How Hillsong, a Hip Megachurch, Became Entangled in Scandal

The global megachurch Hillsong was known for its hipster trappings, celebrity congregations and worship music that was very popular in the 2010s, but in recent years it has been more closely associated with several scandals, including the dismissal of its charismatic celebrity pastor, Carl Lentz, for “moral failure.” “

The four-part documentary series, “The Secrets of Hillsong,” premiered on FX on Friday and delves into the turmoil. The series, based on a 2021 article in Vanity Fair magazine, features the first interview with Mr. Lentz since he was fired in 2020.

Here’s how the obstacle works.

Why is Hillsong so popular?

Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie, founded Hillsong in Australia in 1983 and opened the first branch in the United States in New York in 2010. The church was a member of the Australian branch of the Pentecostal denomination, Assemblies of God, before forming its own denomination in 2018.

Hillsong’s expansion into the United States was built on great success in presenting worship music. The service attracts young people in big cities, where services are held in concert venues, such as Irving Plaza and Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. The pilgrims are fashionable and include celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Kevin Durant and Vanessa Hudgens.

Mr. Lentz, the lead pastor of Hillsong’s New York branch, is also a celebrity.

This hip veneer suggests Hillsong supports a more progressive form of Evangelicalism, but the church has been criticized for its stance on LGBTQ rights. In an August 2015 blog post, the church’s founder, Mr. Houston, said gays are welcome at Hillsong, but “doesn’t condone the gay lifestyle”.

Carl Lentz: “hypepriest”

Mr. Lentz mingled with celebrities including Mr. Bieber, who was baptized in the bathtub of the NBA player’s home. In 2017, GQ magazine called Mr. Lentz a “hypepriest” to describe his trendy wardrobe, which includes aviator sunglasses, skinny jeans and designer sneakers. He often speaks out about racial inequality and in 2016 announced his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

All of that came to an end when he was fired from Hillsong in November 2020. The church said his termination had followed discussions of “leadership issues and breach of trust, coupled with new revelations of moral failure.” Mr. Lentz said on Instagram not long ago that he was “unfaithful in my home, the most important relationship in my life.” His wife, Laura Lentz, is also a Hillsong pastor.

Since then, he has been out of the limelight. Last week, he said in an Instagram post that his wife and children had been his “only priority” for the past three years.

“It’s about healing from heartbreak that made us decide to be part of a documentary that we don’t control, that we can’t tell and we haven’t seen,” he said.

What happened after Carl Lentz left?

More commotion. Hillsong’s founder, Mr Houston, resigned in March 2022 after the church said an internal investigation found he had behaved inappropriately with two women, in breach of the church’s code of conduct.

He resigned from the ministry in January 2022 to fight criminal charges accusing him of concealing the sexual abuse of a child by his late father, Frank Houston. Brian Houston has denied the allegations. The case is still in court, The Australian Associated Press reported.

In March, Houston said he was charged with drunk driving in the United States in February 2022. Mr. Houston said that “it seems like all hell has broken loose at Hillsong church.”

Mr. Houston did not respond to requests for comment. In a video posted on his social media account in November, he criticized Hillsong’s leadership for handling allegations of misconduct against him.

“I’m not resigning because of my mistakes,” he said. “I am resigning because of the announcements and statements that have been made.”

What is Hillsong like now?

In March 2022, nine of Hillsong’s 16 churches in the United States severed ties with the organization, abruptly reducing the church’s presence in America. Hillsong’s website says it has seven churches in the United States, as well as locations in more than two dozen other countries.

The website also says that around 150,000 people worldwide attend weekly services, but this is an estimate the church has been using since before the pandemic. Hillsong did not respond to questions about current attendance numbers.

Friday’s documentary film includes interviews with worshipers and a look at the history of the church’s relationship with money, sex and God.