Brian Houston
Another Hillsong East Coast pastor resigns, this time over revealing Instagram selfies
By Roxanne Stone — April 29, 2021
NEW YORK (RNS) — The New Jersey pastor sent explicit photos on Instagram stories to his ‘close friends,’ but also included a 30-year-old woman who used to volunteer for him at the church.
Hillsong to ‘pause’ operations at Dallas campus, citing leadership failures
By Roxanne Stone — April 11, 2021
(RNS) — New revelations about the former Dallas pastors as well as pandemic woes have led the global behemoth to announce a shuttering of the Dallas location for now.
Brian Houston apologizes for Hillsong NYC’s ‘failings,’ promises whistleblower policy
By Paul O'Donnell — March 4, 2021
(RNS) — ‘On behalf of the Global Board and as Global Senior Pastor, I accept responsibility for these failings and apologize unreservedly,’ Houston wrote in an email addressed to ‘Dear Church.’
New pastors announced to replace Carl Lentz at Hillsong East Coast
By Roxanne Stone — February 13, 2021
(RNS) — Chrishan and Danielle Jeyaratnam, currently pastors at the Hillsong campus in Perth, Australia, have been named to the top spots at the embattled New York location.
Hillsong NYC probe closed, Brian Houston will name new pastors ‘in coming days’
By Roxanne Stone — February 12, 2021
(RNS) — The investigation included 'hours of confidential interviews with current and former staff, volunteers and church members,' Houston said in a February 12 email to church members.
Hillsong Dallas pastors, who helped start NYC location with Carl Lentz, resign
By Roxanne Stone — January 5, 2021
(RNS) — The couple's resignation comes amid months of turmoil and scrutiny for the global megachurch.
In leaked call, Hillsong founder Brian Houston details ‘narcissistic’ Carl Lentz’s firing
By Roxanne Stone — December 3, 2020
NEW YORK (RNS) — In a leaked audio call obtained by The Daily Mail, the head pastor of Hillsong Global said difficulties with Lentz’s leadership emerged long before the recent revelations of his affair.
Carl Lentz and the ‘hot pastor’ problem
By Katelyn Beaty — November 19, 2020
(RNS) — Maybe the problem isn’t hot pastors like Lentz but a toxic megachurch culture that makes narcissism a prerequisite.
Hillsong founder Brian Houston announces investigation after NYC pastor Carl Lentz’s firing
By Roxanne Stone — November 12, 2020
NEW YORK (RNS) — ‘We are launching an independent investigation into the inner workings of Hillsong NYC/ East Coast. We need a solid foundation for a fresh start and new beginning,’ Houston said in a tweet Thursday (Nov. 12).
Celeb pastor Carl Lentz, ousted from Hillsong NYC, confesses he was ‘unfaithful’ to his wife
By Roxanne Stone — November 4, 2020
NEW YORK (RNS) — An email sent to church members on Nov. 4 cited the reason for Lentz’s termination as ‘leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures.’
Hillsong Church says new Atlanta location will be led by its first African American pastor
By Emily McFarlan Miller — October 28, 2020
(RNS) — Pastors Sam and Toni Collier are launching Hillsong Atlanta, the global megachurch’s first location in the Southeastern United States.
Why TV’s ‘Broadway Boyfriends’ will keep singing with Hillsong Church (COMMENTARY)
By Jonathan Merritt — August 11, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) “If every gay person leaves their church because they have been treated poorly, nothing will change,” Josh Canfield said. “They still want us, and we feel called to stay."
Carl Lentz on how Hillsong Church is becoming ‘gay welcoming’ without compromising their convictions
By Jonathan Merritt — August 10, 2015
Hillsong Church says they are a "gay welcoming" congregation, even though they are not gay affirming. Hillsong pastor Carl Lents explains how they are attempting to think through and navigate this difficult issue.
Why Survivor’s ‘Broadway Boyfriends’ will keep singing with Hillsong Church
By Jonathan Merritt — August 10, 2015
The church says the gay celebrities can’t serve as leaders and don’t support their ‘lifestyle.’ But Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly aren’t going anywhere. It's a love story.
Hillsong’s Brian Houston defends handling of abuse case, sidesteps questions on gay marriage
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — October 17, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) Hillsong founder Brian Houston said that the victim who came forward to him asked him not to tell the police about his father's sexual abuse. “I would’ve gone to the police,” he said, if he had known about abuse reporting laws.
