Ted Haggard spoke publicly for the first time about his fall from grace two years ago when he was caught in a double-life of illicit sex and drug use. As the President of the National Association of Evangelicals and the lead pastor of a megachurch in Colorado, his downfall was both devastating and public. Haggard spoke at Open Bible Fellowship Church on Nov. 2–the second anniversary of his resignation–and said, “The first thing I want you to know is I sinned.” Haggard also revealed a case of sexual abuse that happened when he was seven. (You can read the full story here.)
Ted Haggard’s story, and many others, force the church to wrestle with what it means to extend grace to fallen leaders. Often the church is guilty of kicking leaders while they are down. How should the church respond to leaders who blow it? What should the process look like? Do you have a positive story of restoring a fallen leader in your church? We want to know.
