THE PULPIT: Haggard still source of rumors

Ted Haggard won't talk to the media. He lives quietly in his Colorado Springs home with his family, and, according to his voice mail message, is pursuing the humble occupation of life insurance salesman.

But if the founder and former pastor of New Life Church is trying to stay out of the spotlight, he's come to the wrong place. In a town still fascinated by him, every Haggard sighting is fodder for the rumor mill, and it's been working overtime in recent weeks.

Several people have called to say they're certain that Haggard is trying to start a church in his home, or in a barn, or at some undisclosed location.

Never mind that Haggard is prohibited from starting a church under the terms of his severance package with New Life, from which he was fired in November 2006 after a prolonged sexual relationship with a male prostitute.

Kurt Serpe, a longtime friend of the Haggard family, said "a credible source" told him that Haggard had started a church and has built a following. "He's holding meetings at his home," Serpe said, "and I'm sure they're not sitting around having tea."

Yet when I called Serpe's source, the person said he'd heard the rumors from "uncredible sources."

Another person told me that a friend asked Haggard directly if he had started a church. "I am not going to tell you" he reportedly said. Glad he cleared that up.

It doesn't help that Haggard won't return phone calls or that his wife, Gayle, was not forthcoming on the issue. "I apologize, but we really can't talk," she said.

So Sunday I staked out Haggard's home to watch for congregants and listen for hymns filling the air. But if Haggard led a service that morning, it was a solo performance. No one showed up, and the only sounds came from cars whooshing by on Old Ranch Road.

"There isn't anything going on there," said Haggard's nearest neighbor, Corey Keyson. "There's never more than three cars at his house."

So is he, or isn't he starting a church? Evidence suggests he isn't, at least not at his house (although the agreement doesn't preclude prayer meetings).

Would you attend a church with Haggard at the helm? Weigh in on my blog (go to staff blogs under the Life tab at gazette.com) and see what one former New Life member, C. Peter Wagner, has to say about that.

NEW LIFE LIGHTENS UP

Speaking of New Life, two Christian comedians, Rich Prayton and Kenn Kington, will perform 7-8:30 p.m. Friday at the church, 11025 Voyager Parkway.

Tickets for the event, called the Laugh Experience, are $10 in advance and are available by calling New Life Bookstore at 268-8271, or going to newlifechurch.org. Tickets at the door are $15.

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Contact the wrIter: 636-0367 or mark.barna@gazette.com