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June 2, 2010, Prepared Press Conference Statement
by Ted Haggard
Good morning
everyone. Thank you so much for attending this morning.
Gayle and I and our
children are here to announce the launching of St. James Church.
This Sunday at 10:00
AM, we will host a launch party here at our house to celebrate a new beginning,
and you are welcome.
When we moved back
to Colorado Springs two years ago, we had the dream of serving in a local church
again. Now we believe the time is right.
This isn't just any
church. It's a church for people like me, people who know that everyone needs a
break at one time or another in their lives. And that none of us can reach the
whole world, but we can make all the difference for at least one.
When I was at my
lowest, others gave me a break. It's my dream to unite together with others who
see the value in helping in a practical way.
It's also a church
for people who want to invest their lives in others.
St. James Church is
for anyone, and I do mean anyone: Democrats, Republicans, Independents and those
who go to Tea Party rallies. If you are straight, gay, or bi, I want to walk
through the Scriptures with you. If you are black, white Hispanic, native
American, or a confusing combination, you are welcome here. Those working to
overcome their sex or drug addictions, St. James is for you.
If you have a friend
or family member who struggles, St. James is for you.
Adulterers, Ex-cons.
Everyone is welcome.
IT'S A CHURCH FOR
EVERYONE ...
If you feel alone,
If you feel like
others will not accept you,
If you have given up
on faith, St. James is for you.
God has a plan for
your life, no matter how confusing your life has been. God knows you like no
other. He’s for you. No matter how different you are, Gayle and I want to show
you how the Scriptures walked us through a series of horrific experiences, and
we survived. Gayle stayed with me, the children encouraged me, and today we are
deeply committed to one another – on good days and bad.
After three and a half years of not being accepted, feeling shame and
embarrassment going into a store, Starbucks, or McDonalds, ashamed to run into
someone who might know me. I’ve gained a new compassion for people who are
afraid, who wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats wondering how
they will get through the next few day. I understand the fear of being
scrutinized and judged by so many. I understand struggling with life, and have
decided that this is the time to use the years I have left to serve others.
We chose the name, St. James, because of the book of James that reminds all of
us that “faith without works is dead”. Because of the difficult time Gayle and I
have had for the last three and a half years, we had many who told us they loved
us, which was encouraging, but we so appreciated those who demonstrated their
love for us in practical ways.
I may not be qualified to be a pastor, but I know I am qualified to serve others
in need. I have learned a great deal over the last three and a half years and
have deep desire to help others in need. I do know much more that I did prior to
my crisis in November of 2006. I know more about compassion, understanding,
kindness, love, and peace. I want to help people. I know that when we suffer, a
loving hand, a kind voice, a gentle touch, and practical assistance can make all
the difference in the world. Depression, loneliness, personal failure,
embarrassment, and disillusionment can be powerful forces in a person’s mind in
difficult times.
Today many are going through difficult times. Too many are losing their
marriages, families, homes, and jobs. More people are in therapy now than ever
before. Unemployment rates are high, job losses are abundant, and heartbreak is
all around us. Maybe because of what I’ve been through, I see it everywhere.
As a result, we are launching St. James Church to offer strength and refuge. I’m
too tired to launch a formal church, so we’ll keep it informal, simple and easy.
Our focus will be on what we believe are the works of Christ. We want to fulfill
the great commission to go into all the world -- by obeying the great
commandments to love.
The slogan for St. James Church is “doing our faith.” Our goal is to mobilize
the people of the congregation to see suffering and do practical things to help.
Because of this, every service we will give our offerings to one another instead
of putting it in the offering plate. This way, every one of us will have an
opportunity to express our love for another in the congregation in a practical
way. In addition, at the conclusion of every service, we will select someone
from the congregation to direct a portion of our tithes toward people in need or
organizations that are in need. In this way, average people in our congregation
will be empowered to direct St. James’ benevolent giving toward people and
causes they care about.
Not only did we incorporate St. James to assist with the management of funds
that may be given to Gayle and me as we travel, write, and work to serve others,
but we incorporated so we would be adequately prepared for the launch of the
church. When I read the headline in the Huffington Post saying I had denied that
Gayle and I would plant a church in the future, I knew that we needed to move
ahead because the ambiguity of not knowing exactly when we would launch was a
nuance that was difficult for the press to work with. So we settled that we
would have a launch party here at our house this Sunday June 6th, and would
invite all who would like to attend. We knew that we would need to be prepared
with corporate status, a bank account, a board in place, and the appropriate due
diligence done so that, at our launch party, we can give to one another and
demonstrate the love of God in a practical way.
I think most people want to help others.
I know that when people go through a rough season, it very often takes little to
help them and make a significant difference in their lives.
So this Sunday, June 6th, we welcome anyone who would like to join us at 10:00
AM for the launch party of St. James Church here at our house. It’s supposed to
be a beautiful day, so come dressed casually, park in one of the fields here in
front of the house, we’ll meet together for an hour or so and talk, then we’ll
have a BBQ and eat while the kids swim. So bring enough food for yourselves and
a few others, and bring some soft drinks and bottled water. Those who want to
play badminton or jump on the trampoline may, while others, like me, will want
to sit around in the shade of a tree and talk. It will be great to see some of
our old friend, and certainly we welcome anyone who would like to come who we’ve
not yet met.
At the launch party, we will select some people to start the process of locating
a place for us to meet and worship.
Then, a week later on June 13th, we’ll have a planning party here at 10:00
Sunday morning. Bring food and soft drinks, and we’ll meet and eat while the
kids swim, and by then we’ll know where we are going to meet regularly in the
community. By then we’ll know how many we need to prepare for and we will have
located a place to meet
Sunday will be a Resurrection Party for me. I will be so honored by every one of
you who choose to join me, Gayle, and our family in this Resurrection
celebration.
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June 2, 2010, Prepared Press Conference Statement by Gayle Haggard
Good morning everyone! And
welcome to our home.
I am happy to be standing here today with my husband announcing
the launch of St. James Church.
After the crisis nearly annihilated our lives more than 3 ˝ years
ago, I began to cling to three beliefs: first, that we were on our continuing
journey in God, second, that we would heal from the devastation and heart-break
by pulling together as a family, and third, that we would one day be back as a
testimony to our faith. Most importantly, I believed that we needed to return to
the city we felt God had called us to in order to finish our story. I was not
willing to let the scandal nor the difficulties my husband faced negate the
reality that we had spent twenty-two years investing our lives in building an
amazing church, and in serving people we loved. In other words, I was not
willing to let the scandal we faced be the final chapter of our lives and work.
Instead I believe that the crisis of our lives stands as a
memorial to us and to others of the reality of our message—that all human beings
sin, that we all suffer from our human condition, that we all fall short of
God’s best design for our lives, and that none of us are righteous in and of
ourselves.
Since our crisis, our family has been reminded of the tender love
and mercy of our God and that it is his kindness that leads us to repentance. We
have been reminded that we are no better or worse than any other person. I
believe we are emerging with greater empathy, compassion, and understanding than
we could have ever possessed prior to our devastation.
Today I stand before you grateful for the crisis I suffered with
my husband. I believe we are the better for it in our faith, in our marriage,
and in our family. I am also grateful for the many friends who courageously
stood with us, and had the faith to believe that God would finish the good work
He had begun in us. I am looking forward to the days ahead as I participate in
expressing my faith at St. James Church, not only by what I say I believe, but
also by what I do. I have learned the great truth taught by the Apostle
Paul—that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
And that is what St. James Church is all about.
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