News Another Fundie Pastor Resigns in Disgrace
posted by on December 18 at 9:46 AM
The “youth pastor” at Ted Haggard’s New Life church resigned yesterday—read all about it at NEWSPEAK. Christopher Beard—hey, I thought Mrs. Haggard was the only beard at New Life!—has admitted to “sexual misconduct and other mistakes.” Beard and New Life won’t discuss his failings in detail, but they did want everyone to know that “it did not involve Haggard or a minor.” Some other fun details…
Before his resignation, Beard oversaw a church ministry called twentyfourseven, a nine-month training program for young adults in missionary work and leadership. He has led mission trips to 53 countries and had a role in this year’s church Easter drama.In 2002, Beard was reprimanded by church officials after he staged a missionary training drill using fake assault weapons. A SWAT team was put on alert after a passing motorist thought the guns were real.
New Life’s missionary training includes drills with assault weapons?
Madrassas. They're running Christian madrassas.
Hehe. missionary.
"disordered moral life"
Yep, I'd say that phrase fits these wacko fundies to a T.
Not to defend the religious wacko's, but in all seriousness, given that missionary programs frequently work in regions where some of the world's most deadly armed conflicts are occuring, weapons training, assuming it's for self-defense, is probably not all that unreasonable.
I wouldn't start worrying too much until there's evidence these guys are going to local gun shows, purchasing large quantities of SAW's, and stockpiling them in their local churches.
It's pleasurable to imagine their parishioners sitting around wondering "why are we all such gol-dang freaks?" Eventually some of them will cotton on.
I'm guessing they had a fake SWAT team capture and detain the missionary trainees as a surprise drill, so they can feel sufficiently persecuted and paranoid. I was a fundamentalist years ago, and I remember stories floating around about people doing that. Even if those stories weren't true, maybe Beard was inspired by them.
Dan, those churches should employ one of us to go in and use our gaydar. We could really stir things up.
comte: in colorado springs, I would say that they all own guns. It's picturesque but ruined people wise.
Geez, look at their mission teams' website. It looks like an Abercrombie & Fitch shoot...
@1, yes, and they're being government funded, like the ones in Pakistan and Afghanistan (admittedly, those are funded by the Saudi Arabian government, but ours are funded by 1000 points of light torture).
@7 - my son and I play spot the closeted gay when watching news programs - so far 12 for 12 ... most are Congressmen and Ministers. He says he's also good at spotting women who are closeted, but I'm lousy, as I'm too interested in them being straight ...
Dave, there are ALSO lots of lovely, sane, intelligent and creative people here in Colorado Springs. We just can't seem to make headlines the way them New LIfe and Focus on the Family some bitches can.
Hey, I would take whichever job that would take me to 53 countries for free! I am about to become a believer...
I had a wonderful time when I got sent to an assignment in Colorado Springs. The downtown is beautiful, snug, and arty. I really considered relocating at the time, but everyone I know screamed at me, "NO! Do more research or at LEAST read Fast Food Nation!".
I don't know. It's a shame that the town was co-opted by freaks. I've actually been hoping that this mass outing of closeted gays would lead to a kind of progressive urban renewal. Can you imagine a town so awesome at its core that smart, creative people remain in spite of the nasty dark cloud that is the lucrative pulpit superstar movement? That's Colorado Springs. Let us not cede the physical beauty of a place like CS to fundies who would sooner pave the place than enjoy it conservatively for what it is.
Oh what are we talking about? Already drunk, sorry. Anyway, Colorado Springs is gorgeous.
Christians are all child molestors and Jews kill babies by sucking blood out of their cocks.
Check out this New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/nyregion/26circumcise.html?ex=1282708800&en=d0c371aa31343a00&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Religious people are all idiots.
New York Times Article Here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/nyregion/26circumcise.html?ex=1282708800&en=d0c371aa31343a00&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Noel @ 10: Yeah, fair enough... I really overgeneralized. I still remember being at my Great Aunt's house in Manitou, going to play skeeball when I was a tot... COS will probably always draw the conservative crowd- a lot of current and ex military, beautiful area, etc. I wish we'd hear more about the less cultish people and things there...
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