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Former Christianity Today Editor, Advertising Director
Accused of Sexual Harassment
Amanda Casanova |
ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor |
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Christianity Today has admitted that it failed to pursue consequences for two ministry leaders accused of sexual harassment at its Carol Stream, Illinois, office.
In its own report, Christianity Today, an evangelical Christian magazine, said “a number of women” reported “demeaning, inappropriate, and offensive behavior” from former editor-in-chief Mark Galli and former advertising director Olatokunbo Olawoye.
The two men were not investigated or disciplined, according to an external assessment of the ministry’s culture.
“We want to practice the transparency and accountability we preach,” said CT president Timothy Dalrymple. “It’s imperative we be above reproach on these matters. If we’re falling short of what love requires of us, we want to know, and we want to do better.”
How did you not practice that years ago?
Eight women said Galli touched them inappropriately, including one former employee who said he caressed her bare shoulder during an event. Another woman said Galli rubbed her back and got his hand “stuck under her bra.”
Three women reported to human resources that Galli had inappropriately touched them, and in 2019 he was reprimanded.
According to Christianity Today, the 2019 event was not the first time Galli had been reported to HR.
From the mid-2000s to 2019, about six employees reported harassment from Galli or Olawoye, but there was no formal report, warning or reprimand.
“The culture when I was there was to protect the institution at all costs,” said Amy Jackson, an associate publisher who left what she said had become a hostile work environment in 2018. “No one was ever held accountable. Mark Galli was certainly protected.”
Galli, however, told the Religion News Service that the claims were false or taken out of context. He told CT that he may have “crossed lines,” but he never had “any romantic or sexual interest in anyone at Christianity Today.”
Then why did you 'cross lines'?
He said he was “deeply troubled” by the accusations and said he would be open to meeting with people to apologize.
Meanwhile, Richard Shields, CT’s HR director from 2008 to 2019, said HR did what it was supposed to do.
“I always took complaints seriously and very, very confidentially,” he told the CT news editor. “I’m very confident that we used the processes we had in place very consistently, very thoroughly, very effectively.”
Your definition of 'very effectively' may differ from the victims. It may also differ from God's.
The incidents included many one-on-one meetings with the men. During those meetings, Olawoye would reportedly sometimes say he wasn’t attracted to his wife and compliment other women. In another case, one woman told her manager that Olawoye was staring at her breasts during meetings. The manager’s response: “It helps if you wear a scarf.”
Olawoye was arrested in 2017 after a sting operation by federal agents. He had been trying to pay for sex with a teenager and was later sentenced to three years in prison. He is out of prison and living in Chicago as a registered sex offender.
He did not respond to requests for comment.
I'll bet he didn't. And if he did, you probably couldn't print it.
Christian organizations need to hire people who have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, not just an ability to market products. It's so sad that worldly abilities seem to trump spiritual relationships.
Hillsong Founder Brian Houston Accused of
Behaving Inappropriately Toward 2 Women
Milton Quintanilla |
Contributor for ChristianHeadlines.com |
Friday, March 18, 2022
A leaked letter issued to Hillsong members on Friday states that founder Brian Houston breached its code of conduct after two women alleged Houston of inappropriate behavior.
The Hillsong Global Board sent the letter to Hillsong members following a video conference between interim Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley and 800 global members concerning Houston's 'indiscretions' between 2013 and 2019.
"We have sadly been dealing with two complaints made against Pastor Brian over the last 10 years," the board said.
"We apologise unreservedly to the people affected by Pastor Brian's actions and commit to being available for any further assistance we can provide."
The letter, which was leaked to ABC News Australia, alleges that Houston sent "inappropriate" text messages to a former female staffer.
Dooley, who was emotional during the meeting, said that Houston's message was along the lines of "'If I was with you, I would like to give you a kiss and a cuddle or a hug,' words of that nature."
He added that Houston at the time was "under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence."
"He immediately apologised to the person," Dooley said. "We also worked with Pastor Brian to ensure he received professional help to eliminate his dependency on this medication, and this was achieved successfully."
The female staffer, who resigned after receiving those messages from Houston, issued a complaint to Hillsong general manager George Aghajanian. After resigning, the woman was unable to find work outside of Hillsong, so Houston compensated her with "a couple of months' salary" out of his own pocket.
The second incident took place in 2019 when an intoxicated Houston spent nearly an hour with another woman inside a hotel room. At the time, Houston had been drinking with other Hillsong figures during its annual conference in Qudos Bank Arena in Homebush, New South Wales.
"Later that evening, Pastor Brian attempted to get into his room but didn't have his room key and ended up knocking on the door to the woman's room," Dooley noted.
The woman, who was not a member of Hillsong, opened the door and let Houston in.
"The truth is, we don't know what happened next," Dooley continued. "The woman has not said there was any sexual activity. Brian has said there was no sexual activity, but he was in the room for 40 minutes."
Following an investigation into the incident, the board found that Houston "became disorientated ... following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol."
"Ultimately, the board found that Brian had breached the Hillsong Pastor's Code of Conduct," the board said.
In response, Houston paid for the woman's conference fee and returned her "Kingdom Builder" donation. The Hillsong founder also pledged to take three months off from ministry and abstain from alcohol, but "he didn't abide by that," Dooley said.
"He did conduct some ministry, I believe on three separate occasions... and he also did, as he would say, consume some alcohol," he added.
Dooley also dismissed allegations of cover-ups of the incidents, asserting that the board handled them "appropriately under the circumstances of the information given to them and with a desire to see Brian healthy."
During the meeting, Dooley stressed the importance of extending grace in light of Christ instead of exposing anyone. He also emphasized that anyone attending Hillsong should feel safe and should not have to fear facing "any form of abuse or harassment."
"We're deeply sorry for those victims and for what they've had to go through and what they've had to endure," he said.
Dooley acknowledged that Houston "has made significant mistakes" and asked for prayers for the Houston family at this time.
"Sin is messy, and it brings all kinds of pain," he concluded.
Earlier this year, Houston stepped down as Hillsong's Global Leader to challenge a criminal charge of concealment of his father's child sexual abuse.
The recent news adds to a line of scandals seen at Hillsong over the past several years.
Search this blog for 'Hillsong' for several other stories.
Several years ago I was delighted to find services from Hillsong Australia on TV. The song service was wonderful, and then Houston began to preach. I couldn't listen to the whole sermon, nor have I ever watched another Hillsong service since. Don't know what it was about him that I didn't like, but there was definitely something.
Satan likes to get in on the ground floor of any new Christian movement, and there has been none bigger in the past 30 years than Hillsong. Brian's father, Frank, was a gay paedophile, and it was he who began the church in Sydney that Brian would later turn into the first Hillsong. How this affected the many megachurches that later formed under the Hillsong banner is open to debate, but there seems to be a remarkable number of senior pastors having to step down because of sexual indiscretions. (See, also, 2nd and 3rd stories below).
Hillsong Founder Brian Houston Resigns as Global Senior Pastor
Milton Quintanilla |
Contributor for ChristianHeadlines.com |
Thursday, March 24, 2022
The resignation, which comes following recent revelations that Houston engaged in inappropriate behavior with two women, was confirmed by Hillsong’s board on Wednesday. Hillsong, founded by Brian and his wife, Bobbi Houston, in 1983, grew to be one of the largest megachurches in the world today, with multiple locations across the globe.
“We understand there will be much emotion at this news, and we all share these feelings. Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades and that their ministry has resulted in millions of people across the world being impacted by the power, grace, and love of Jesus Christ,” the board said in a statement.
“Hillsong Church was birthed out of Brian and Bobbie’s obedience and commitment to the call of God, and we are extremely grateful for all that Brian and Bobbie have given to build His house. We ask that you continue to pray for them, and the entire Houston family, during this challenging time.”
The board also announced that it will be undergoing “an independent review” of its “governance structure and processes,” adding that “this is a time of humble reflection, and we are committed to doing what is necessary to ensure God is honoured, and our eyes are fixed on Jesus.”
“We value your ongoing support and prayers. We are also praying for our entire church family at this time,” the statement concluded.
As Christian Headlines previously reported, Houston was accused of acting inappropriately towards two women. One of the women, a former Hillsong staffer, accused Houston of sending “inappropriate” text messages to her.
In a separate 2019 incident, Houston reportedly spent 40 minutes inside another woman’s hotel room after losing his room key during Hillsong’s annual conference. At the time, Houston was drunk and had consumed anti-anxiety medication beyond the described dose. According to Houston and the woman, no sexual activity took place.
In a statement last week, the Hillsong board confirmed that they had been dealing with these complaints “over the last ten years.” Following an investigation, they concluded that Houston had “breached the Hillsong Pastor’s Code of Conduct.”
Houston initially agreed to step down from his leadership role for a time but “failed to take all of the agreed steps which resulted in further action being taken by the board in late 2021,” the board added.
In January, Houston stepped down from his duties as global senior pastor to focus on legal charges he was facing for allegedly concealing his father’s sexual abuse of children. Taking Houston’s place are interim leaders Pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley of Hillsong South Africa.
Former Hillsong Dallas Pastor Reed Bogard resigned
after he was accused of rape, investigation reveals
By Leonardo Blair,
Senior Features Reporter|
Friday, March 25, 2022
Less than two weeks after Reed Bogard abruptly resigned as lead pastor of the now-defunct Hillsong Dallas in January 2021, an internal investigation commissioned by Hillsong Global showed that the married father of three was accused of rape by a junior female staffer with whom he had a monthlong affair while serving at Hillsong NYC years earlier.
The former junior Hillsong NYC staffer who asked not to be publicly named in this report when contacted by The Christian Post, said she has been trying to move on with her life. She confirmed she participated in a deposition concerning the allegation but would not say anything more than what was already included in the report.
“I think at this stage ... I’m not going to comment. Everything that you have in that deposition is obviously something that I did, and I said in the context of a legal deposition. I think I just want to leave it at that.”
The findings of the investigation conducted by the New York City law firm Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP, are highlighted in a report reviewed by CP. The investigation was commissioned by Hillsong Global in October 2020, shortly after senior church officials first learned that the former junior staffer alleged that her first act of sexual intercourse with Bogard in his car after a late night out together was non-consensual.
Hillsong leaders were made aware years earlier of a sexual relationship between the two parties, but an investigation was not conducted by the church at the time. Church leaders were led to believe the relationship was consensual and "consequences to both [parties] were meted out accordingly," investigators revealed.
The report was submitted to George Aghajanian, general manager and a director of Hillsong Church Australia and its international entities, on Jan. 11, 2021.
It shows that Hillsong Church Australia first learned of the sexual affair between Bogard and the junior staff member in the second half of 2014. The relationship began in September 2013 and continued through the beginning of January 2014.
“At the time, the Church did not conduct any meaningful inquiry into the details or circumstances of the affair, and no one with appropriate training was assigned to look into matters,” investigators noted.
When contacted about the report in February, Hillsong Church said Brian Houston, who resigned Wednesday after it was revealed that two women made serious complaints of misconduct against him in the last 10 years, was not aware of the rape claims against Bogard when he was chosen to lead Hillsong Dallas in 2019. Houston is currently facing criminal charges for allegedly concealing sex abuse committed by his father decades earlier.
“Brian Houston categorically denies he had knowledge of this serious allegation when Reed Bogard was selected as the Lead Pastor for Dallas,” Hillsong Church said in a statement to CP. “Hillsong Church has enormous compassion for the other party involved in this situation. We have been in regular contact with her and she has asked to remain anonymous. We ask that the media and all other parties respect and protect her privacy.”
As the coronavirus swept the world in late 2020, the church learned that the affair didn’t start out consensually. The report states that the junior staffer "resurfaced the issue" in October 2020, six years after initially confessing to having a consensual relationship.
“More than six years later, on or about October 2020, Hillsong Church Australia learned of additional allegations concerning Ms. [redacted] and Mr. Bogard’s affair. Specifically, in discussions with certain leaders of Hillsong NYC, Ms. [redacted] asserted to them, apparently for the first time, that her sexual experience with Mr. Bogard, at least initially, had not been consensual,” the report said in a summary. “For the first time, Ms. [redacted] stated that at least in their initial sexual intercourse, Mr. Bogard had raped her.”
Investigators at Zukerman Gore said while it might be too late for Bogard’s accuser to seek civil damages against him or the church for what happened to her, “a criminal complaint for rape might still be timely, though that would not be expected to implicate the Church itself.”
There was no indication from the investigation that the rape allegation was reported to law enforcement. In 2019, New York state extended the state statute of limitations for reporting second-degree rape to 20 years and third-degree rape to 10 years.
Investigators noted in the report that: "It is difficult if not impossible to say with certainty whether the initial sexual acts between Mr. Bogard and Ms. [redacted] occurred notwithstanding an express, verbal objection ('No') uttered by Ms. [redacted] in the moment."
Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP, did not respond to requests for comment.
Bogard, who now works as a director of business development for Keller Williams in Michigan, said he was done with all things Hillsong as well.
“I don’t have any comment on that. I’m not going to discuss anything. I have nothing to do with Hillsong anymore. … I haven’t been a part of that organization for over a year,” he said when contacted by CP.
When Houston and his wife, Bobbie, announced they were pausing the Dallas campus in April 2021, they failed to mention that Bogard, 39, had been accused of rape.
“It was very disappointing to learn that, while some of you experienced the Bogards as dedicated pastors, many others have experienced leadership that failed to meet the commitments and standards of Hillsong Church,” Brian Houston said, in part, at the time. “I want to be the first to apologize to those who felt disappointed or hurt, and I pray that God does a swift work in bringing peace and healing.”
In addition to the allegation of rape, which allegedly took place one night on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in October 2013, details highlighted in the report show Bogard drinking heavily, using marijuana, and generally bullying staff while serving at Hillsong NYC prior to being promoted as lead pastor of Hillsong Dallas.
Ben Houston, Brian Houston’s son, who was leading Hillsong LA and serving as Bogard’s boss when the former junior staffer first revealed her sexual relationship with him to Hillsong senior leaders, told investigators that he had spoken with his father and members of the church’s global board about the relationship. Investigators reported that Bogard was "stood down publicly from the platform in Los Angeles for a period of either eight or twelve months," noting that "stories differ."
Houston told the investigators that "the nature and extent of such discipline were handed down by top leadership in Australia," the report reads.
"Thereafter, Mr. Bogard was returned to full Pastoral duties, and was eventually awarded a promotion to Lead Pastor in the newly created Church location in Dallas, Texas," the report adds.
“The board came up with a plan that Mr. Bogard would not be permitted to serve in leadership in any capacity for twelve months, he would not be on platform for 12 months and he would undergo counseling,” investigators said.
Both Bogard and his rape accuser offered varying accounts of their first sexual encounter which happened inside his car on Manhattan’s Upper East Side after they had a clandestine meeting at a local bar, investigators said.
“Ms. [redacted] stated that as soon as she and Mr. Bogard sat down at a table at the bar, they each ordered a drink. Ms. [redacted] recalls that right after giving their drink order, Mr. Bogard leaned in and tried to kiss her. Ms. [redacted] stated that she ‘probably’ participated in the kiss. Ms. [redacted] and Mr. Bogard then talked about Mr. Bogard’s frustrations with his upcoming move to California, and how he was unhappy in his marriage,” the report said.
While this was happening, Bogard’s accuser told investigators that she felt very conflicted being at the bar with him because she felt like she had put herself in that position and had been asking herself, “do I like him?”
“In part, Ms. [redacted] now believes that she went to the bar to satisfy her own curiosity,” investigators said. Bogard claimed that they arranged to meet at the bar around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.
The former Hillsong junior staffer said they stayed at the bar for about 45 minutes, having only one drink each. Investigators said Bogard disputed the level of drinking.
“Mr. Bogard’s description of the amount of drinking is very different. Mr. Bogard’s position is interesting because he seems to ‘need’ to establish that he was too drunk to act responsibly as a way of soothing his conscience, yet he ignores or overlooks the fact that if Ms. [redacted], his subordinate, was similarly impaired, that she would have been incapable of meaningful consent in what happens after they leave the bar,” investigators explained.
The subordinate staffer recalls Bogard offered her a ride home, but the former pastor told investigators she asked for the ride home.
The alleged rape
Once they were in the car, things quickly got out of hand.
“Ms. [redacted] stated that when they got into the car (she in the front passenger seat and Mr. Bogard in the driver’s seat), Mr. Bogard leaned across the arm rest and kissed Ms. [redacted]. Ms. [redacted] admits that she kissed Mr. Bogard back.
“Mr. Bogard then began to climb over the arm rest until he was bearing down on top of her in her seat. Significantly, Ms. [redacted] now discloses that at the time she said, ‘no, I don’t think we should do this,’” investigators said.
“Ms. [redacted] says that Mr. Bogard ignored her comment and continued his climb on top of her. He then reached down between the seat and the door and pulled the lever that released the seat back. Ms. [redacted] recalled the disoriented falling sensation of the seat back suddenly going back when she’d not realized it was about to do so.
“Ms. [redacted] recalls that at around this point, Mr. Bogard undid his pants. Ms. [redacted] now reports that at this point, she said ‘no.’ Mr. Bogard began to apply his hands to Ms. [redacted’s] breasts. Ms. [redacted] reports that at this point, she ‘froze.’
“Mr. Bogard then asked Ms. [redacted] to take off her pants. Ms. [redacted] admits that she complied. Mr. Bogard then asked Ms. [redacted] to crawl into the back seat, an act which was facilitated because her seat back was now lying flat. Again, she complied. The two then had sexual intercourse.”
Bogard told investigators that he has no recollection of the accuser "saying 'no' at any time while they were in the car."
After this encounter, Bogard’s accuser entered into a regular sexual relationship with him. She revealed that during the relationship she was sent a new employment contract with a non-disclosure agreement. When she asked about it, investigators noted: “Mr. Bogard told her ‘if you don’t sign this contract, you don’t work here.’”
Investigators found that despite the nature of the case, the failure to adequately investigate it and the substantial passage of time since it happened, a jury would have likely found that Bogard had sex with the former junior staffer against her will.
“There can be no doubt that given the extreme power imbalance between the two, as well as the ‘don’t say no’ culture which permeated the New York Church at that time, there was ample opportunity for Mr. Bogard to take advantage of a systemic inability for Ms. [redacted] to have meaningfully consented at the time in question,” the report noted. “Without discounting the strength of a prosecution case due to the passage of time, it is likely that a jury, evaluating the interplay, would have found that Mr. Bogard acted without obtaining (or, under the circumstances, having any reasonable expectation of being able to obtain) actual consent by Ms. [redacted].”
Along with the former junior staffer and Bogard, the following individuals were interviewed as part of the internal investigation: Jenna Babbitt, a former Hillsong NYC congregant; Shannon Kelly, a former creative director at Hillsong NYC; Amanda and Robert Fergusson, a husband and wife team of Bible teachers and key leaders of Hillsong Church; Jess Bogard, wife of Reed Bogard; Lauren Brooks (sic), a former creative producer at Hillsong NYC; Tolu Badders, chief operating officer and executive pastor at Hillsong Church NYC; Kane Keatinge, Hillsong NYC staff pastor; Carl Lentz, former Hillsong NYC lead pastor who was fired in November 2020 over “leadership issues” and moral failures, including being unfaithful to his wife; Laura Lentz and Ben Houston.
The investigators further explained that it was concerning that Hillsong Church never considered the power imbalance between the two — Bogard and his accuser — once they were informed about the relationship.
“The fact that no Church leader appears to have even considered this issue is a cause for concern," investigators said. "An additional cause for concern is that even within the parameters of the sexual relationship between them, it appears that the sexual activities between the two frequently suggest that they were designed to reinforce the power imbalance between them.”
"In recounting various liaisons, Ms. [redacted] consistently talks about how ‘Reed wanted to have sex, so we had sex,’ and similar comments, always indicating that Mr. Bogard was the initiator.
“Mr. Bogard even summoned Ms. [redacted] to his own apartment on his last day in New York for sex, even though the building where he lived was occupied by most of the senior leaders of the New York church and Ms. [redacted] would be exposed to coming and going there.”
Investigators noted that Bogard’s decision to force his accuser into signing an NDA was also another example of his abuse of power.
“No compelling legitimate reason was given by Mr. Bogard for why this demand was made in the middle of the affair. And this is yet another example of the abuse of power that seems to have permeated the entire relationship,” they said.
Bogard was also painted as a leader at Hillsong NYC who “had a reputation for aggression, verbal abuse and unreasonable demands,” which witnesses called “UnChristian.” Investigators said in their interview with him, “Mr. Bogard did present as aggressive.”
Kelly told investigators that even if Bogard did not physically force himself on his accuser she did not have the ability to say no.
“Shannon stated that Mr. Bogard had an enormous amount of power and that Mr. Bogard was someone that if you said no to, it would be used against you in a lot of different ways. She stated people did not say no to Mr. Bogard,” investigators said.
“Shannon stated that from the way Ms. [redacted] spoke about the relationship with Mr. Bogard, it was something Mr. Bogard put pressure on Ms. [redacted] to do,” investigators added. “Shannon observed that from her point of view, of all the people Mr. Bogard could have chosen, Ms. [redacted] was probably the most vulnerable.”
==========================================================================================
Hillsong Atlanta pastor announces resignation in wake of
scandals surrounding global church
By Leah MarieAnn Klett,
Assistant Editor Twitter|
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Sam and Toni Collier. | Hillsong
Sam Collier, the first-ever African American lead pastor of a Hillsong church, has announced he is stepping down from his position as a slew of scandals continue to surround the church and its founder, Brian Houston.
Collier, who with his wife, Toni, led the Atlanta, Georgia-based branch of Hillsong, announced his departure from the church on Wednesday afternoon.
“My greatest reason for stepping down as Pastor of Hillsong Atlanta is probably not a secret to any of you. With all of the documentaries, scandals, articles, accusations and the church’s subsequent management of these attacks it’s become too difficult to lead and grow a young Church in this environment,” Collier, who is also an author, adviser to the King family, and founder of A Greater Story Ministries, wrote on social media.
“I have no shame in admitting I cried like a baby moments after I informed the Hillsong global pastor of my departure."
Hillsong Atlanta was launched in October 2020 with the goal of reaching and influencing the world “by building a large Christ-centered, Bible-based church, changing mindsets and empowering people to lead and impact in every sphere of life,” Collier told The Christian Post at the time.
He told CP the church aimed to be a “multicultural, spirit-filled and theologically astute church” — one that models unity in a desperately divided time in history.
“We’ve kind of dropped the ball, historically, when it comes to unity,” he said, quoting Martin Luther King Jr., who once described 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings as "one of the most segregated hours in Christian America."
“The world models how to come together better than the church does,” he lamented. “We want to change that. Hillsong Atlanta wants to provide a model for how to be unified. We want to have a ministry that is multicultural and unified so we can help people learn to live together for the sake of the Kingdom of God.”
Collier’s announcement came just hours after Hillsong revealed that Houston, who founded the church in 1983 with his wife, Bobbie, had resigned from his role as global senior pastor.
It was revealed that Houston, who had initially stepped down from the church's boards last September after he was charged with “concealing child sex offenses,” had violated the church’s pastoral code of conduct by entering the hotel room of an unidentified woman for 40 minutes while under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs during the church’s annual conference in 2019.
“We understand there will be much emotion at this news, and we all share these feelings," Hillsong said in a statement Wednesday. "Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades and that their ministry has resulted in millions of people across the world being impacted by the power, grace, and love of Jesus Christ."
But other high-profile sexual misconduct scandals have plagued the megachurch and its campuses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 2020 firing of Carl Lentz, who led Hillsong Church in New York City, over “leadership issues” and moral failures, including being unfaithful to his wife.
In April 2021, former Hillsong Dallas Lead Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess, abruptly resigned from their positions. It was revealed that the two were under investigation for “leadership failures,” resulting in the closure of that campus.
Another Hillsong resignation is that of Darnell Barrett, the former creative director of Hillsong Church Montclair in New Jersey. He was accused of sending explicit photos to a Hillsong volunteer.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Discovery Plus will premiere a three-episode docuseries titled “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” that purports to highlight how the Australia-based global Evangelical church network has toed the “fine line between cult and culture.”
Prior to pastoring Hillsong Atlanta, Collier, who wrote the 2020 book, A Greater Story, served at Atlanta-based North Point Community Church, led by Pastor Andy Stanley.
In his statement Wednesday, Collier said he truly loves the Hillsong family and believes “they will get through this storm and come out better than they were before.”
He revealed that this coming Sunday will mark his final service at Hillsong Atlanta, where he plans to share more information about a new church he’s launching on Easter Sunday.
“I have appreciated the Hillsong family and want to thank the Houstons for the love they have shown Toni and me,” he wrote.
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