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US pastor resigns in gay sex row US pastor resigns in gay sex row
(about 3 hours later)
The leader of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals in the US has resigned after being accused of paying for sex with a man.The leader of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals in the US has resigned after being accused of paying for sex with a man.
Rev Ted Haggard said he also decided to temporarily step aside as head of his 14,000-strong New Life Church while his colleagues investigated the claims. The Reverend Ted Haggard said he would also temporarily step aside as head of his 14,000-strong New Life Church while his colleagues investigated the claims.
Rev Haggard, who is known as a vocal opponent of same-sex marriages, denies the accusations. Mr Haggard, who is known as a vocal opponent of same-sex marriages, denies the accusations.
The claims were made by a man during a radio show in Denver, Colorado.The claims were made by a man during a radio show in Denver, Colorado.
In a statement to the New Life Church, Rev Haggard said he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations". In a statement to the New Life Church, Mr Haggard said he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations".
Mike Jones said he had been paid to have sexMike Jones said he had been paid to have sex
"I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity," he said."I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity," he said.
In an interview to KUSA-TV, Rev Haggard said he "never had a gay relationship with anybody". In an interview with KUSA-TV, Mr Haggard said he "never had a gay relationship with anybody".
"I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife," he said."I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife," he said.
Rev Haggard, a married father of five, became the president of the National Association of Evangelicals in 2003. Mr Haggard, who has five children, became the president of the National Association of Evangelicals in 2003.
He has been described as one of the most influential evangelical Christians in the US.He has been described as one of the most influential evangelical Christians in the US.
AllegationsAllegations
The row began after Mike Jones said he had been paid to have sex with Rev Haggard nearly every month over the past three years. The row began after Mike Jones said he had been paid to have sex with Mr Haggard nearly every month over the past three years.
The allegations come as voters in Colorado and several other US states are due to hold simultaneous votes on gay marriage laws.The allegations come as voters in Colorado and several other US states are due to hold simultaneous votes on gay marriage laws.
Mr Jones, 49, said Rev Haggard's public stance on gay marriage had prompted him to reveal the details of their relationship. Mr Jones, 49, said Mr Haggard's public stance on gay marriage had prompted him to reveal the details of their relationship.
"It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," Mr Jones told the Associated Press news agency."It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," Mr Jones told the Associated Press news agency.