Haggard's "Restoration" To Involve a "Laying On of Hands"

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 2:02am

Ya know, I could make a comment, but it's WAY too easy...................


Haggard begins spiritual 'restoration'

There will be prayer, and perhaps the laying on of hands. There will be counseling and a confession. And there will be advice, confrontation and rebuke from "godly men" appointed to oversee the spiritual "restoration" of the Rev. Ted Haggard.

After tumbling from the pinnacle of the American evangelical movement amid allegations he snorted meth and cavorted with a male prostitute, Haggard has agreed to a rehabilitation process that could last three to five years.

"I see success approximately 50 percent of the time," said H.B. London, vice president for church and clergy at Focus on the Family, the conservative Christian ministry in Colorado Springs. "Guys just wear out and they can no longer subject themselves to the process."

Those who fail "end up selling cars or shoes or something, and being miserable and angry the rest of their lives," London said.

Haggard was president of the National Association of Evangelicals and senior pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs until last week, when a Denver man said Haggard paid him for sex nearly every month for three years and sometimes took methamphetamine during the encounters.

Haggard denied having sex with the man; he admitted buying meth but said he threw it away unused. He resigned from the NAE and days later was fired from his church after confessing to unspecified "sexual immorality."

London, who is not involved in Haggard's restoration, said the process will demand honesty from Haggard and determination from his overseers.

"It cannot be just a matter of friendship. It will have to become almost a confrontational relationship," he said. "You've got to confess your sins and you've got to have a group of people around you who will not let you whitewash the issue."

The process includes counseling, in groups and alone, and prayer. Each restoration is unique, with a program tailored for the needs of the participant.

"From the Christian perspective, we think in terms of prayer, we think in terms of what we call godly counsel, where godly men who are clean themselves insert themselves in the life of the one who is struggling," London said.

The symbolic laying on of hands may also be a part of the recovery, London said.

"I'm sure there will be those who lay their hands on Pastor Haggard as an act of faith, calling on the act of God to restore and heal," he said. "The prayer can be therapeutic, the laying on of hands can be ceremonial."

One of the men who agreed to oversee the restoration, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, has already withdrawn, citing a lack of time. The other two — Pastors Jack Hayford of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., and Tommy Barnett of First Assembly of God in Phoenix — declined to comment on the specifics of Haggard's program.

It isn't clear whether Haggard will try to return to the ministry, at New Life or elsewhere. "He says that he has committed his life to God and that he is looking for direction as to where God can best use him," said Leonard Chessler, Haggard's lawyer and friend.

The Rev. Shawn Spear, a Brethren in Christ pastor in Hollidaysburg, Pa., knows at least part of what lies ahead for Haggard. After admitting he had an affair with a woman, Spear endured a painful yearlong separation from the ministry, went to counseling six times a month and worked to earn back the trust of his wife and his church.

It was brutal for his wife, Joy, as well. She said she suffered nightmares, had trouble sleeping and at times wanted to die.

"If God could have taken me at that point I would have been pleased, because you just didn't feel like you could take another day," she said.

Now they feel blessed: They say their marriage survived, even flourished, and their church accepted Shawn Spear back as minister.

"There's hope," he said. "There's grace. There's restoration."



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_re_us/haggard_what_s_next_3

Updated On: 11/12/06 at 02:02 AM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 2:09am

If 'laying of hands' means beating the crap out of him, I'm all for it.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 2:13am

"There will be prayer, and perhaps the laying on of hands. There will be counseling and a confession. And there will be advice, confrontation and rebuke from "godly men" appointed to oversee the spiritual "restoration" of the Rev. Ted Haggard."

What about meth? Will there be any meth involved?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 2:25am

Isn't one of the main effects of meth that it gives the user an uncontrollable desire to "lay hands" all over anyone who happens to be in the vicinity?

[Liverpool]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 2:32am

"Isn't one of the main effects of meth that it gives the user an uncontrollable desire to "lay hands" all over anyone who happens to be in the vicinity? "


I thought that was Ecstasy

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 2:43am

I don't know. I'm still fixated on the rebuke from "godly men".

Mmm, Daddy.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 3:01am

I am sure the laying on of hands will provide a happy ending.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 3:03am

I always enjoy a good laying on of hands

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 3:10am

"Godly men" -- does that mean that some Catholic priests will be invited to join in on the laying on of hands? I imagine lots of them have plenty of experience with that.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 3:16am

"One of the men who agreed to oversee the restoration, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, has already withdrawn, citing a lack of time."

Being a big ol' rebuking Godly Man is apparently in high demand. Once again, I've picked the wrong career path.

I wonder if he advertises on Craigslist?

Updated On: 11/12/06 at 03:16 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 3:27am

Probably. Do a search for "Rebukin' Godly Man" in the MFM personal services section for Colorado Springs.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 3:43am

I know it ruins the joke, but "laying of hands" is just the elders placing their hands on the person's shoulders or arms and praying.

I can't believe my parents had the audacity to tell me I was going to hell for watching Queer Eye when their church is among those that put this guy in charge...

Updated On: 11/12/06 at 03:43 AM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 11:48am

wow, he is kinky.......hopefully his partner will wear latex gloves....

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 11:51am

As they say on Datalounge, this thread is making me HORNY.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 11:52am

or maybe they slap him senseless....that could be fun......all the elders get a slap?

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 2:18pm

"...where godly men who are clean themselves insert themselves in the life of the one who is struggling."

That's hot!

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 9:16pm

"Those who fail "end up selling cars or shoes or something, and being miserable and angry the rest of their lives," London said."

Well, so much for contributions to the church from Ford and Footlocker.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 9:25pm

OKay...confession time.

I used to love it in high school (before I was out), when the boy I had a secret crush on (who was also apparently a big sinner -- cause he needed lots of prayer) would go in front of the church and ask for prayer. We would lay hands on him. I would usually lay a holy hand on his muscular chest. He was so hot. I occasionally had to take my hand off his chest because I didn't want to "rise" for the next hymn.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 9:27pm

Who knew being a Christian was so fun?

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 9:28pm

Nice.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 10:03pm

How appropriate for someone named "touchmeinthemorning."

Too bad I didn't go to a church like that. I'd probably be more "religiously-oriented" today if I had (it sure beats the heck out of the church bake sales we used to have). I'd have been quite the devoted Christian, if I'd ever heard someone say,

"Someone get the massage oil -- we got sinners here who need 'instruction.'"

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 10:35pm

Yes, my Southern Baptist church in Tallapoosa, Georgia was a very non-tactile congregation*. AND, they used off-label brand grape juice for communion. I blame this on my loss of religion long before the SBC became such hateful, intolerant bastards.



*At least, during the service.