COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—An e-mail New Life Church founder Ted Haggard sent asking for money and outlining his future plans was “unacceptable,” church overseers said Wednesday.
Haggard, who was forced out as church pastor in November after admitting to “sexual immorality,” will not return to ministry as he suggested in his e-mail, the four-pastor team of overseers said. They said Haggard will seek secular employment to support himself and his family.
Haggard said Wednesday he was barred from commenting on the overseers’ statement.
The church overseers have been overseeing the “restoration” of Haggard since he left the 10,000-member church in November following allegations he paid a man for sex. Haggard also stepped down as head of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Last week Haggard sent an e-mail to KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs saying he planned to not only pursue a master’s degree in counseling in Phoenix but also counsel at the Phoenix Dream Center halfway house. He said he and his family would move in to the Dream Center run by Tommy Barnett, who leads the 15,000-member Phoenix First Assembly of God that Haggard now attends.
Haggard also sought financial support.
The overseers released a written statement saying they told Haggard that his plan and the e-mail were “unacceptable.”
“Mr. Haggard’s solicitation for personal support was inappropriate. It was never the intention of the Dream Center that Mr. Haggard would provide any counsel or other ministry. Mr. Haggard will not be moving in or working with the Dream Center. He will not be doing any ministry. He will be seeking secular employment to support himself and his family,” the statement said.
The overseers declined to comment further.
