. Lower overhead means higher profits. From Spot/Vasquez-Max Lopes/Maciel/Backgrid. Im in the beginning stages of planning to start a church in Hawaii where my brother, his wife and baby live, Termini said, adding that Pastor Brian and I have a close relationship and he has given me his blessing. (Hillsong didnt return a request for comment, but following the publication of this story, Houston and Termini both announced Terminis departure from the church on Instagram. In 2010, the Sunday Telegraph found records of the Houstons multimillion-dollar beachfront properties, and that a million-dollar tax-free church expense account supported the couple and three others. Assistants answered his emails. Producers and studio execs wouldnt take his calls. ), Keatinge, they wrote, was bullying and yelling at a wide breadth of volunteers and leaders. Team operations manager Mike Fabian, the letter said, regularly accused team leaders of being nonsubmissive. The letter said that one church leader and Keatinge friend had engaged in bullying behavior, and that in at least two instances this leader didnt respect physical and sexual boundaries within dating relationships with female church volunteers, including having sex with a 19-20 year old female team leader. (A Hillsong spokesperson said the leader no longer worked for the church. He and Joel grew a joint reputation for their nightlife exploits. When a cheating scandal blew up the pastors life, some Hillsong congregants were left to question their relationship with a church that cultivated its own kind of fameand the double standards that often came with it. In November, Houston announced an investigation of the Hillsong East Coast locations that Lentz led, and in February, he said the investigation was complete, though the results were not publicly disclosed. Crenshaw says the church notified Mays three months after her first report and took no action for two months after that. Pastor Carl Lentz and his wife, Laura, seen with their three children, Ava, Charlie and Roman on March 22,. Our pastoral team will continue to care for Anna as they have been, but we also have an obligation to care for Jason, his wife and family as a church, he wrote in part. Sometimes, exhausted from her weekend volunteer work, Austen had to move her day off at her paying job. Hillsong, like many of its peers, recommends its congregants tithe 10 percent of their earnings. In 2017, a New York connect group leader caught word of some troubling claims. On Monday, June 21, it was reported that Discovery+ is moving forward with a three-episode . The Sydney Morning Herald reported in a 2015 investigation of the churchs finances that that figure was likely incomplete, and Houston hasnt disclosed his salary since. Frank Houston, Brian Houstons father, started Sydney Christian Life Centre, the forerunner to Hillsong Church, in 1977. Houston describes Hillsong as one house with many rooms; each is imprinted in his image in some way. Theyre one of Hollywoods brightest starsand most troubled actors. Kimes later confirmed that her statement was about Lentz. A 2009 Virginian-Pilot report noted that the service, Soul Central, kicked off at 8 p.m., just as happy hours wound down. We are now aware of the scope of changes that need to be made and are addressing those immediately., In 2011, with his New York flock outgrowing smaller venues, Lentz began holding services at 1,200-seat Irving Plaza. Ashleys mother, Mary Jones, grew up in segregation-era Baltimore and lived an entire lifetime before arriving at Hillsong in 2010, several years after her daughter moved to New York. (A church spokesperson said John Mays was recused from the matter due to his conflict of interest and that it was unaware of any incidents of Houston praising Mays onstage from the time Crenshaws allegations became known. He landed a new gig. Carl has his impressive views towards god and abortion towards young pastors. On May 31, 2021, the former nanny of Lentz's children accused him of bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse. Kimes wrote that Lentz initially made flirtatious and suggestive comments to her in person and over text message. By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. A current pastor at the megachurch, who also worked as a nanny for the Lentz family, said that he threatened and belittled her when the two discussed his alleged abuse. (A church spokesperson said its leadership was unaware of any inappropriate activity at the Kent Avenue address. Critics say the church needs greater accountability for its leadership. The Lentzes home in the tony suburb became a hub of social activity. The message denied only one scandal specifically. She said that she was met with compassion when she subsequently reported her experience to leadership, particularly by Brian and Bobbie Houston, and that she plans to remain on staff at Hillsong working toward a stronger future., After Lentzs firing, Kimes and her husband appeared in several reports about Hillsongs labor practices. Lentz, an alumnus of Houston car wash duties, extended the tradition by elevating preferred members of his drive team to leadership roles. (The email was provided to V.F. She tracked down a pastor. The creative element, especially in New York, is incredible.. Before his recent downfall, Lentzs visible friendships with celebrities helped propel him to fame beyond Hillsongs walls. In the second week of January, paparazzi spotted Carl and Laura, linked at the arm in the Redondo Beach Target parking lot. He encourages the youth to always work for the benefit of the economy. For a few weeks it seemed as if redemption might be possible. [6] Early life and education Carl Lentz was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. That afternoon, the pastor gave out a clear call: If you want to change your life and serve Jesus and Jesus alone, lift up your hand. Left, by Andres Kudacki/AP Photo; right, courtesy of Ashley Jones. (A church spokesperson said, Carl, at times, did have unreasonable expectations for his drivers, and it was something we attempted to address.), In 2016, Lentz undertook a life rite familiar to his secular peers: moving to Montclair. By Brendan Esposito/Fairfax Media/Getty Images. After a decade working at the Australia-based church, John Termini who temporarily served as lead pastor for Hillsong's NYC branch in the wake of Carl Lentz's adulterous fall from grace is. You tempted my father.. It was a white church with a sprinkle of other races, and here was this safe space where you could go and not be antagonized, she says. Joness supervisor was pastor Kane Keatinge, a longtime friend of Lentz and Joel Houstons from Australia who had moved to New York. Early on, Hillsong derived its largely working-class and left-wing ethos from the Assemblies of God Pentecostal tradition Frank Houston had worked in, Bullock told The Sydney Morning Herald. (A church spokesperson acknowledged the accusation and said: This claim was investigated thoroughly by senior Hillsong East Coast staff and internal legal counsel, but remained unsubstantiated claims only, lacking evidence or proof. He responded, in part, Im not sure if you realize this either: cliquism, [cronyism], overworking volunteersthese are subjective social constructs.. That came to a. Lentz found himself in rarefied territory for a Hillsong student, hanging out at the Houston family home and in Brians ultraprivate church greenroom. After the celebrity-friendly megachurch Hillsong fired embattled pastor Carl Lentz in November, his initial replacement as the head of the churchs East Coast locations was executive pastor John Termini. Now, Leona Kimes, a pastor at Hillsong Boston, is coming forward about the abuse, bullying, and exploitation she faced while working for a Hillsong New York pastor. (He later deleted the tweet and apologized for it. Pastors held exclusive late-night parties that managed to make space for the models whose agencies put them up in the building and the young men of Hillsong who had proven their loyalty. The only people who need to know are me and your psychiatrist. (A spokesperson said the church was unaware of the incident.) With the tabloids feasting on his humiliation, Lentzs new P.R. (A Hillsong spokesperson said Crenshaws complaint led to an internal investigation which did take some time to complete as there were multiple parties present at the time of the alleged behavior. Mays was stood down from his positions during the investigation.). Carl Lentz appears during an interview on Oct. 23, 2017, in New York. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. When reached for comment, the woman responded that she had stated/agreed that I wouldnt speak about my time there., In February 2018 a group of volunteers sent a letter with a list of concerns to church leadership, including the Lentzes and Joel Houston. 2023 Cond Nast. [1] From 1998 to 2000, he attended North Carolina State University and was a walk-on basketball player on the school's men's basketball team. We were growing so quickly that we didnt really have the things that are supposed to protect against situations like this, Kimes wrote in her statement. If you dont complain, you can climb the ladder.. What do you do when you discover the shepherds are part of the problem? 2018 letter from concerned Hillsong NYC congregants, From the moment Pastor Brian discovered this shocking news, around 20 years ago, the email said, he has always been very open and clear about the circumstances around this, and our church has stood with him and his family.. Carl left the church after admitting to . ), She reported the incident to Margaret Aghajanian, Hillsongs head of pastoral care oversight. Get the latest chatter, from Kensington Palace and beyond, straight to your inbox. Roxanne Stone. The Lentzes and Sunshine Sachs parted ways. Mayss wife had just had a baby, and he told his lawyer that Crenshaw went out of her way to be around his family. CARL Lentz' "mistress" appeared in the trailer for Discovery's forthcoming docuseries, Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, showing videos he sent during their affair. ArtAnd Lots of It, The actor, who plays a Bob Rossesque character in the new comedy, Breaking: Donald Trump Surrenders to Face Charges in New York. But as Beyer would soon realize, Finchs past wasnt what she claimedand Beyers own difficult history was up for the taking. Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry reportedly paid their $16,000 monthly rent. In his last year of school, Lentz interned for Houston, washing his car and picking up his dry cleaning. His world came crashing down after an affair he had with New York actress Ranin Karim surfaced. Several years after their marriage in 2003, the couple moved to New York City to help Hillsong founder Brian Houston open and run the New York branch of the megachurch. 2 min read. By Andrew White/The New York Times/Redux. All rights reserved. They call it the Hillsong hangover, she says. In an Instagram post that included photos of palm trees and a blue sky, Laura Lentz alluded to the backlash that their family faced following the ordeal. Reporting what happened was the issue, not what happened to me, Crenshaw says. When questioned, Mays denied the incident. (Emails provided to V.F. The case has continued to plague Hillsong. They didnt tell anybody in Australia about their sexuality, but one day a professor stopped class to make an insinuation: We need to pray for Omars future wife.. In September 2022, Laura shared a relationship update. With prayerful consideration, our lead pastors, local team and international board saw this as a moment for us to invest where we will live, the report continued. Why Meghan and Harrys Revelations About Racism Within the Royal Family Were So Devastating After the Year of No Bras, Things Are Looking Up The Hamptons Rids Itself of Donald Trump Jr. Ad Choices. Though Lentz came from a family of believers, by college at North Carolina State, where he earned a spot on the varsity basketball team, he had just about given up on his faith. We were hoping to share this update with you this weekend, Houston wrote.). You have to choose where your loyalty lies, she recalls him telling her. in February that Kane Keatinge, an Australian pastor under Lentz who allegedly bullied volunteers, had been suspended pending an investigation, but didnt answer a recent inquiry about his current status. The daughter of Lionel Richie said the process has been one of the greatest experiences of her life. Carl Lentz has not publicly addressed his firing yet. On November 4, Hillsongs global senior pastor and founder, Brian Houston, publicly fired Lentz and his wife of 17 years, Laura, pointing to leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures. On Instagram the next day, Carl Lentz paired a photo of his family decked out in formal attire at the Biebers wedding with a confession: When you lead out of an empty place, you make choices that have real and painful consequences. Later, he said that Williams voice lost meaning to him. Net worth: $3 Million Carl Lentz founded the New York City branch of Hillsong Church in 2010. Liberally tattooed, elaborately coiffed, and often dressed like a teenage hypebeast, Lentz, 42, achieved mild mainstream fame based on his proximity and access to the millennial celebrities in his flock: Justin and Hailey Bieber, Vanessa Hudgens, Kevin Durant, Selena Gomez. If so, the spokesperson said, it was unacceptable and not an accurate reflection of our desired global culture.). He reiterated that the action had not been taken lightly and was done . And then he leaves. In mid-November 2020, a crisis manager from the public relations firm Sunshine Sachs took on a new client: Carl Lentz, former head of Hillsong Church's four locations in the American Northeast.. When God blesses a business person its for Gods own purposes. (A Hillsong spokesperson said financial integrity is a value of the church, that it regularly audits its financial records and expenses, and that no staff member has unrestricted access to church funds.). May 18, 202100:49. Scott Morrison, prime minister of Australia, has described Houston as a mentor and suffered a minor scandal in 2019 after the White House denied his attempt to bring Houston to a state dinner. Everyone Knows It Now. Exclusive Excerpt: An Icy Death at the Bottom of the World Lolita, Blake Bailey, and Me Kate Middleton and the Future of the Monarchy The Occasional Terror of Dating in the Digital Age The 13 Best Face Oils for Healthy, Balanced Skin From the Archive: Tinder and the Dawn of the Dating Apocalypse Sign up for the Royal Watch newsletter to receive all the chatter from Kensington Palace and beyond. They joined a pool club and hosted cookouts with plenty to drink. According to Williams account, Lentz had been extremely flirtatious with the volunteer and made her feel extremely uncomfortable. The volunteer told William that Lentz had been involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with multiple women. November 7, 2014: The first time Hailey and Justin are seen one on one, they're leaving a birthday party for Lentz. In September 2013, following two years forfeiting shifts at her paying job to serve on the host team, former volunteer Ashley Jones earned a promotion: spearheading the launch of Hillsong NYCs choir. 2023 Cond Nast. Not a subscriber? Carl Lentz's Hillsong Replacement Is Starting a New Church in Hawaii A few months after Lentz was fired and the megachurch's scandals cascaded, John Termini confirmed his departure. While Bieber said in a January Instagram Story that HILLSONG IS NOT MY CHURCH, the same month, Termini posted a photo of himself on the beach with Justin and Hailey Bieber. Kimes said in her statement that she told her husband about the alleged abuse after she learned of Lentzs departure from Hillsong, and she told Religion News Service that she had previously kept quiet because she feared both losing her family and Josh losing his job. Hillsong is an Australia-based megachurch that averages more than 150,000 weekly congregants at satellites in 30 countries. William thought it would be a one-on-one, but other church leaders showed. By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. A few years ago, Shnays company, SK Development, along with two other firms, began constructing an office building at 363 Lafayette Street in NoHo that opened in 2018. Joe is an artist who frequently paints the phrase Cash Only in his work, and in 2018, Biebers seafoam blue Lamborghini was tagged with the slogan. The appointment provided some continuity: Termini had been working at Hillsong in New York for much of the time since it opened in 2010, and he was embedded in Lentzs inner circle, along with a small group of other senior pastors. obtained, was sent through a subordinates account: Most of the things you have said here, I know absolutely nothing about. Get the latest chatter, from Kensington Palace and beyond, straight to your inbox. A Lentz family insider provided People.com with updates: family nights on the beach and Thanksgiving plans. She kept quiet for two and a half years. A story arose that William had accused Lentz of rape and had video evidence, claims William says he hadnt made. In December the board of Hillsong Church Australia wrote an email to congregants dismissing the stories, some of which included allegations of exploitation and discrimination, primarily as gossip. Aghajanian asked Crenshaw to repeat her statement twice more. Leadership met her protests with a favorite church aphorism: We dont call the qualified; we qualify the called. Eventually, Hillsong NYC scrapped the plan to have the white woman sing. Many noticed that Justin Bieber stayed silent this fall as scandal overwhelmed the church he attends,. His name is bigger than ever and he knows that, the friend said. Lines snaked around the block. Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 2. I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that. It took some time, but one of the men at the house caught on; he said he needed to take the girls home. In the wake of Lentzs departure, Hillsong has experienced unprecedented turnover of staffers, including several notable pastors who worked closely with him in New York City. On Sundays Lentz sometimes delivered six sermons a day, ducking out between services to minister to the homeless. Mary Jones and Lentz became close. November 10, 2014: Hailey attends . Days later, a Lentz insider told The Sun that Carl wants to use all the attention hes received to boost his post-scandal career, maybe land a faith-based Netflix reality series. Through tears, she challenged Williams account. In May 2021, Lentz's former nanny, Leona Kimes, accused him of sexual abuse and bullying in an essay published on Medium. Im sure hes really sorry. But he never apologized and denied assaulting her. Ex-Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz Says His Family Is 'Together' After Facing a 'Challenging Road' The former pastor posted on Instagram for the first time since 2020, when he was fired from his . Unfortunately, the Hillsong church in New York, which has found itself in controversy in the last few years, just exploded again. According to the same report, however, many of Lentzs powerful celebrity allies had turned their backs. Tens of thousands of urban evangelical professionals followed Lentz for his soaring sermons at weekly services that resembled rock concerts. A former volunteer in New York wrote to church leadership in 2017 about allegations of sexual harassment within Hillsong, including Lentzs own alleged inappropriate sexual behavior. Vanity Fair reported in February that the volunteer said he was told by Termini that he needed to defend the church the way that Termini would defend his wife. He attended a school in Australia run by Hillsong in his youth, interned for church founder Brian Houston, and eventually moved to New York with his wife and Houston's family to help them open and run the first American Hillsong church in 2010 (via New York Times). Carl caught the culture from Brian, the former staffer says.
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