came up from the ground,' and she immediately turned it off," said Lewis. "She said, 'It's not for me - too overwrought with Christian themes."'
Her reaction is typical, as the blogosphere is abuzz with baffled music fans debating their stance on the Page France "issue." But even with "Jesus," it's obvious Nau isn't out to convert anyone; that lack of proselytizing is what often brings fans over the line. Lewis' sister came to accept the record as great piece of music.
"On some level, those of us who aren't Christian are so bombarded with images and rhetoric that when we hear the word 'Jesus' it has much more to do with a personal motif than it has anything to do with the biblical or Christian right ideology," Lewis said. "When I see 'The 700 Club,' I get really upset because Pat Robertson represents a different side of this. But with indie rock, we can stand to be a little bit more open-minded and listen to things on face value."
Beaujon said he witnessed the spread of new fault lines after the 2004 re-election of President George W. Bush.
"David Bazan from Pedro the Lion won't even say he's a Christian because of what (evangelical Christianity) has come to mean culturally," said Beaujon. "Part of the cost of the political polarization is that Christianity has become a really loaded term, and it's hard for people to reconcile the basic fact that rock 'n' roll came out of the church."
Consider the upbringings of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and other early rockers: Gospel music and the Christian church - often a Pentecostal version of it - were seminal influences.
"If this is the environment you come from, and if your faith is important to you," Beaujon said, "you're gonna write about it."
But writing about it puts a musician in a precarious position. Many bands, including The Fray, who hail from Denver and are enjoying nationwide popularity, purposefully avoid religious issues in their music regardless of their devout faith. Other musicians' message is a baseball bat to the head. Then there are those in the middle - Page France, Stevens, Bazan & Co. - whose moderate approach leaves them scrutinized from both sides.
"Dave Bazan has been pigeonholed, and I worry about Page France in the same sense," said Lewis. "Here's a band that makes beautiful music. They're just being sincere, but when you go into a public sphere, you have to be ready to deal with that."
Pop music critic Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com.
Haggard's accuser fails lie detector
By Mike McPhee
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated:11/03/2006 08:31:24 AM MST
Ted Haggard's accuser failed a polygraph test early this morning about the truthfulness of his accusations that he had had a three-year homosexual affair with the influential Colorado Springs minister.
The test was given to Michael Jones, 49, an admitted male prostitute, who made the allegations on the Peter Boyles Show on radio station KHOW Thursday morning.
The shocking allegations were denied by Haggard, who told KUSA-9News he never took part in a homosexual affair and had always been faithful to his wife, with whom he has 5 children.
So Boyles invited Jones to take a polygraph test at 5 a.m. this morning.
The test administrator, John Kresnik, said Jones' score indicated "deceptions" in his answers. However, Kresnik said he doubted the accuracy of the test he administered because of the recent stress on Jones and his inability to eat or sleep, according to KHOW producer Greg Hollenback.
Kresnik suggested that Jones be re-tested early next week after he was rested.
By Mike McPhee
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated:11/03/2006 08:31:24 AM MST
Ted Haggard's accuser failed a polygraph test early this morning about the truthfulness of his accusations that he had had a three-year homosexual affair with the influential Colorado Springs minister.
The test was given to Michael Jones, 49, an admitted male prostitute, who made the allegations on the Peter Boyles Show on radio station KHOW Thursday morning.
The shocking allegations were denied by Haggard, who told KUSA-9News he never took part in a homosexual affair and had always been faithful to his wife, with whom he has 5 children.
So Boyles invited Jones to take a polygraph test at 5 a.m. this morning.
The test administrator, John Kresnik, said Jones' score indicated "deceptions" in his answers. However, Kresnik said he doubted the accuracy of the test he administered because of the recent stress on Jones and his inability to eat or sleep, according to KHOW producer Greg Hollenback.
Kresnik suggested that Jones be re-tested early next week after he was rested.
A Mega-Scandal for a Mega-Church
One of America's most powerful evangelicals is accused of paying for a male prostitute even as his state approaches a referendum on gay marriage
By RITA HEALY/DENVER
SUBSCRIBE TO TIMEPRINTE-MAILMORE BY AUTHOR
Posted Friday, Nov. 03, 2006
"I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver," Ted Haggard said with a calm specificity during an interview with a Denver TV reporter on Wednesday night as controversy broke around him. " I am steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife." Nevertheless, the pastor of one of the most prominent mega-churches in the country — and one of President George W. Bush's advisors on evangelical issues — has taken a leave of absence from his own 14,000-member New Life Church and temporarily resigned as president of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals, which represents more than 45,000 evangelical churches across the U.S., after Mike Jones, a gay massage therapist — and self described professional male escort in Denver — told local radio and TV stations that he sold Haggard gay sex for three years. Jones also said that Haggard used drugs with him. Haggard was one of Time's 25 Most Important Evangelicals in 2005. Last night, New Life Church's acting senior pastor Ross Parsley told Denver's KTTV News that Haggard had confessed to some of the alleged indiscretions. In a statement released Thursday, Haggard said, "I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."
In an interview with Time, Jones described the alleged relationship as "strictly sex" and "no emotions." He says the encounters occurred "about once a month." Jones says that Haggard "never brought up anything about what he did for a living. He always went by the name Art. The only thing he brought up about his personal life was that he was married. He never talked about the church, nothing. He said he was from Kansas City." Jones says he did not discover who "Art" was for "about two and a half years." Then, he says, "one time I was watching the History Channel and they were doing a show on the antichrist, and lo and behold his face popped up as an expert. I went, omigod it's Art, that's the guy I'm seeing." Jones says he decided to expose Haggard because of the alleged hypocrisy. "Here's a guy who put himself on a really high pedestal for millions and millions of followers, and he let them down. And his family." He adds, "I could have blackmailed him. God, I could use the money. I could have blackmailed him; that would have been really easy to do. But I didn't. So no, there's no backing behind me at all. I came out on my own." The Rocky Mountain News says that Jones appeared in bankruptcy court last year and told the judge he's an unemployed fitness consultant. Haggard claims not to know who Jones is. "What did you say his name is again?" he asked a reporter at one point
For now, four senior pastors who do not belong to the New Life Church will be investigating the allegations by Jones. Haggard says they have the authority to discipline him, fire him or exonerate him of the charges. An attorney for the New Life Church says that Haggard's stepping aside is purely pro-forma and not an admission of wrongdoing until the investigation is concluded. The pastor has intimated that the allegations may be an electioneering ploy. He supports Amendment 43 on the Colorado state ballot on Nov. 7, which would add a new section to the state constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Another question on the ballot> — Referendum I — would allow gays and lesbians to form legally protected domestic partnerships. While Haggard is not seen as a firebreather on the issue, and insists he supports the civil rights of all groups, he has expressed no interest in supporting Referendum I. At this point, one poll shows that Amendment 43 has 53% support; while Referendum I has 47%.
Jones too says that the elections may have played a part in their relationship. However, he believes that Haggard stopped seeing him after August of this year because the vote on marriage was approaching and the clergyman did not want to risk being caught in a compromising position. "My gut feeling is that the elections were coming up and we have the two amendments and he decided to lie low. And the whole [Congressman Mark] Foley thing was coming out. The last three times I saw him, I knew who he was. I never said anything. We really didn't talk."
Haggard had also been receiving attention for his appearance in the documentary Jesus Camp, a film about the religious training of children in Pentecostal seminars. Haggard put out the word to evangelical groups to avoid the film. In it, he is seen telling a crowd, "We don't have to have a debate about what we think about homosexual activity. It's written in the Bible." Shortly after that, Haggard looks mockingly into the camera to say, "I think I know what you did last night. If you send me a thousand dollars, I won't tell your wife." The crowd responds with peals of laughter. Then he says with a wide smile, "If you use any of this, I'll sue you."
Kent Lemburg, a gay massage therapist, says he knows Jones. "He'd always advertise himself in the back of Out Front," a local publication that is a directory and guide to the local gay scene. "He's a body builder. He definitely is an escort."
In an ad in Out Front's website, there is a photograph with a bare-chested man called Mike who purports to have appeared in Men's Health, Playgirl and a number of gay skin magazines. It also says, "Performers from Broadway shows call upon my services when on tour. If you would like an incredible massage by a handsome, athletic, masculine man, please call me. Hey, I'm also a nice guy."
One of America's most powerful evangelicals is accused of paying for a male prostitute even as his state approaches a referendum on gay marriage
By RITA HEALY/DENVER
SUBSCRIBE TO TIMEPRINTE-MAILMORE BY AUTHOR
Posted Friday, Nov. 03, 2006
"I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver," Ted Haggard said with a calm specificity during an interview with a Denver TV reporter on Wednesday night as controversy broke around him. " I am steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife." Nevertheless, the pastor of one of the most prominent mega-churches in the country — and one of President George W. Bush's advisors on evangelical issues — has taken a leave of absence from his own 14,000-member New Life Church and temporarily resigned as president of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals, which represents more than 45,000 evangelical churches across the U.S., after Mike Jones, a gay massage therapist — and self described professional male escort in Denver — told local radio and TV stations that he sold Haggard gay sex for three years. Jones also said that Haggard used drugs with him. Haggard was one of Time's 25 Most Important Evangelicals in 2005. Last night, New Life Church's acting senior pastor Ross Parsley told Denver's KTTV News that Haggard had confessed to some of the alleged indiscretions. In a statement released Thursday, Haggard said, "I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."
In an interview with Time, Jones described the alleged relationship as "strictly sex" and "no emotions." He says the encounters occurred "about once a month." Jones says that Haggard "never brought up anything about what he did for a living. He always went by the name Art. The only thing he brought up about his personal life was that he was married. He never talked about the church, nothing. He said he was from Kansas City." Jones says he did not discover who "Art" was for "about two and a half years." Then, he says, "one time I was watching the History Channel and they were doing a show on the antichrist, and lo and behold his face popped up as an expert. I went, omigod it's Art, that's the guy I'm seeing." Jones says he decided to expose Haggard because of the alleged hypocrisy. "Here's a guy who put himself on a really high pedestal for millions and millions of followers, and he let them down. And his family." He adds, "I could have blackmailed him. God, I could use the money. I could have blackmailed him; that would have been really easy to do. But I didn't. So no, there's no backing behind me at all. I came out on my own." The Rocky Mountain News says that Jones appeared in bankruptcy court last year and told the judge he's an unemployed fitness consultant. Haggard claims not to know who Jones is. "What did you say his name is again?" he asked a reporter at one point
For now, four senior pastors who do not belong to the New Life Church will be investigating the allegations by Jones. Haggard says they have the authority to discipline him, fire him or exonerate him of the charges. An attorney for the New Life Church says that Haggard's stepping aside is purely pro-forma and not an admission of wrongdoing until the investigation is concluded. The pastor has intimated that the allegations may be an electioneering ploy. He supports Amendment 43 on the Colorado state ballot on Nov. 7, which would add a new section to the state constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Another question on the ballot> — Referendum I — would allow gays and lesbians to form legally protected domestic partnerships. While Haggard is not seen as a firebreather on the issue, and insists he supports the civil rights of all groups, he has expressed no interest in supporting Referendum I. At this point, one poll shows that Amendment 43 has 53% support; while Referendum I has 47%.
Jones too says that the elections may have played a part in their relationship. However, he believes that Haggard stopped seeing him after August of this year because the vote on marriage was approaching and the clergyman did not want to risk being caught in a compromising position. "My gut feeling is that the elections were coming up and we have the two amendments and he decided to lie low. And the whole [Congressman Mark] Foley thing was coming out. The last three times I saw him, I knew who he was. I never said anything. We really didn't talk."
Haggard had also been receiving attention for his appearance in the documentary Jesus Camp, a film about the religious training of children in Pentecostal seminars. Haggard put out the word to evangelical groups to avoid the film. In it, he is seen telling a crowd, "We don't have to have a debate about what we think about homosexual activity. It's written in the Bible." Shortly after that, Haggard looks mockingly into the camera to say, "I think I know what you did last night. If you send me a thousand dollars, I won't tell your wife." The crowd responds with peals of laughter. Then he says with a wide smile, "If you use any of this, I'll sue you."
Kent Lemburg, a gay massage therapist, says he knows Jones. "He'd always advertise himself in the back of Out Front," a local publication that is a directory and guide to the local gay scene. "He's a body builder. He definitely is an escort."
In an ad in Out Front's website, there is a photograph with a bare-chested man called Mike who purports to have appeared in Men's Health, Playgirl and a number of gay skin magazines. It also says, "Performers from Broadway shows call upon my services when on tour. If you would like an incredible massage by a handsome, athletic, masculine man, please call me. Hey, I'm also a nice guy."
Yeah Yeah I know. Lots of stories here on Ted Haggard. I'm following this story pretty close because I know how high the stakes are. I am posting stories that reveal any new info as I find them. I'll try not to post stories that simply repeat what has already been said.
The reason the stakes are so high here is that Haggard is the new poster boy for Evangelicals. I'm not a real big fan; I'm thinking we could have a much better person in there, but nevertheless, que sera sera. Keep tuning in.
The reason the stakes are so high here is that Haggard is the new poster boy for Evangelicals. I'm not a real big fan; I'm thinking we could have a much better person in there, but nevertheless, que sera sera. Keep tuning in.
Report: Voice Expert ID's Ted Haggard's Voice
By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:45:00 AM EST
Update: Church says Haggard confessed to some, but not all, of the allegations against him. My speculation: He confessed to buying meth from Jones.
**********
Denver's 9 News tonight reports a voice expert has analyzed paid escort Mike Jones' voicemail evidence against Ted Haggard and concluded the voice is Haggard's.
Jones turned over two voicemails to the station which had them analyzed by Richard Sanders, who it says is an expert voice analyst.
The first voice message, left on August 4 at 2:18 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art. Hey, I was just calling to see if we could get any more. Either $100 or $200 supply. And I could pick it up really anytime I could get it tomorrow or we could wait till next week sometime and so I also wanted to get your address. I could send you some money for inventory but that's probably not working, so if you have it then go ahead and get what you can and I may buzz up there later today, but I doubt your schedule would allow that unless you have some in the house. Okay, I'll check in with you later. Thanks a lot, bye."
The second voice message, left on August 4 at 5:10 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art, I am here in Denver and sorry that I missed you. But as I said, if you want to go ahead and get the stuff, then that would be great. And I'll get it sometime next week or the week after or whenever. I will call though you early next week to see what's most convenient for you. Okay? Thanks a lot, bye."
Here's the video of the newscast. Jones claims Art is referring to methamphetamine in the messages. The station reports that Haggert's middle name is Arthur.
Here's the video of Haggard's 10 minute interview with the station in which he denies the allegations. He seems downright friendly about it and quite willing for the Church's investigation to take over.
He also says that while he supports the gay marriage amendment, he has not opposed the civil union referendum on the Colorado ballot, believing that's a societal matter. He says he has always supported civil rights. He does believe, however, that G-d's preferred plan for men and women is heterosexuality.
By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:45:00 AM EST
Update: Church says Haggard confessed to some, but not all, of the allegations against him. My speculation: He confessed to buying meth from Jones.
**********
Denver's 9 News tonight reports a voice expert has analyzed paid escort Mike Jones' voicemail evidence against Ted Haggard and concluded the voice is Haggard's.
Jones turned over two voicemails to the station which had them analyzed by Richard Sanders, who it says is an expert voice analyst.
The first voice message, left on August 4 at 2:18 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art. Hey, I was just calling to see if we could get any more. Either $100 or $200 supply. And I could pick it up really anytime I could get it tomorrow or we could wait till next week sometime and so I also wanted to get your address. I could send you some money for inventory but that's probably not working, so if you have it then go ahead and get what you can and I may buzz up there later today, but I doubt your schedule would allow that unless you have some in the house. Okay, I'll check in with you later. Thanks a lot, bye."
The second voice message, left on August 4 at 5:10 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art, I am here in Denver and sorry that I missed you. But as I said, if you want to go ahead and get the stuff, then that would be great. And I'll get it sometime next week or the week after or whenever. I will call though you early next week to see what's most convenient for you. Okay? Thanks a lot, bye."
Here's the video of the newscast. Jones claims Art is referring to methamphetamine in the messages. The station reports that Haggert's middle name is Arthur.
Here's the video of Haggard's 10 minute interview with the station in which he denies the allegations. He seems downright friendly about it and quite willing for the Church's investigation to take over.
He also says that while he supports the gay marriage amendment, he has not opposed the civil union referendum on the Colorado ballot, believing that's a societal matter. He says he has always supported civil rights. He does believe, however, that G-d's preferred plan for men and women is heterosexuality.
Report: Voice Expert ID's Ted Haggard's Voice
By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:45:00 AM EST
Update: Church says Haggard confessed to some, but not all, of the allegations against him. My speculation: He confessed to buying meth from Jones.
**********
Denver's 9 News tonight reports a voice expert has analyzed paid escort Mike Jones' voicemail evidence against Ted Haggard and concluded the voice is Haggard's.
Jones turned over two voicemails to the station which had them analyzed by Richard Sanders, who it says is an expert voice analyst.
The first voice message, left on August 4 at 2:18 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art. Hey, I was just calling to see if we could get any more. Either $100 or $200 supply. And I could pick it up really anytime I could get it tomorrow or we could wait till next week sometime and so I also wanted to get your address. I could send you some money for inventory but that's probably not working, so if you have it then go ahead and get what you can and I may buzz up there later today, but I doubt your schedule would allow that unless you have some in the house. Okay, I'll check in with you later. Thanks a lot, bye."
The second voice message, left on August 4 at 5:10 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art, I am here in Denver and sorry that I missed you. But as I said, if you want to go ahead and get the stuff, then that would be great. And I'll get it sometime next week or the week after or whenever. I will call though you early next week to see what's most convenient for you. Okay? Thanks a lot, bye."
Here's the video of the newscast. Jones claims Art is referring to methamphetamine in the messages. The station reports that Haggert's middle name is Arthur.
Here's the video of Haggard's 10 minute interview with the station in which he denies the allegations. He seems downright friendly about it and quite willing for the Church's investigation to take over.
He also says that while he supports the gay marriage amendment, he has not opposed the civil union referendum on the Colorado ballot, believing that's a societal matter. He says he has always supported civil rights. He does believe, however, that G-d's preferred plan for men and women is heterosexuality.
By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 03:45:00 AM EST
Update: Church says Haggard confessed to some, but not all, of the allegations against him. My speculation: He confessed to buying meth from Jones.
**********
Denver's 9 News tonight reports a voice expert has analyzed paid escort Mike Jones' voicemail evidence against Ted Haggard and concluded the voice is Haggard's.
Jones turned over two voicemails to the station which had them analyzed by Richard Sanders, who it says is an expert voice analyst.
The first voice message, left on August 4 at 2:18 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art. Hey, I was just calling to see if we could get any more. Either $100 or $200 supply. And I could pick it up really anytime I could get it tomorrow or we could wait till next week sometime and so I also wanted to get your address. I could send you some money for inventory but that's probably not working, so if you have it then go ahead and get what you can and I may buzz up there later today, but I doubt your schedule would allow that unless you have some in the house. Okay, I'll check in with you later. Thanks a lot, bye."
The second voice message, left on August 4 at 5:10 p.m., says:
"Hi Mike, this is Art, I am here in Denver and sorry that I missed you. But as I said, if you want to go ahead and get the stuff, then that would be great. And I'll get it sometime next week or the week after or whenever. I will call though you early next week to see what's most convenient for you. Okay? Thanks a lot, bye."
Here's the video of the newscast. Jones claims Art is referring to methamphetamine in the messages. The station reports that Haggert's middle name is Arthur.
Here's the video of Haggard's 10 minute interview with the station in which he denies the allegations. He seems downright friendly about it and quite willing for the Church's investigation to take over.
He also says that while he supports the gay marriage amendment, he has not opposed the civil union referendum on the Colorado ballot, believing that's a societal matter. He says he has always supported civil rights. He does believe, however, that G-d's preferred plan for men and women is heterosexuality.
Pastor Ted Haggard...Out of the Closet? (8 comments )
READ MORE: 2006, Rick Santorum, James Dobson, Supreme Court
There's really only one story here in Colorado at the moment....
The president of The National Association of Evangelicals and founding pastor of the 14,000 member New Life Church, Ted Haggard, has been accused of having a relationship with a 49 year-old gay male escort for the last three years.
Given the timing, it sure does smell like a smear especially with a gay marriage amendment on the ballot here in Colorado. But.... Pastor Ted has "temporarily" resigned from his posts both at the NAE and at New Life Church. While this is not a guilty plea, it doesn't look good.
New Life Church also cancelled a rally in support of Pastor Ted organized by another Colorado Springs pastor slated for this afternoon. That doesn't look good either.
The escort in question, a Mr. Mike Jones, claims he has recorded voicemail messages from Haggard and a letter from him containing $200.00 in cash. The evidence hasn't been released yet.
Here's the thing about Haggard: while he does support the anti-gay marriage amendment he's not as strident in his rhetoric about gays as so many other figures on the Christian right. For example, Haggard was in support of the 2003 Supreme Court decision to overturn the sodomy laws. He's also said that he wouldn't advocate positions that would make it harder for people to get health insurance or visit their partners in the hospital.
Based on the scant evidence that's been released, my thinking is this: If you're perpetrating a fictional smear, why not go after a fervently anti-gay figure? There's no shortage to choose from in this state. Why choose a Pastor who, however well known, isn't really as bad as Gary Bauer, James Dobson, Rick Santorum, etc... I mean, if you're going to lie you've got your choice of targets. Why this one?
I know some might think that if you're supporting an anti-gay marriage amendment that you're 100 percent bigoted and that's probably true to a limited degree, but check out an earlier post I wrote on this as well as a few more quotes from the man himself:
Here's Haggard in the Colorado Springs Independent:
"If the state wants to provide people who are in a different type of relationship the same benefits as marriage, that's up to the community," he says. "As a Christian, I would be hesitant to do anything that would deny people medical insurance or the ability to visit their partner in a hospital."
Another:
"We believe within the church that sexuality should be only between a married man and a woman," Haggard says. "But there are many things that I teach in the church that I would never want integrated into civil law."
Like I said, the news is still breaking and while the escort of the moment has agreed to take a lie detector test, the voicemail messages and the letter are still under wraps.
If this is true, this is a. big. deal. Pastor Ted has become one of the go to guys for national media looking to take the pulse of the almighty evangelical voting block. Pastor Ted's church has been the subject of a Harper's piece, a Tom Brokaw segment and numerous other stories.
Stay tuned as this thing will either explode nationally or disintegrate in the next 24 hours...
(Hat tip to Colorado Confidential.)
READ MORE: 2006, Rick Santorum, James Dobson, Supreme Court
There's really only one story here in Colorado at the moment....
The president of The National Association of Evangelicals and founding pastor of the 14,000 member New Life Church, Ted Haggard, has been accused of having a relationship with a 49 year-old gay male escort for the last three years.
Given the timing, it sure does smell like a smear especially with a gay marriage amendment on the ballot here in Colorado. But.... Pastor Ted has "temporarily" resigned from his posts both at the NAE and at New Life Church. While this is not a guilty plea, it doesn't look good.
New Life Church also cancelled a rally in support of Pastor Ted organized by another Colorado Springs pastor slated for this afternoon. That doesn't look good either.
The escort in question, a Mr. Mike Jones, claims he has recorded voicemail messages from Haggard and a letter from him containing $200.00 in cash. The evidence hasn't been released yet.
Here's the thing about Haggard: while he does support the anti-gay marriage amendment he's not as strident in his rhetoric about gays as so many other figures on the Christian right. For example, Haggard was in support of the 2003 Supreme Court decision to overturn the sodomy laws. He's also said that he wouldn't advocate positions that would make it harder for people to get health insurance or visit their partners in the hospital.
Based on the scant evidence that's been released, my thinking is this: If you're perpetrating a fictional smear, why not go after a fervently anti-gay figure? There's no shortage to choose from in this state. Why choose a Pastor who, however well known, isn't really as bad as Gary Bauer, James Dobson, Rick Santorum, etc... I mean, if you're going to lie you've got your choice of targets. Why this one?
I know some might think that if you're supporting an anti-gay marriage amendment that you're 100 percent bigoted and that's probably true to a limited degree, but check out an earlier post I wrote on this as well as a few more quotes from the man himself:
Here's Haggard in the Colorado Springs Independent:
"If the state wants to provide people who are in a different type of relationship the same benefits as marriage, that's up to the community," he says. "As a Christian, I would be hesitant to do anything that would deny people medical insurance or the ability to visit their partner in a hospital."
Another:
"We believe within the church that sexuality should be only between a married man and a woman," Haggard says. "But there are many things that I teach in the church that I would never want integrated into civil law."
Like I said, the news is still breaking and while the escort of the moment has agreed to take a lie detector test, the voicemail messages and the letter are still under wraps.
If this is true, this is a. big. deal. Pastor Ted has become one of the go to guys for national media looking to take the pulse of the almighty evangelical voting block. Pastor Ted's church has been the subject of a Harper's piece, a Tom Brokaw segment and numerous other stories.
Stay tuned as this thing will either explode nationally or disintegrate in the next 24 hours...
(Hat tip to Colorado Confidential.)
Church Leader Says Haggard Admits To Some Indiscretions
Interim Senior Pastor Says Haggard Admits Indiscretions -- Raw Interview
Ted Haggard Accused
Colorado Springs
Updated: 12:26 AM Nov 3, 2006
11 News
A sudden about-face in the scandal facing New Life Church's pastor.
After Pastor Ted Haggard went public Wednesday night denying allegations of a homosexual affair, senior church officials told KKTV 11News Thursday evening, Pastor Ted Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by a former male escort. The church's Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells KKTV 11 News that Pastor Haggard has admitted to some of the indiscretions claimed by Mike Jones, but not all of them.
Thursday morning, Jones went on a Denver radio talk show and said Pastor Haggard paid him for sex over the past 3 years. Jones also claims Haggard used drugs with him.
Right now, the situation is under investigation by an independent panel of leaders from four outside churches. The leaders are from Colorado Springs, Larkspur, Westminster and Louisiana. The panel's role is to decide if Haggard will be exonerated, released from his duties or restored to his pastorship.
Earlier Thursday, Haggard resigned as President of the National Association of Evangelicals, and placed himself on administrative leave as head of New Life Church. New Life Church has an estimated 14,000 members, while the NAE claims roughly 30 million members.
Interim Senior Pastor Says Haggard Admits Indiscretions -- Raw Interview
Ted Haggard Accused
Colorado Springs
Updated: 12:26 AM Nov 3, 2006
11 News
A sudden about-face in the scandal facing New Life Church's pastor.
After Pastor Ted Haggard went public Wednesday night denying allegations of a homosexual affair, senior church officials told KKTV 11News Thursday evening, Pastor Ted Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by a former male escort. The church's Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells KKTV 11 News that Pastor Haggard has admitted to some of the indiscretions claimed by Mike Jones, but not all of them.
Thursday morning, Jones went on a Denver radio talk show and said Pastor Haggard paid him for sex over the past 3 years. Jones also claims Haggard used drugs with him.
Right now, the situation is under investigation by an independent panel of leaders from four outside churches. The leaders are from Colorado Springs, Larkspur, Westminster and Louisiana. The panel's role is to decide if Haggard will be exonerated, released from his duties or restored to his pastorship.
Earlier Thursday, Haggard resigned as President of the National Association of Evangelicals, and placed himself on administrative leave as head of New Life Church. New Life Church has an estimated 14,000 members, while the NAE claims roughly 30 million members.
Dobson Criticizes Media For Reporting Haggard Allegation
Focus Chairman Calls Coverage of Unsubstantiated Rumor 'Unconscionable'
11/2/2006 1:40:00 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: State Desk
Contact: Gary Schneeberger of Focus on the Family, 719-548-5853, or culturalissues@family.org
COLORADO SPRINGS. Nov. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Focus on the Family founder and Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph.D., issued the following statement today addressing an allegation by a male prostitute in Denver that Ted Haggard was one of his clients:
"It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media would report 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.
"He has shown a great deal of grace under these unfortunate circumstances, quickly turning this matter over to his church for an independent investigation. That is a testament to the character I have seen him exhibit over and over again through the years."
http://www.usnewswire.com/
Focus Chairman Calls Coverage of Unsubstantiated Rumor 'Unconscionable'
11/2/2006 1:40:00 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: State Desk
Contact: Gary Schneeberger of Focus on the Family, 719-548-5853, or culturalissues@family.org
COLORADO SPRINGS. Nov. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Focus on the Family founder and Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph.D., issued the following statement today addressing an allegation by a male prostitute in Denver that Ted Haggard was one of his clients:
"It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media would report 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.
"He has shown a great deal of grace under these unfortunate circumstances, quickly turning this matter over to his church for an independent investigation. That is a testament to the character I have seen him exhibit over and over again through the years."
http://www.usnewswire.com/
Thursday, November 02, 2006
November 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From New Life Church
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Rev. Ted Haggard, Senior Pastor of New Life Church, stated today that he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning." He, therefore, placed himself on administrative leave, pending investigation, spiritual counsel, and a decision by the church's board of overseers. Pastor Haggard said, "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."
Under the governing structure of New Life Church, there is a board of overseers consisting of four senior pastors of other congregations. Those overseers have authority to conduct an inquiry, to discipline the senior pastor, to remove him from his position, or to restore him to ministry. The overseers of New Life Church are: Rev. Larry Stockstill, Senior Pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center, in Baker, Louisiana; Rev. Mark Cowart, Senior Pastor of Church For All Nations in Colorado Springs; Rev. Tim Ralph, Senior Pastor of New Covenant Fellowship in Larkspur, Colorado; and Rev. Michael Ware, Senior Pastor of Victory Church in Westminister, Colorado.
In the interim, New Life Church Associate Senior Pastor, Rev. Ross Parsley, will serve as Acting Senior Pastor of the church. Rev. Parsley has served in senior ministry positions at New Life Church for fifteen years. Rev. Parsley requested the community's compassion and prayers for the person who came forward with accusations, for the Haggard family, and for the New Life Church community. He also said, "New Life Church long ago adopted an overseer model of governance for situations just like this. People need to be patient and allow this process to unfold as it was designed to do."
Pastor Haggard also resigned today as President of the National Association of Evangelicals.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From New Life Church
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Rev. Ted Haggard, Senior Pastor of New Life Church, stated today that he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning." He, therefore, placed himself on administrative leave, pending investigation, spiritual counsel, and a decision by the church's board of overseers. Pastor Haggard said, "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."
Under the governing structure of New Life Church, there is a board of overseers consisting of four senior pastors of other congregations. Those overseers have authority to conduct an inquiry, to discipline the senior pastor, to remove him from his position, or to restore him to ministry. The overseers of New Life Church are: Rev. Larry Stockstill, Senior Pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center, in Baker, Louisiana; Rev. Mark Cowart, Senior Pastor of Church For All Nations in Colorado Springs; Rev. Tim Ralph, Senior Pastor of New Covenant Fellowship in Larkspur, Colorado; and Rev. Michael Ware, Senior Pastor of Victory Church in Westminister, Colorado.
In the interim, New Life Church Associate Senior Pastor, Rev. Ross Parsley, will serve as Acting Senior Pastor of the church. Rev. Parsley has served in senior ministry positions at New Life Church for fifteen years. Rev. Parsley requested the community's compassion and prayers for the person who came forward with accusations, for the Haggard family, and for the New Life Church community. He also said, "New Life Church long ago adopted an overseer model of governance for situations just like this. People need to be patient and allow this process to unfold as it was designed to do."
Pastor Haggard also resigned today as President of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Evangelical leader hit with sex claims
By CATHERINE TSAI
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years.
The Rev. Ted Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations."
The investigation came after a 49-year-old man told a Denver radio station that Haggard paid him to have sex.
Haggard, a married father of five, denied the allegations in an interview with KUSA-TV late Wednesday: "Never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife."
In a written statement, Haggard said: "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."
Haggard, a 1978 graduate of Oral Roberts University, was appointed president of the association in March 2003 and has been called one of the most influential evangelical Christians in the nation.
He has participated in conservative Christian leaders' conference calls with White House staffers and lobbied members of Congress last year on U.S. Supreme Court appointees after Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement.
The allegations come as voters in Colorado and seven other states get ready to decide Tuesday on amendments banning gay marriage. Besides the proposed ban on the Colorado ballot, a separate measure would establish the legality of domestic partnerships providing same-sex couples with many of the rights of married couples.
Mike Jones, 49, of Denver told The Associated Press he decided to go public with his allegations because of the political fight. Jones, who said he is gay, said he was upset when he discovered Haggard and the New Life Church had publicly opposed same-sex marriage.
"It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," said Jones, who added that he isn't working for any political group.
Jones, whose allegations were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver, claimed Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years.
Jones said that he had advertised himself as an escort on the Internet and that a man who called himself Art contacted him. Jones said he later saw the man on television identified as Haggard.
He said that he last had sex with Haggard in August and that he did not warn him before making his allegations this week.
Jones said he has voice mail messages from Haggard, as well as an envelope he said Haggard used to mail him cash, though he declined to make any of it available to the AP.
"There's some stuff on there (the voice mails) that's pretty damning," he said.
Carolyn Haggard, spokeswoman for the New Life Church and the pastor's niece, said a four-member church panel will investigate the allegations. The board has the authority to discipline Haggard, including removing him from ministry work.
"This is really routine when any sort of situation like this arises, so we're prepared," Carolyn Haggard said. "The church is going to continue to serve and be welcoming to our community. That's a priority."
Richard Cizik, vice president for government affairs for the evangelicals association, expressed shock.
"Is this something I can imagine of Ted Haggard? No," he said.
By CATHERINE TSAI
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of the drive for same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years.
The Rev. Ted Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations."
The investigation came after a 49-year-old man told a Denver radio station that Haggard paid him to have sex.
Haggard, a married father of five, denied the allegations in an interview with KUSA-TV late Wednesday: "Never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife."
In a written statement, Haggard said: "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."
Haggard, a 1978 graduate of Oral Roberts University, was appointed president of the association in March 2003 and has been called one of the most influential evangelical Christians in the nation.
He has participated in conservative Christian leaders' conference calls with White House staffers and lobbied members of Congress last year on U.S. Supreme Court appointees after Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement.
The allegations come as voters in Colorado and seven other states get ready to decide Tuesday on amendments banning gay marriage. Besides the proposed ban on the Colorado ballot, a separate measure would establish the legality of domestic partnerships providing same-sex couples with many of the rights of married couples.
Mike Jones, 49, of Denver told The Associated Press he decided to go public with his allegations because of the political fight. Jones, who said he is gay, said he was upset when he discovered Haggard and the New Life Church had publicly opposed same-sex marriage.
"It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," said Jones, who added that he isn't working for any political group.
Jones, whose allegations were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver, claimed Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years.
Jones said that he had advertised himself as an escort on the Internet and that a man who called himself Art contacted him. Jones said he later saw the man on television identified as Haggard.
He said that he last had sex with Haggard in August and that he did not warn him before making his allegations this week.
Jones said he has voice mail messages from Haggard, as well as an envelope he said Haggard used to mail him cash, though he declined to make any of it available to the AP.
"There's some stuff on there (the voice mails) that's pretty damning," he said.
Carolyn Haggard, spokeswoman for the New Life Church and the pastor's niece, said a four-member church panel will investigate the allegations. The board has the authority to discipline Haggard, including removing him from ministry work.
"This is really routine when any sort of situation like this arises, so we're prepared," Carolyn Haggard said. "The church is going to continue to serve and be welcoming to our community. That's a priority."
Richard Cizik, vice president for government affairs for the evangelicals association, expressed shock.
"Is this something I can imagine of Ted Haggard? No," he said.
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