COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- The Rev. Ted Haggard was fired as pastor of the Colorado church he founded in his basement more than 20 years ago, after an independent board ruled he had committed "sexually immoral conduct."

Haggard admitted on Friday that he bought methamphetamine and got a massage from Mike Jones, a former male prostitute. Jones said the prominent pastor paid him for sex over a three-year period.

Haggard, in an interview with CNN affiliate KUSA, denied having sex with Mike Jones and said he did not use the drug and threw it away.

The board of the 14,000 member New Life Church said in a statement, "Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct."

"In consultation with leading evangelicals and experts familiar with the type of behavior Pastor Haggard has demonstrated, we have decided that the most positive and productive direction for our church is his dismissal and removal."

Haggard, 50, and his wife were informed of the decision, the statement said, and "they have agreed as well that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected according to the rules of replacement in the bylaws."

The statement said "a letter of explanation and apology" from Haggard and "a word of encouragement" from his wife, Gayle, would be read at Sunday morning services.

The Rev. Ross Parsley, the church's interim leader, sent the statement to church members before it was released to the media.

"Please continue to pray for Pastor Ted and his family, and let's all continue to stand strong together for the kingdom of God," Parsley's note to church members said. "We will get through this together. Remember, New Life Church has never been a man, a building or anything else -- we are a family."

The couple have five children.

On Saturday, shocked church members came to New Life Church's sprawling Colorado Springs campus.

"It's a hard time for all of us. I have been a personal friend to Ted for some time, and it's a hard time for me," Associate Pastor Rob Brendle told CNN. "And at the same time, I'm grateful that we have a resolution, and I'm confident that we have a road ahead where our church will stay strong and will continue to have the opportunity to serve the people of this community."

He said church members were "grateful" the board had come to a prompt decision.

"I was a member from the basement days," said Kurt Serpe, referring to the church's origins in Haggard's basement in 1985. "I'm very shocked. He wrote the bylaws, and he's standing by the bylaws."

"I'm very shocked. He wrote the bylaws, and he's standing by the bylaws."

Probably the most honorable thing he has done in this whole sordid affair. Though I doubt he had much choice in the matter.

Of course the White House is quickly distancing themselves from him:

"Although Time magazine had put Haggard on its list of the nation's 25 most influential evangelicals, citing his White House access, White House spokesman Tony Fratto insisted Friday that it was inaccurate to portray Haggard as having close White House ties."

I don't think that surprises anyone...

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