WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A House Democrat leader has written a "Dear Colleague" letter about the allegations surrounding Rev. Ted Haggard, who until Thursday was the president of the 30 million member National Association of Evangelicals.

Rep. James Clyburn, D-South Carolina, wrote that Democrats send their "sympathy, thoughts and prayers" to Haggard's family, to the evangelical community at large as well as anyone else affected by the allegations.

Clyburn, who is the third highest ranking House Democrat, also serves as chairman of the Democratic Faith Working Group. The group, according to its web site, "provides members of strong faith with a venue to share their values and to collaborate with other people of faith on issues of mutual concern."

"We, as Democrats, are working to bring our nation together, to tear down the walls that seperate (sic) us and find common ground so we can promote the common good," Clyburn wrote. "We stand with and support our nation's evangelical community. We join them in looking to God for comfort and direction and truth."

Clyburn and other House Democrats have been leading a concerted effort since 2004 to court the evangelical and faith-based communities across the country -- groups which had previously been a bedrock of Republican support. If Democrats win the House majority next week, Clyburn could become the House majority whip.