![]() Everyone should feel welcome at Hillsong." Despite that seemingly welcoming message, in 2015, when it was revealed that the leader of Hillsong's choir in New York was in a homosexual relationship with a singer, Brian Houston announced that the church was against the relationship. On the one hand, Carl told Taffy Brodesser-Akner in her GQprofile of Hillsong that, "It’s important to him that we know that everyone is welcome at his church-that homosexuality isn’t a different kind of sin to him than, say, tithing at 9 percent instead of 10 percent, or gossiping or telling a lie. While many religious organizations have come out against homosexuality, Hillsong’s stance on a person’s sexuality has been mixed. ![]() Some organizations have popped up, like Hillsong Church Watch, with the purpose of monitoring the church and "to warn and inform people about this church, those both inside and outside the movement." One former member, Tanya Levine, wrote, People in Glass Houses: An Insider's Story Of A Life In & Out Of Hillsong, where she describes the church as an aggressive religious corporation.Īnd finally, there is the issue of sexuality. ![]() Hillsong has also been accused of being a cult. In response, Hillsong created mandatory child protection training for pastors, according to Cosmopolitan. His father, Frank, admitted to sexually abusing a boy, but Brian never reported it to the police. First of all, Hillsong's founder, Brian Houston was investigated by a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse back in the early 2000s. It should also be said that Hillsong has been at the heart of some serious controversies in years past. He met Carl Lentz in 2008 backstage at one of his concerts, and they've been very close ever since, though they may have had a falling out recently.but more on that later. Sounds enticing, right? Justin Bieber thought so. And the pastors resemble rockstars more than men of the cloth, wearing ripped jeans and flannels as they preach. Those who attend are young and hip, wearing skinny jeans and leather jackets. The services feel like a rock concert, sometimes with lines around the block outside the Manhattan nightclub, Irving Plaza, where some of their Sunday services take place. "It feels like Arcade Fire - it’s epic like that," Vanessa Hudgens told the New York Times. ![]() What makes Hillsong special, and what attracts these young celebs to its services like it's the hottest new Los Angeles restaurant, is the fact that it seems almost tailored to them. According to their website, Hillsong believes the Bible is "God's Word" and it's "accurate, authoritative and applicable to our everyday lives." Now, there are chapters all over the world including Bali, Sweden, France, and California. Hillsong is a contemporary Christian church founded in Australia back in 1983, with its New York chapter opening in 2010. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |