donations get haggardly

Layoffs Follow Scandal at Colorado Megachurch

By DAN FROSCH

Published: March 6, 2007

DENVER, March 5 — In the wake of a scandal involving its founding pastor, the Rev. Ted Haggard, the New Life Church in Colorado Springs has been forced to lay off 44 of its 350 workers to offset a sharp drop in donations.

Mr. Haggard resigned as president of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals in November and was removed as senior pastor of the New Life megachurch after a former male prostitute said that he had had a three-year sexual relationship with Mr. Haggard and had helped him obtain methamphetamines.

After initially denying the accusations, Mr. Haggard confessed to buying drugs from the former prostitute, Michael Jones, and admitted to what he termed “sexual immorality.” Mr. Haggard has since gone through counseling, and was declared “completely heterosexual” by a member of a panel of ministers appointed to oversee New Life.

Since the announcement of Mr. Haggard’s removal on Nov. 5, New Life’s donations have fallen to $4.9 million in the past four months, compared with $5.3 million in the same period a year earlier, said Rob Brendle, the associate pastor. The drop was previously reported in The Denver Post.

Attendance at New Life, which has an estimated 14,000 members, has declined about 15 percent, Mr. Brendle said.

“We are in a position where the reality of our financial situation is causing us to look at how we can be more efficient,” he said, “and we spent a lot of time thinking and analyzing how best to do that. These are difficult times, and these have been difficult decisions. But the floor of this church has not fallen out.”

Shortly after the scandal, the church’s board of overseers began a “moral audit” of New Life’s leaders. The audit resulted in disciplinary action against a small number of employees and the resignation of one more for “unrelated issues of sin,” said Mr. Brendle, who was among those interviewed by the board for the audit.

“Everyone’s trust was shaken,” he said. “They asked me what I know about Ted, when I knew and what I did about it. They asked me questions about the general health of my spiritual life and about personal morality and character.”

Mr. Brendle said the recent layoffs, which affected pastoral staff members and administrative assistants, among others, would help restore fiscal stability. Congregants, some of whom learned of the firings at a question-and-answer session held by a panel of church leaders during Sunday services, remained upbeat about New Life’s fortunes.

“It’s unfortunate and sad, and it hurts,” said Tim Chambers, 43, who has attended New Life for 10 years. “There are a lot of emotions that come with this, because a lot of these employees have been around a good while.

“But these individuals are getting a lot of love and support. And I think this is going to help us move forward when our new pastor comes in.”

Despite New Life’s struggles, Chris Paulene, director of member services for the National Association of Evangelicals, said other evangelical churches had not been affected by Mr. Haggard’s case.

“This is a completely isolated incident,” Mr. Paulene said. “It won’t affect the rest of the churches, at least not measurably.”

New Life, which Mr. Haggard started in his basement in 1985, is searching for his successor.

“I speak with Ted every week,” Mr. Brendle said. “He is authentically repentant and humble.”

Mr. Brendle added: “I would say that the people at New Life are confident in the process of transition that is under way and hopeful for the future. There is a pervasive sense that our best days are ahead of us.”