#Pastor carl lentz and family code
#Pastor carl lentz and family trial

“I don’t think Carl really is anything like me.” “There were leadership issues that I believe included lying, included what I would call narcissistic behavior,” he said told the TODAY show. As Lentz’s cheating scandal unfolded in 2020, Houston vocally denounced him, despite the two having a seemingly close relationship for decades. Houston’s work with Lentz was intertwined with Hillsong’s success-the church started small but soon became a cultural powerhouse, thanks in part to efforts by Lentz to make the New York City branch successful.

#Pastor carl lentz and family trial

The verdict for Houston’s trial for the alleged concealment is expected in June. Brian Houston remained the lead pastor of Hillsong until 2022, when he resigned from his position amid allegations that he concealed information related to the confirmed case of his father’s child sex abuse, rather than bringing it to the police. To date, there are 13 alleged victims and survivors of Frank Houston, according to the documentary. Since 2020, multiple scandals connected to Hillsong have surfaced, including the resignation of Hillsong’s founder and former leader Brian Houston, who was investigated for ‘inappropriate behavior’ with female staff and is awaiting trial for concealing his late-father’s history of child sex abuse. It was more than a church-it was a conglomerate that worked with several celebrities, spawned a Grammy-winning Christian worship band, Hillsong United, and even ran a college. At its height in popularity, Hillsong became a household name with the help of figures like Lentz. The church’s rapid growth can be credited to its casual, almost secular style–pastors wear shredded jeans and leather jackets while preaching instead of more traditional wear music for the congregants resembles a Kings of Leon concert and church services are regularly held in venues like nightclubs.Īs Secrets of Hillsong reveals, the church’s modern appearance helped to obscure some darker truths. and nearly 30 other countries–launching its first U.S. And then there are other people who are valuable assets, or even shining stars, and they end up getting buried,' says Vanity Fair reporter Alex French of allegations of hypocrisy surround the Houston family coverup as compared to Carl's firing.A non-denominational Christian church that began in Australia in 1983, Hillsong quickly expanded to a global audience, including the U.S. 'There are some people at Hillsong Church who face scandals, and those scandals are swept under the rug.

#Pastor carl lentz and family code

Some believe Carl's firing from Hillsong was retaliatory, and accuse Brian Houston of hypocrisy.Ĭurrently still on trial for covering up allegations of child sexual abuse against his father, Brian Houston himself resigned from his post at Hillsong in March 2022, after it was found that he 'breached the Hillsong Pastor’s Code of Conduct' in two separate occasions involving inappropriate behavior toward women. Leona declined to comment on her allegations in the series. 'I am responsible for that power dynamic and the management of it and the wisdom that goes with it. 'It's an issue, because I'm a boss and this was an employee,' he adds.

There were mutual adult decisions made by two people who lied profusely. 'Any notion of abuse is categorically false. 'I am responsible for allowing an inappropriate relationship to develop in my house, with someone that worked for us,' he says in the doc.

And, in this case, my boss was also my pastor.'įor his part, Carl maintains the affair was consensual. I never dreamed I would have to guard myself from my boss. 'I was physically violated by his unwanted and repeated touching of my intimate areas,' she wrote. Six months after news of the affair came out, Leona Kimes penned a personal essay alleging she was a victim of sexual abuse by Carl. Laura explains that Leona stayed on as their nanny, but they never addressed the situation again - saying she felt 'tormented mentally' and gaslit by the pair. Something came over me, and I was angry, and I definitely freaked out.' I ran into the room and shoved Carl, hit him, and then I jumped on top of her and I punched her. I know I'm seeing something that is not right. 'One night, I found them in a compromising position. 'You've got someone in your house all the time, and I would sometimes get these little feelings,' Laura recounts.