As a long-time follower and active participant in the Christian community, I have always been intrigued by the Hillsong Church due to its massive influence and global reach. However, the series of scandals that have surfaced over the years have left me feeling disillusioned and saddened.
The Hillsong Church gained significant attention when various famous personalities started attending its services. However, this international church has recently been under scrutiny due to numerous scandals. In late 2020, the church dismissed one of its pastors, Carl Lentz, following allegations of moral misconduct. It was later revealed that Lentz had been involved in an extramarital affair and had been unfaithful to his wife. Additionally, the Hillsong megachurch has faced controversy over accusations of sexual abuse.
In 2019, a former Hillsong Church member shared an allegation of homophobia against the church through Business Insider. The ex-member revealed that she had disclosed her bisexuality to one of the pastors, expecting acceptance since the church advocated for inclusivity. However, the pastor responded by viewing her sexual orientation as a challenge. This rejection took a toll on her mental health and pushed her to contemplate suicide.
In November 2020, Brian Houston, the founder, dismissed Carl Lentz from Hillsong Church due to moral indiscretions. Lentz himself acknowledged having an extramarital affair and a relationship with a woman. Furthermore, Page Six revealed that Lentz had multiple affairs throughout his tenure at the church. Additionally, Lentz’s former nanny alleged that he had sexually abused her.
In her Medium post, she openly shared about being bullied and mistreated, as reported by People Magazine. The accuser disclosed that during their time of service, they endured manipulation, control, abusive use of power, and sexual abuse. After undergoing intensive therapy, they are now coming forward to reveal the unfortunate experiences they went through in that household.
Despite the accusations against him and his wife, Laura, they have consistently maintained their innocence. In the ensuing years, the church and certain high-ranking individuals within it faced allegations of various misdeeds, such as racial bias and inappropriate conduct.
What happened at the Hillsong Church & what was the scandal?
I’ve been following the news about Carl Lentz and his recent departure from Hillsong megachurch. He announced on social media that our time together had come to an end, revealing that he had been unfaithful to his wife, Laura. This infidelity led Laura to contemplate leaving him, but upon learning about Carl’s difficult upbringing, she decided to stand by him. Despite the allegations of abuse against her husband, Laura chose to stay with Carl during this challenging time.
In addition, People Magazine reported that eight men accused Brian Houston’s father, Frank Houston, of sexual misconduct before his death. Despite this, Australian authorities charged Brian Houston with concealing child sexual abuse allegations against his father. He denied the charges and stepped down from his position in response.
The December 2022 trial for Brian Houston ended with a not-guilty verdict. Throughout the proceedings, Houston claimed that his father had abused children, but he wasn’t fully aware of the extent of the harm. Notably, Houston admitted that he didn’t report the abuse when it occurred because the victim asked him not to.
While The Guardian reports that Brian Houston chose not to disclose the crime to protect his family and the church’s reputation, the prosecution argued. However, the magistrate disagreed and believed Houston had a valid reason for not reporting the matter to the police since the victim did not wish for it to be reported. Consequently, Houston was found not guilty in court. In contrast, two women accused Brian Houston of inappropriate conduct in March 2022, as mentioned in recent news.
These documentaries, including “The Secrets of Hillsong” and “Hillsong: A Megachurch Revealed,” delve deeply into the controversies surrounding Hillsong.
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2024-07-19 16:10