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Hillsong Church shuts down Dallas operations after married pastors Brian and Bobbie quit for using worshipper donations to fund their luxury lifestyle

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Hillsong Church shuts down Dallas operations after married pastors quit for using worshipper donations to fund their luxury lifestyle​

  • Hillsong founders Brian and Bobbie Houston announced that the Australian-based megachurch is shutting down its Dallas operations in an email to members
  • The Houstons addressed the church's investigation into former Dallas pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess Bogard
  • In January, it was revealed that the Bogards and other church staff allegedly used worshipper donations to fund their lifestyles
  • The Houstons said that Reed Bogard had been suspended from 'his pastoral duties' while the church reviewed complaints from members
  • 'Early in our process, the Bogards decided to resign from Hillsong Church. We accepted their resignations,' the Houstons wrote
  • Anna Crenshaw, now 23, told the Christian Post this week that Jason Mays, a married Hillsong staff administrator, assaulted her at some point before 2018
By ADAM SCHRADER and LAUREN FRUEN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 20:16 EDT, 10 April 2021 | UPDATED: 20:25 EDT, 10 April 2021

Hillsong is shutting down its Dallas operations amid a series of scandals that have rocked the Australian-based megachurch, the church announced on Saturday.
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In an email to members, founders Brian and Bobbie Houston addressed the church's investigation into former Dallas pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess Bogard, who resigned in January after revelations they used donations to fund their luxury lifestyle.

Globally, church leaders have faced a number of allegations over the years, from xesual assault to revelations that former celebrity pastor Carl Lentz cheated on his wife of 17 years while other former Hillsong members have compared it to a 'cult'.

The Houstons said that Reed Bogard had been suspended from 'his pastoral duties' while the church reviewed complaints from members that he failed 'to uphold the standards of Hillsong leadership.'
Brian and Bobbie Houston, the co-founders of Hillsong Church, sent an email to members noting that the Dallas church was closing

Brian and Bobbie Houston, the co-founders of Hillsong Church, sent an email to members noting that the Dallas church was closing
Reed and Jess Bogard are pictured after it was revealed  that the Bogards and other church staff allegedly used worshipper donations to fund their lifestyles

Reed and Jess Bogard are pictured after it was revealed that the Bogards and other church staff allegedly used worshipper donations to fund their lifestyles

'Early in our process, the Bogards decided to resign from Hillsong Church. We accepted their resignations and acknowledged the time that the Bogards spent establishing our Dallas location,' the Houstons wrote in the email.
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The Houstons examination has now concluded after interviewing members of the church who asked the church not to reveal personal details.

'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,' the Houstons wrote.

'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.'
The church then said it would understand if its members opted to attend local churches in Dallas rather than watch Hillsong broadcasts online.

In the email, the Houstons also blamed a lot of the reasoning for the Dallas closure on the coronavirus pandemic.
'As we were establishing Hillsong Church in Dallas, the pandemic swept across the globe and quickly changed the shape of our growing church in the city,' the Houstons wrote.
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The church added: 'Many factors, all amplified by the pandemic, have resulted in the difficult decision to pause all operations at Hillsong Dallas for now.'
In January, it was revealed that the Bogards and other church staff allegedly used worshipper donations to fund their lifestyles using the cash to pay for luxury apartments, designer clothes, cars and restaurants.
Former members of the church told the New York Post how staff would use pre-paid expense (PEX) cards with funds made from tithes.
The church is facing increasing scrutiny after recent revelations that former celebrity pastor Carl Lentz, pictured in 2017, cheated on his wife of 17 years

The church is facing increasing scrutiny after recent revelations that former celebrity pastor Carl Lentz, pictured in 2017, cheated on his wife of 17 years
View of the now closed Dallas Hillsong Church where pastors allegedly used worshipper donations to fund their lifestyles

View of the now closed Dallas Hillsong Church where pastors allegedly used worshipper donations to fund their lifestyles
Hillsong East Coast made nearly $13 million in 2019; 88 per cent of that came from 'tithes & offerings.' More than two-thirds of the cash went on staff salaries, benefits and expenses as well as operating costs.

Volunteers have already accused the church of using them to perform manual labor and fulfill the personal needs of its leadership.
Hillsong admitted in December that it knew about 'serious allegations' against the church in 2018 and 'found some were true'.

Former Los Angeles service pastor Nicole Herman told the Post she was told to 'fill' the cards, adding: 'We had a team count the tithes after every service and they would allocate X amount of money for the PEX cards.'
Megan Phalon said the pastors 'bought four-wheeler ATVs' to drive around the city

Jenna Babbitt, who said she gave thousands to the church, said she saw the cards used for buying gifts and staying in luxury hotels

Megan Phalon, left, said the pastors 'bought four-wheeler ATVs' to drive around the city. Jenna Babbitt, right, who said she gave thousands to the church, said she saw the cards used for buying gifts and staying in luxury hotels

Another former New York City congregant Jenna Babbitt, 27, said she was given one of the cards to buy items for the children of Reed and Jess Bogard, who she babysat.
Babbitt, who said she gave thousands to the church, said she saw the cards used for buying gifts and staying in luxury hotels.
She added: 'I bought a designer purse and $100 or $200 of food from Dean & DeLuca for visiting pastors.'

Brandon Walker, 28, also worked with the Bogards in Texas.
He said he saw Jess 'drop over $1,000 for no reason' on clothes and dinner one day., adding: 'There's no accountability. Everything's a flex, everything's a show.'

It is understood no reimbursement protocols were in place for money spent on the cards.
Hillsong Church was founded in Sydney in 1983 and has since expanded into a global chain with locations across the United States, UK, and other countries.
Disgraced pastor Lentz entered a program in early December to treat mental health issues following his firing, at an outpatient facility that specialized in 'depression, anxiety and pastoral burnout,' according to People Magazine.

Lenz was fired in November for having an affair but has put on a united front with wife Laura, who also worked for the church before she too was fired0
The scandal appears to have impacted his relationship with Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey, as both unfollowed him on Instagram after having spent extensive time with him.

Lentz also brushed shoulders with other celebrities along the likes of Drake, Vanessa Hudgens, and various NBA stars.
He was seen soaking up the sun with his wife on Easter Sunday while wearing shorts with a cropped plaid shirt.

Leaders in the church have also faced recent allegations including xesual assault.
Anna Crenshaw, now 23, told the Christian Post this week that Jason Mays, a married Hillsong staff administrator, assaulted her at some point before 2018 when she reported the incident.

Mays, the son of the church's head of human resources John Mays, pleaded guilty to 'assault with an act of indecency' in 2019, according to the outlet.
In a statement Crenshaw made to Margaret Aghajanian, Hillsong Church's head of pastoral care oversight, she said a friend of Mays encouraged her not to report the alleged incident.
'Jason grabbed me, putting his hand between my legs and his head on my stomach and began kissing my stomach. I felt his arms and hands wrapped around my legs making contact with my inner thigh, butt and crotch,' she wrote in the 2018 statement reviewed by the Christian Post.

'I felt like I could not say anything about the Jason incident because his friend had said not to, insisting that he was a good guy and this was not a normal behavior for him.'

Crenshaw told the outlet that the treatment she received for Hillsong after coming forward with her allegations of abuse ruined her relationship with the church.
'I'm not interested to support an organization that's willing to treat abuse the way I've seen them treat abuse. What happened with my relationship with Hillsong is once I did report to church, that's when things started going downhill,' she told the Christian Post.

'That's when I saw how they dealt with abuse, and it's something I'm not willing to overlook in my relationship with the church.'
Another former Hillsong pastor Michael Guglielmucci admitted to faking a cancer diagnosis in 2008 while receiving donations to help pay for his 'treatments,' Vanity Fair reported.

He later released a statement claiming that he lied about having cancer because he was addicted to pornography.
 
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Autumn Melody

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Title is misleading. It is NOT Brian and Bobbie that quit, but another couple. Brian and Bobbie are the ones that found the scandal and ousted them.
 

LaBamba

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I really hate Hillsong style praise and worship, and how even non Hillsong churches have taken that lead, having a band and a few mediocre singers vs a choir with a good organist. Their preaching style also seems devoid of actual biblical knowledge; I once heard a Hillsong-esque pastor say that Jesus actually went to hell a la Lil Nas X before being resurrected on Easter.
 

Gochii

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“He was seen soaking up the sun with his wife on Easter Sunday while wearing shorts with a cropped plaid shirt.”

lol this article is amazing
 

KrazyAngel

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I really hate Hillsong style praise and worship, and how even non Hillsong churches have taken that lead, having a band and a few mediocre singers vs a choir with a good organist. Their preaching style also seems devoid of actual biblical knowledge; I once heard a Hillsong-esque pastor say that Jesus actually went to hell a la Lil Nas X before being resurrected on Easter.
Yea. A lot of these mega church pastors don’t preach about anything real.
 

oldfogey

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I am liberated from religion. I try to do good to my fellow human as long as it is within my possibilities. If there is some god somewhere who will judge me adversely for not belonging to the religion he/she advocates, so be it.
 

Cheeseballs

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So what else is new?

Hillsong cult is just a bunch of scammers scamming together and only the scapegoats are made to resign.
 

MWBurrows

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This was someone’s passa? I’m not a Christian buuuuuuut....this don’t seem kosher View attachment 2465280

Yeah, that's Carl. He was cool peeps, but er uh...as is the case with many people that get drunk from being in the church spotlight, he couldn't resist all the panties being thrown his way. His wife allegedly forgave his transgressions but Hillsong leadership wasn't hearing it, at'TALL.

But yeah, I used to attend a "come as you are church" some years ago (not Hillsong). On one hand it was fine in terms of not judging people by appearance & accepting them with love and extending grace, but on the other hand, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that they're all falling prey to market themselves as hip to appeal to a young, contemporary demographic now- consequently boosting competition to be the most modern, the most stylish, the most metro-urban, blah blah blah. It used to be about God accepting you anyway if you had tattoos and wore H&M over a church suit.

Now in a lot of these contemporary churches, it's all about who has the coolest bible themed tattoo, and are you wearing the latest trends so you can look Christian- hawt enough to attract the young crowd. Another case of the church getting lost in facade. It might be a renovated facade to fit the latest aesthetics and a younger demographic now, but it's still about presenting a look to persuade people that you fit into a particular blessed box, if you will.
 
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myshugashuga

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I really hate Hillsong style praise and worship, and how even non Hillsong churches have taken that lead, having a band and a few mediocre singers vs a choir with a good organist. Their preaching style also seems devoid of actual biblical knowledge; I once heard a Hillsong-esque pastor say that Jesus actually went to hell a la Lil Nas X before being resurrected on Easter.
That is what Joyce Meyer supposedly preached in the past (not sure if she still believes it). Supposedly it’s to make us feel like we are on an even keel with Jesus. He was tortured in hell, etc. Blasphemous.
 

Autumn Melody

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Jesus going to hell after he died is what I have always been taught. This is the first time I am hearing that he didnt.

From looking around, the original translation says that Jesus went to "Shoel", or "The place of the dead", but did not go to the side with all the suffering or the lake of fire side.

All this time I thought Jesus was terrorizing demons for 3 days straight!
 

arethaspurse

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you can try to absolve the Houstons but if their method of church planting is on fire, yes, they and everyone at the top of the pyramid should take the blame.

you cant train up young people in these loosey goosey colleges, pluck out your favorites, and send them to a new city to plant churches with little hierarchical oversight besides financial statement, emails, and attendance numbers.

its 0 surprise their prodigies are failing in theology and a bare minimum code of conduct.
 
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Aixela15

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Yeah, that's Carl. He was cool peeps, but er uh...as is the case with many people that get drunk from being in the church spotlight, he couldn't resist all the panties being thrown his way. His wife allegedly forgave his transgressions but Hillsong leadership wasn't hearing it, at'TALL.

But yeah, I used to attend a "come as you are church" some years ago (not Hillsong). On one hand it was fine in terms of not judging people by appearance & accepting them with love and extending grace, but on the other hand, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that they're all falling prey to market themselves as hip to appeal to a young, contemporary demographic now- consequently boosting competition to be the most modern, the most stylish, the most metro-urban, blah blah blah. It used to be about God accepting you anyway if you had tattoos and wore H&M over a church suit.

Now in a lot of these contemporary churches, it's all about who has the coolest bible themed tattoo, and are you wearing the latest trends so you can look Christian- hawt enough to attract the young crowd. Another case of the church getting lost in facade. It might be a renovated facade to fit the latest aesthetics and a younger demographic now, but it's still about presenting a look to persuade people that you fit into a particular blessed box, if you will.
As someone who used to go to Hillsong NYC (before they renamed it East Coast) and volunteered back when it first started...back when the church was in a music/club venue by Union Sq., all of what you said was true. I loved the music and being able to “come as you are” but stopped going for several reasons (nothing scandalous). Some people would only come for the “hot pastors”, a chance to see Bieber and the free snacks than to receive the Word. Sad to see what’s become of it.
 

sunburnt

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"No one can serve two masters. Either you hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Matthew 7:21
 

Luxheaux

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Will a man rob God? Hell,yeah.

This has been going on for years. Pastor pulling up to the church in luxury vehicles but begging the members to pay for their anniversary every time it rolls around.

Nothing but pimps in the pulpit.
 

TalkNerdyToMe

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I recently enjoyed a great sermon in my pajamas from the comfort of my couch via Zoom. It was the best church I've had in years.
 

744Boss

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Hillsong have taken a lot of L's since Carl Lentz made his admission post.
Went downhill the day they left Bieber in. Then their drifting went on overdrive and dominos fell. Had him looking like a groomed alter boy after a mass. Just gross.'
tumblr_ou4wajsw0v1vhiosro4_400.gif
 

ZeeZeeblue

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This is why so many are leaving churches. At this point we should just do house church and/or self bible study smh.


Or do nothing at all. Go to the park/beach and chill on Sunday.
Sit out in your backyard & listen to music. Read a good book.
Cook dinner and invite people over.
 

MWBurrows

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Went downhill the day they left Bieber in. Then their drifting went on overdrive and dominos fell. Had him looking like a groomed alter boy after a mass. Just gross.'

Now to be honest, I never found anything in their relationship that had xesual overtones, more that we are in a place now that everybody wants to be so hippy dippy utopian in contemporary churches that we look corny as all get out. What I'm more troubled by is Carl's glasses: if history has taught us anything it's that we should never trust a pastor whose eyeglasses essentially take up 1/3 of his face. Hashtag fashion victim, sigh...
 

O.o

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This was someone’s passa? I’m not a Christian buuuuuuut....this don’t seem kosher View attachment 2465280
I consider a person like this with all these raggedy tattoos [who's obviously not Polynesian] to have severe mental illness.

I wouldn't let him take my trash out.

He looks like a vagrant.
 

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