Hillsong Church continues to find itself in trouble after more scandals are revealed. The results of an internal investigation were recently leaked, shedding even more light on some of the more problematic elements of the church’s culture. Much of the report focused on disgraced pastor Carl Lentz, the former head of the New York City chapter of the church. However, this ongoing saga highlights the dangers inherent in operating a large megachurch without ensuring a proper level of accountability for those in leadership positions. It provides a stark warning to those seeking to plant and grow churches in an era when the Christian church is steadily losing influence in the western world.
The report, titled “Internal Investigation Report Regarding Carl Lentz and Other Matters,” was obtained by The Christian Post. It was the result of a probe conducted by New York City law firm Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP after Hillsong fired Lentz in November 2020 over “leadership issues” and for carrying on multiple extramarital affairs. The firm interviewed multiple volunteers and staff members who indicated Lentz’s leadership style was so toxic, that it caused some of these individuals to develop mental health problems. The investigation’s findings were given to the church in January 2021.
“In 2020, following the termination of Carl Lentz as the Lead Pastor of Hillsong NYC, Hillsong Church commissioned an independent investigation into the culture and practices of Hillsong East Coast. The investigators requested interviews with former staff members, staff members, former volunteers and volunteers as part of this independent inquiry. Many of those individuals explicitly requested confidentiality, and their request was taken with the utmost seriousness,” a spokesman for the church explained. “In January 2021, the final report summarized areas of necessary change, and steps were taken to address those areas specifically at Hillsong East Coast and also globally.”
The Christian Post reported:
The details in the 51-page report allege, among other things, a mishandling of the spiritual care of a vulnerable parishioner with an eating disorder who eventually died, and multiple incidents of consensual or non-consensual sexual interaction between church leaders and congregants, staff, volunteers, or non-churchgoers. It presents an unflattering view of Lentz as a lying, massage-loving, adulterer who presided over a congregation in which he did as he pleased in a hierarchy where he seemingly answered to no one.
Investigators noted that “[i]t was not uncommon for volunteers and staff who had frequent interaction with Carl Lentz to report that such interaction had ‘caused’ them to suffer from mental illness.”
A former Hillsong NYC leader, who is said to have had “a history of sleeping around with women in the church” and was also alleged to have received sexual favors from someone while “getting high” told investigators that working for Lentz caused him to have low self-esteem and suffer from depression and anxiety.
The report also detailed the story of Leona Kimes, who worked as a nanny for Lentz and his wife, Laura for seven years. Kimes and her husband Josh later led Hillsong Boston until they both resigned recently. Investigators found that Lentz and Leona were involved in an inappropriate relationship. It revealed that Lentz admitted to at least 20 but less than 100 “sex acts” which Lentz referred to as “manipulated intimacy.”
“Usually Carl and Leona would engage in sexual conduct on the couch in the Lentz’s living room but there were some nights when Leona would ask Carl to go to the third floor of the house and continue what they were doing. Carl said they would do ‘pretty much everything you could do’ without engaging in oral sex or intercourse,” investigators wrote. “There were certain things in Carl’s life that would make him feel a dangerous or pleasurable feeling. He called it ‘manipulated intimacy.’ He does not recall how many times they engaged in sexual relations but believes it happened more than 20 times but less than 100 times.”
Religion News reported that Josh and Leona Kimes published a post on Instagram recently announcing their decision to step down from their positions.
“It was never our plan to ever leave Hillsong Church. It’s been home for 22yrs of my life. It’s where I’ve pastored for the last 16yrs,” Kimes wrote. He also apologized for any part he played in “perpetuating a culture that at times valued the building of the church at the expense of those building it.”
The couple has also been accused of contributing to a toxic culture during their stint as leaders. A former volunteer said they asked her to care for their daughter for up to 25 hours per week. They also asked her to clean their house and take care of their dog while only paying her $150 per week.
The report is just the latest in a series of scandalous revelations about Hillsong church. Former lead pastor Brian Houston, who also founded the church, resigned after allegations that he behaved inappropriately with two women. In a statement, the church said it had received two complaints about Houston’s conduct.
These are only a few of the questionable issues that have come to light about Hillsong church. As one of the largest megachurches in the world, these scandals have become quite public. Discovery released a documentary last month about the church in which several former members describe an organization more focused on growth and greed than on the gospel. If the allegations are true, this is an unfortunate example of a religious institution that lost its way, and has negatively impacted a large number of people.
Given the myriad complaints former members and leaders have made, it would not be surprising if more scandals emerge. But it is important to point out that this will likely not result in the church’s downfall – especially if it can reform in a way that promotes accountability and moral leadership. Hopefully, there are enough people in the organization that can ensure this happens.
