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| Ted Haggard | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ted Haggard |
| Birth date | 1956-09-27 |
| Birth place | Indiana, United States |
| Occupation | Pastor, Evangelical leader |
| Known for | Founder of New Life Church; President of the National Association of Evangelicals |
Ted Haggard
Ted Haggard is an American evangelical pastor who founded New Life Church in Colorado Springs and served as president of the National Association of Evangelicals. He became a prominent figure within the evangelical movement, gaining influence among leaders associated with organizations such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Moral Majority, and the Christian Coalition of America. Haggard later became the center of a 2006 scandal that involved allegations from figures linked to ministries like the Association of Evangelicals and media outlets including The New York Times and Time.
Haggard was born in Indiana and spent his formative years in Midwestern communities associated with denominations such as the Assemblies of God and church networks linked to the Pentecostalism tradition. He attended religiously affiliated secondary and postsecondary institutions that connected him with leaders from seminaries and colleges like Oral Roberts University, Colorado Christian University, and institutions interacting with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Early influences included speakers from events like the Promise Keepers gatherings and preachers from the Southern Baptist Convention and Calvary Chapel circles.
Haggard moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado and planted a congregation that later became New Life Church, drawing congregants from networks tied to megachurch leaders such as Robert Schuller, Rick Warren, John Piper, Charles Stanley, and Joel Osteen. His pastoral approach reflected trends seen in movements connected to Seeker-sensitive services and organizational models employed by Willow Creek Community Church, Saddleback Church, and other large evangelical congregations. Haggard participated in events and coalitions alongside leaders from Focus on the Family, Cru, Young Life, and denominational executives from groups like the Assemblies of God and Southern Baptist Convention.
Under Haggard's leadership, New Life Church expanded into multiple campuses, resembling multisite strategies used by ministries such as Elevation Church, Hillsong Church, and LifeChurch.tv. His influence extended nationally when he was elected president of the National Association of Evangelicals, joining a roster of leaders that included figures from organizations such as the National Religious Broadcasters, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and philanthropic partners like the Knox Theological Seminary network. In that role he engaged with public figures and policymakers from institutions like the White House, the U.S. Senate, and faith-based initiatives aligned with leaders like Tony Blair and George W. Bush.
In late 2006 Haggard faced accusations that drew attention from journalists at outlets such as The New York Times, Denver Post, and Christianity Today. Allegations included claims made by individuals associated with ministries in the Colorado region and organizations linked to New Life Church networks. The revelations prompted scrutiny by denominational authorities, ethics committees, and legal advisors similar to those convened in controversies involving leaders from groups like Jerry Falwell, Ted Turner (in media portrayals), and scandals that previously affected figures connected to Promise Keepers and the Southern Baptist Convention. Haggard resigned his positions at New Life Church and the National Association of Evangelicals amid fallout involving church governance, pastoral accountability structures, and public statements by leaders including Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Rick Warren, and representatives of the Assemblies of God.
After his resignation, Haggard engaged in a period of public repentance and reconciliation, interacting with pastors and counselors from ministries like Grace churches, Bethel Church, and recovery-oriented groups resembling Celebrate Recovery. He later founded or affiliated with smaller congregations and networks, collaborating with pastors from New Life Church offshoots and leaders in the evangelical restoration movement such as Mark Driscoll-era networks and various independent evangelical churches. Haggard's case became a topic in discussions hosted by commentators from The Washington Post, National Public Radio, and programs connected to 60 Minutes and Dateline NBC, prompting debate over restoration, discipline, and media coverage within evangelical circles.
Haggard married and raised a family in Colorado Springs. His personal relationships and family dynamics were discussed publicly during the controversy, drawing commentary from sociologists and public intellectuals who study religion such as Rodney Stark, Robert Wuthnow, and Sociology of Religion scholars. He has maintained ties with some pastors and leaders from evangelical networks while being estranged from others, reflecting patterns similar to reunifications and separations seen in the histories of leaders like Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker.
Haggard's trajectory—from megachurch expansion and national leadership to scandal and attempted restoration—has been examined in studies of American evangelicalism alongside case studies involving Evangelical Covenant Church controversies, denominational responses by the Assemblies of God, and institutional behavior discussed in works by scholars at Princeton Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and Duke Divinity School. The episode influenced conversations about accountability, transparency, and leadership ethics in networks including the National Association of Evangelicals, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and multichurch movements such as megachurches in the United States. Haggard's story continues to be cited in analyses of pastoral authority, media scrutiny, and the processes of discipline and restoration in contemporary evangelical institutions.
Category:American evangelicals Category:1956 births Category:Living people