US pastor to resign from church amid sex scandal

Colorado Springs (Colo), Nov 5: Embattled evangelist Ted Haggard agreed to resign as pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado after the church's board found he committed ''sexually immoral conduct,'' church officials said.

Haggard, a vocal opponent of gay marriage, resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused by a male escort of having had a sexual relationship with him and using the drug methamphetamine. He had also stepped down temporarily as senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

On Friday, Haggard admitted to buying methamphetamine and seeking a massage from his accuser, but denied he had sex with the man or used the stimulant.

''Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct,'' the church said in a statement on its Web site yesterday.

''In consultation with leading evangelicals and experts familiar with the type of behavior Pastor Haggard has demonstrated, we have decided that the most positive and productive direction for our church is his dismissal and his removal,'' the church said in a statement on its Web site.

The statement also said Haggard and his wife were informed of the decision and ''agreed ... that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected.'' A letter of explanation and apology from Haggard would be read at two church services today, according to the statement.

In an interview with KUSA TV in Colorado broadcast on CNN on Friday, Haggard said he called the male escort to buy some methamphetamine but threw it away. ''I was buying it for me but I never used it,'' Haggard said.

Asked if he had sex with his accuser, he replied tersely, ''No I did not.'' He said he had sought the man out at a Denver hotel for a ''massage.'' Haggard was a poster boy for the evangelical movement and social conservative causes. Harper's magazine reported he had regularly advised the White House.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said on Friday Haggard had been on a couple of evangelical calls with the White House, ''but was not a weekly participant in those calls. I believe he's been at the White House one or two times.'' Conservative Christians are a support base for the Republican Party and President George W Bush. Evangelical leaders have been urging the faithful to vote in congressional elections on Tuesday with polls showing Republicans could lose control of at least one house of Congress.

They also have encouraged conservative voters in eight states including Colorado to support proposed amendments to ban same-sex nuptials.

Some evangelicals expressed suspicion at the timing of the accusations so close to the elections.

REUTERS