Haggard steps down

The Associated Press reported Ted Haggard resigned as head of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals and also gave up leadership of his New Life Church pending the investigation into allegations he paid a man for sex for the past three years and used drugs.
Read the story here.
Ross Parsley, the acting senior pastor at New Life, has been quoted in news reports saying, “I just know that there has been some admission of indiscretion, not admission to all of the material that has been discussed.”
This story makes me so sad on many levels. If the accusations are true—to discover an evangelical leader living in sin is disheartening. It’s not surprising to discover a shortcoming, since we are all sinners. But to be living a life of habitual undisclosed wrongdoing is particularly troublesome. This opens up a huge discussion about how the faults of Christian leaders turn nonbelievers away from Christ.
If the accusations are not true—I’m angered by the quickness of which people will drag a man’s reputation in the mud in order to support a political agenda or to increase media ratings. This news will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for the church and the coming election. Please keep this situation in prayer as it develops.