Englewood, Colo.
The pastor of an evangelical megachurch in suburban Denver tearfully resigned last week, after acknowledging that he has had sexual relations with men. The Rev. Paul Barnes, founding pastor of the 2,100-member Grace Chapel, said in a videotaped message to parishioners that he has "struggled with homosexuality" since he was 5 years old. "I can't tell you the number of nights I have cried myself to sleep, begging God to take this away," he said. Barnes, 54, acknowledged his sexuality when church officials confronted him after getting an anonymous call. In November, the Rev. Ted Haggard stepped down as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after his longtime relationship with a male prostitute came to light.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Southern Baptists endorse gay marriage banSpeed Read The largest US Protestant denomination voted to ban same-sex marriage and pornography at their national meeting
-
Israel deports Thunberg after seizing Gaza aid boatspeed read The Swedish activist was delivering food and medical aid to Palestine, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis there
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protestersSpeed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
