What's it like to be Mrs. Ted Haggard?
Posted November 18, 2006
Tammy Faye Bakker. Frances Swaggart. Gayle Haggard.
Each of them married to famous preachers. Each of them humiliated by their husband's "bimbo eruptions" (to borrow a term from the Clinton era.)
Tammy Faye divorced Jim. Frances stayed with Jimmy. Gayle? It's too early to tell whether she'll stand by her man or summon the moving vans.
The Sunday after her husband was fired, Gayle Haggard wrote a letter to the "Dear Women of New Life Church" and let them know she hopes to salvage the relationship. "What I want you to know is that I love my husband, Ted Haggard, with all my heart," she stated. "I am committed to him until 'death do us part.' We started this journey together and with the grace of God, we will finish together."
In her letter, Gayle Haggard wrote: "For those of you who have been concerned that my
marriage was so perfect I could not possibly relate to the women who are facing great
difficulties, know that this will never again be the case. My test has begun; watch me. I will try to prove myself faithful."
While most of the media has (quite naturally) focused on Rev. Haggard's spectacular fall from grace, The Rocky Mountain News has also looked at the scandal's impact on Mrs. Haggard and the thousands of Colorado Springs women who looked up to her.
The News has posted a story today about Gayle Haggard and the void her resignation has left at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. It's a compelling portrait of a woman who dropped out of college so she could focus on being her minister-husband's helpmate. A mom who raised five kids while her husband wrote books, hob-nobbed with politicians (and chit-chatted about illegal drugs with a gay masseur.)
Hat's off to the Rt. Rev. Rabbi Judah for passing along the story:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5153760,00.html
To read Gayle Haggard's complete letter to the "Women of New Life Church, click below.
Archived Comments
It will be interesting to see what she does in the coming months. My hunch is that she'll take one for the hometeam and confess that she could have been a more supportive and attractive wife. She'll take blame she doesn't deserve. I've already heard a few things here and there that put onus on her.
But, she may decide to walk away, though that would be difficult. She seems to have taken the supportive role to this point and in her "culture" walking away with dignity will be difficult.
Any man thats been married knows this woman has done way more than her share to be supportive to her spouse. Just washing clothes and running a resturant to feed 5 kids puts her up for sainthood in my book. I'm sure her trust for her husband led her to have a blind eye, plus running a household and helping the women in her church, there was litte time to imagine anything was wrong. If by chance, she is blamed, I think the public will know thats a load of crap. Ted made his choices and now he will find out, how in life, the choices make ,affect the people you love.
The real tragedy is the is the shame/pain that the whole family will go through in the coming years. Yes this pain will destroy the family for many years to come. It will be a real testimony to most non-believers if she comes thru this situation with the help of God. And to anybody who would committ any type of adultry--and this is what Ted haggard admitted to, It destroys your soul, as well as your family's lives. We pray for you Mrs. Haggard