Carl Lentz
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.
Justin Bieber’s Easter surprise EP, ‘Freedom,’ adds to his Jesus-filled chapter
By Kathryn Post — April 7, 2021
(RNS) — Justin Bieber’s latest recording is his most explicitly religious project to date.
Bieber samples King’s sermons, supports Poor People’s Campaign with new album ‘Justice’
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 19, 2021
(RNS) — Some songs — like the album's first single 'Holy,' a collaboration with Chance the Rapper — toe the line of songs with lyrics that might be about loving God or might be about loving a girl.
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.’
Is the evangelical view of sex at the root of our sex scandals?
By Sheila Wray Gregoire — February 18, 2021
(RNS) — It was not celebrity culture that taught Ravi Zacharias, Carl Lentz and countless other pastors to objectify women. Our evangelical culture primed them for it.
Beyond $1,000 sneakers: Carl Lentz, hype priests and the cult of celebrity
By Tyler Jones — February 16, 2021
(RNS) — A Christian can believe it is their job to 'make Jesus famous' without making the massive leap to the problematic idea that fame is itself good and an effective tool for ministry.
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.
5 ‘in real life’ religion and pop culture clashes from 2020
By Roxanne Stone and Emily McFarlan Miller — December 30, 2020
(RNS) — Kanye ran for president. Rihanna faced backlash from Muslims. A French-language film caused many conservative religious people to #CancelNetflix.
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.
Ranin Karim, woman in Carl Lentz’s alleged affair, seeks ‘closure’ in GMA interview
By Paul O'Donnell — November 20, 2020
(RNS) — 'When you give somebody so much power, they become God to people,' Ranin Karim told GMA. 'People look at Carl like he's God.'
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).
