Our Lady of Perpetual Hypocrisy

That's the new name they should give Ted Haggard's New Life Church. An executive staff member has resigned after what's being described as "sexual misconduct":

An executive staff member at New Life Church in Colorado Springs has resigned after admitting to sexual misconduct and other mistakes - the result of an examination of the staff's moral makeup after the ouster of senior pastor Ted Haggard, a church official said Sunday.

Christopher Beard, who headed a ministry that trained young adults in leadership skills, stepped down Friday after admitting to "a series of decisions displaying poor judgment, including one incident of sexual misconduct several years ago," said Rob Brendle, an associate pastor at the 14,000- member church.

Citing confidentiality over personnel issues, Brendle would not discuss the nature of the sexual misconduct except to say it did not involve Haggard or a minor.

Beard, a New Life employee for nine years, was not married at the time of the incident but is now, Brendle said. Beard could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Heh. He is "now married" and his last name is "Beard." How appropriate. There's a photo of him here. YOU do the math.

And what a piece of work he is, too:

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. Brendle said that incident played a role in Beard's departure.

Beard's church biography states he has a business degree from Oral Roberts University - Haggard's alma mater - and a master's degree in Christian counseling. He previously worked as a psychotherapist at a leading mental institution, the biography states.

Why are even fake assault weapons necessary for a missionary training drill? Are they doing forced conversions at gunpoint in 53 countries? And by the way, guess who he portrayed in this year's church Easter drama. Yup. Satan. Interesting, isn't it?

As for previously working as a psychotherapist at "a leading mental institution", I have to wonder with which psychiatric hospital (as they are called in the shrink biz) he was associated....because use of the term "mental institution" is a dead giveaway that this guy is full of shit. And nowhere in any of the biographies does it state said "leading mental institution". If you were a therapist previously associated with a large psychiatric center, wouldn't you want people to know which one?

Here's a fun game for the holidays: Check out the current staff of the New Life Church and try to guess which one will be next.