Ted Arthur Haggard, the former pastor
who ran afoul of his Denver congregation after admitting to a
three-year pay-for-sex affair with male prostitute Mike Jones, will
begin leading a prayer meeting in his Colorado Springs home, The
Colorado Springs Gazette reported. Haggard told the paper it
would be correct to call it a church.
Haggard's comeback began in January
with an image makeover that included an HBO documentary titled The
Trials of Ted Haggard. The movie's premiere was preceded by
appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, with wife and children
in tow, and CNN's Larry King Live.
During those appearances, Haggard attempted to paint himself as the
victim, telling Larry King: “I think I'm still deeply wounded and
scared and somewhat confused.” He also returned to Colorado
Springs after years in exile.
Immediately after
Jones revealed their 3-year sexual association in 2006, Haggard
denied being gay, saying only that he had committed “sexual
immorality.”
In seclusion, he
underwent intensive counseling, he said. One of the four ministers
who oversaw that therapy, Tim Ralph, pronounced Haggard “cured”
on February 6, 2007. He said Haggard “is completely heterosexual.”
In January, New
Life Church in Colorado Springs, the church Haggard founded and grew
into a $50 million megachurch and which ultimately asked him to
leave, released details about a young male church volunteer who
claims he had a sexual relationship with Haggard.
Brady Boyd, who succeeded Haggard at
New Life, told the Associated Press that a young man, later
identified as Grant Hass, who volunteered at the church disclosed to
church officials in 2006 that he had been involved with Haggard
sexually for several years. Boyd said the church reached a legal
settlement with the man to remain silent in exchange for payment of
college tuition and counseling services.
“It
wasn't at all a settlement to make him be quiet or not tell his
story,” Boyd told the Associated Press.
“Our desire was to help him. Here was a young man who wanted to
get on with his life. We considered it more compassionate assistance
– certainly not hush money. I know that's what everyone will want
to say because that's the most salacious thing to say, but that's not
at all what it was.”
On November 12,
Haggard will lead his first prayer meeting since leaving New Life.
It begins at 7PM in his home at 1865 Old Ranch Road.