THE Rev. Ted Haggard’s sex scandal underscores the grave importance of peer accountability as a way for Christian leaders to counter temptations, which they are very vulnerable to.
“Leaders, especially those who travel a lot, need a small group of spiritual peers, God-fearing people who dare ask each other honest questions like ‘What did you do in Bangkok? Who did you go out with? Who did you see?’, advised NECF Malaysia Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong.
“Like I’ve always said, if leaders are not accountable, are inaccessible and think they are infallible, they will eventually become immutable.”
Haggard was a leader to many millions but he forgot to lead himself, Rev. Wong lamented. “He allowed himself to go astray by his lack of self-discipline. Let us all learn from this incident and extend our prayers to him, his suffering family and church members,” he added
Rev. Haggard has since resigned as President of the US National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and senior pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Community Church, Colorado, which he founded.
As head of the 33 million-NAE, he was one of the most powerful religious leaders in the US before the scandal erupted. Time magazine voted him one of the top 25 most influential evangelicals in America in 2005, and he was often credited with rallying votes for President George W. Bush during the 2004 election campaign.
Rev. Wong called on the Christian community to avoid merciless judgement against Haggard; instead, we are to graciously and compassionately pray for him and his family members as his counsellors work with him towards discipline and restoration.
In a written letter to his church, Haggard apologised for the “disappointment, the betrayal, and the hurt”.
He also graciously asked his congregation to forgive his accuser, Mike Jones, who had claimed Haggard had regularly paid for sex with him over a three-year period. |
