Evangelical leader resigns over gay sex allegations  | News | Advocate.com

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November 03, 2006
Evangelical leader resigns over gay sex allegations

Following allegations that he paid a male escort for sex over a three-year period, Ted Haggard, pastor of 14-thousand member New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., has placed himself on leave from church duties and resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals

The escort, Mike Jones of Denver, told reporters that he and Hagard has a longstanding "business relationship," and that he is stepping forward with the charges now because he is concerned that Haggard doesn't practice what he preaches. Haggrad has been campaigning for proposed state Amendment 43, which would ban same-sex marriage in Colorado.

Haagrd told an NBC affiliate on Wednesday that he had "never had a gay relationship with anybody," and that he was "steady with my wife."

An investigative group independent of the New Life Church will look into the charges. The panel may exonerate, discipline, or terminate the pastor based on its findings. (The Advocate)

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