Ted Haggard Starts New Church Open to Gays

But don't expect any gay marriages
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 2, 2010 4:24 PM CDT

Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard is starting a new church based on a philosophy of acceptance—though his views on gays are still a bit complicated. The former chief of the National Association of Evangelicals, who was brought down by a scandal involving a gay prostitute and crystal meth while campaigning against gay marriage, says that "all are welcome" to his new non-denominational church, CNN reports.

"Whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, gay, straight, bi, tall, short, addict, recovering addict....I believe Jesus' arms are open to all," Haggard said. But his new acceptance of gays only goes so far: Haggard says his new church will not perform gay marriages because "God's ideal" marriage "is the union between a man and a woman," notes Talking Points Memo. An AlterNet blogger notes that Haggard has hired a big PR firm and wonders if his new, non-judgmental rhetoric is just part of a "redemption narrative."
(More Ted Haggard stories.)

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