Why This Gay Couple From 'Survivor' Is Stayg Wh Hillsong Church | HuffPost Relign

Contents:

• HILLSONG'S BRIAN HOTON ON GAY MARRIAGE: 'I BELIEVE THE WRGS OF PL ARE CLEAR ON THIS SUBJECT'
• MEGACHURCH PASTOR SIGNALS SHIFT TONE ON GAY MARRIAGE
• HILLSONG PASTOR RE-AFFIRMS STANCE ON GAY MARRIAGE
• HILLSONG'S BRIAN HOTON 'CORRECTS' REPORT THAT 'OPENLY GAY COUPLE' LEADS NYC CHURCH CHOIR, INSISTS STANCE ON HOMOSEXUALY 'ABSOLUTELY' HAS NOT CHANGED
• GAY, EX-HILLSONG LEAR SPEAKS ABOUT EXPERIENCE WH UNCLEAR POLICY
• LEAD ARTIST OF HILLSONG UNITED FDS JEN HATMAKER’S AFFIRMATN OF GAY MARRIAGE “REHG”
• GAY COUPLE AT CENTER OF HILLSONG CONTROVERSY SAY THEY'VE BEEN 'OPEN AND FORTHRIGHT' ABOUT RELATNSHIP 'FROM THE GET-GO'
• ON GAY MARRIAGE AND THE HILLSONG MOVEMENT: DID J CALL US TO BE RELEVANT OR BIBLIL?
• WHY THIS GAY COUPLE FROM 'SURVIVOR' IS STAYG WH HILLSONG CHURCH
• HILLSONG NYC'S GAY UPLE SAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN 'OPEN AND FORTHRIGHT' ABOUT RELATNSHIP
• HILLLSONG'S BRIAN HOTON BACKS BIBLIL MARRIAGE BUT SLAMS CHRISTIANS CONMNG GAYS AHEAD OF ATRALIA VOTE
• WHY I LEFT HILLSONG, JT BIEBER’S BELOVED EVANGELIL CHURCH THE CELEBRY-FILLED CHURCH PH RETROGRA VALU ON S PARISHNERS. LEA CEASRE SEP—13—2018 09:49AM EST I’LL NEVER FET WHEN MY IEND ANDREW BROUGHT ME TO MY FIRST HILLSONG CHURCH SERVICE THE WTER OF 2013. WE WERE BOTH SOPHOMOR AT MANHATTAN COLLEGE, WHERE I SLOWLY STARTED TO PH AWAY THE CHRISTIAN FAH I GREW UP WH. BY THE TIME I WENT TO HILLSONG, I NSIRED MYSELF AGNOSTIC.ANDREW (NOT HIS REAL NAME) HAD BEEN VG ME TO THIS “HIP” CHURCH THAT HE JOED YEARS AGO. KNOWG THAT I HAD STRAYED OM RELIGN AND WAS ALSO ALG WH MENTAL-HEALTH ISSU, HE SISTED THAT HILLSONG ULD REALLY “SAVE” ME. TWICE A WEEK, HE WENT DOWNTOWN TO IRVG PLAZA, WHERE THE CHURCH HELD SERVIC ON WEDNDAYS AND SUNDAYS. I WAS IALLY HANT TO GO WH HIM, BUT WAS SUCH A DARK PLACE THAT I EVENTUALLY GAVE .WALKG TO IRVG PLAZA’S 1,200-PERSON ARENA THAT DAY, I WAS PHED TO A MOSH P OF HIPSTERS. THEY LOOKED EXTRATERRTRIAL WH THEIR HANDS FLOATG THE AIR, SGG HILLSONG’S SIGNATURE DREAM-POP-WANNABE-ROCK TUN UNISON. “YOU’LL GET ED TO ,” ANDREW SAID.BEFORE I KNEW , I WAS SGG ALONG WH MY PALMS RAISED, TOO. I MEMORIZED THE LYRICS OF “CORNERSTONE,” ONE OF THE CHURCH’S MOST POPULAR BALLADS, WHICH ARE RERD AND SUNG BY THE CHURCH’S OFFICIAL BAND, HILLSONG UNED. (THE BAND HAS MORE THAN 1 LN FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM, MORE THAN 30 LN STREAMS ON SPOTIFY, AND IS ONE MA REVENUE STREAM FOR THE CHURCH, REPORTEDLY EARNG ABOUT $100 LN PER YEAR.) VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAMLOST PHOTO FIL/THROWBACKTHURSDAY/FLASHBACKIDAY/SBACKSATURDAY? SPECIAL THANKS TO @LEVILKO WHO NOT TOO LONG AGO TOOK TO A ROCK QUARRY MONTANA TO SHOOT GUNS AND SRED ME TO ATH ...MEANWHILE, THE @EASYMONEYSNIPER IS QUIETLY REHABBG AND PREPPG FOR WHAT WILL BE A MONSTER OF A SEASON FOR HIM..#WATCHTHISSPACE GOG THROUGH THE VALLEYS THIS LIFE: UNAVOIDABLE.. LEARNG WHILE YOU ARE THEM? INVALUABLE..#OCCUPYALLSTREETS #DONTWASTEAMOMENTA POST SHARED BY CARL LENTZ (@RLLENTZ) ON JUN 26, 2015 AT 10:35PM PDTSCE HILLSONG WAS FOUND SYDNEY, ATRALIA 1983, THE CHURCH HAS BEE AN EVANGELIL EMPIRE. IRVG PLAZA EVENTUALLY BEME TOO SMALL A VENUE FOR SERVIC NEW YORK CY; THE CHURCH NGREGAT EVERY SUNDAY AT HAMMERSTE BALLROOM, WHICH N HOLD 8,000 PARISHNERS (THOANDS MORE ATTEND SERVIC AT THE CHURCH��S 20-PL LOTNS). HILLSONG’S LEAD PASTOR NEW YORK CY, CARL LENTZ, IS PERHAPS THE CHURCH’S MOST-FAMO FIGURE. HE HAS MORE THAN 600,000 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS AND N BE SEEN HANGG OUT WH NBA STAR KYRIE IRVG AND THE NEWLY ENGAGED JT BIEBER AND HAILEY BALDW. BIEBER’S CLOUT HAS BEEN A HUGE BON FOR HILLSONG, BUT HE’S NOT THE ONLY CELEBRY WHO HAS BEEN VOLVED WH THE CHURCH — HAS BEEN VISED BY SISTERS JENNER, KEV DURANT, NICK JONAS, VANSA HUDGENS, AND SELENA GOMEZ.ULTIMATELY, MY PROBLEM WH HILLSONG WASN’T S SIZE, S CULTISH ATMOSPHERE, OR S RELIANCE ON CELEBRY RELATNSHIPS. IT WAS THE ASPIRATNAL WEALTH AND CLASSISM THAT RAN RAMPANT THE CHURCH’S MUNY — TO ME, WAS EVANGELIL ELISM. UNR A VENEER OF OLNS AND PROGRSIVISM, THE CHURCH IS A RETROGRA STUTN, PHG TRADNAL VALU ON S WI-EYED, AND OFTEN EP-POCKETED, MEMBERS. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAMLOVE THE TWO SPEAKG OF LOVE...A WISE MAN NAMED PL ONCE SAID..."LOVE NEVER GIV UP. LOVE R MORE FOR OTHERS THAN FOR SELF. LOVE DON’T WANT WHAT DON’T HAVE. LOVE DON’T STT, DON’T HAVE A SWELLED HEAD, DON’T FORCE SELF ON OTHERS, ISN’T ALWAYS “ME FIRST,” DON’T FLY OFF THE HANDLE, DON’T KEEP SRE OF THE SS OF OTHERS, DON’T REVEL WHEN OTHERS GROVEL, TAK PLEASURE THE FLOWERG OF TTH, PUTS UP WH ANYTHG, TSTS GOD ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOOKS FOR THE BT, NEVER LOOKS BACK, BUT KEEPS GOG TO THE END. LOVE NEVER DI." IF SOMEBODY SAYS THEY "LOVE YOU" BUT YOU DON'T SEE THESE THINGS? GRD YOUR HEART! IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED LOVE LIKE THIS? BT THG YOU N EVER DO, IS SHARE W/ AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU N... ANOTHER WISE MAN NAMED CHRISTOPHER WALLACE SAID "SPREAD LOVE, 'S THE BROOKLYN WAY.." MAY BE OUR WAY, DAY BY DAY.. #OCCUPYALLSTREETS #AVIATORSMOUNTUP #LONGERTHETRAFFICLONGERTHEPTNA POST SHARED BY CARL LENTZ (@RLLENTZ) ON MAR 28, 2017 AT 4:44PM PDTI REMEMBER ONE SERVICE DURG WHICH A HOMELS MAN HAPPENED TO BE STANDG A FEW ROWS BEHD ME. PASTOR CARL POTED HIM OUT DURG THE SERMON TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE CHURCH OPENED S DOORS TO EVERYONE, REGARDLS OF SOCIAL CLASS, RACE, ETC. BUT WAS HARD FOR ME TO TAKE SERLY THIS KD OF MSAGE OM LENTZ, WHO REPORTEDLY HAS A WORTH OF $2 LN AND LIK TO FLNT HIS SIGNER THREADS AND GOLD CHAS ON INSTAGRAM.ACRDG TO COSMOPOLAN, HILLSONG PASTORS DO NOT TAKE A “VOW OF POVERTY” — MEANG THEY N STILL EARN A SALARY AND HAVE LAVISH LIV, PARED TO OTHER PARISH AT WHICH PASTORS ARE MORE TO ASCETICISM THAN NSPICUO NSUMPTN. I WAS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF HILLSONG-ERS WHO WERE STUNTS AND WORKG MULTIPLE JOBS, AND WE SHARED ANXIETY ABOUT BEG ABLE TO AFFORD LIVG AN EXPENSIVE CY AND DITG TIME TO CHURCH EVENTS. STILL, ON WEEKENDS SOME OF THEM ELECTED TO TO “VOLUNTEER” AT CHURCH RATHER THAN WORK. (I WILL SAY THAT HILLSONG WAS EXEMPLARY THEIR MISSN OUTSI THE CHURCH, MOSTLY THROUGH LOL IATIV LIKE SERVG THE ROCKAWAY BEACH MUNY AFTER HURRINE SANDY.)IN MY FIRST YEAR AT HILLSONG, I STARTED HANGG OUT WH THE BLØCK, THE CHURCH’S “YOUNG ADULT MUNY.” FROM THE OUTSET, I FOUND HARD TO F . THERE WAS PRSURE TO ATTEND THE FRIDAY NIGHT “HANGS,” DURG WHICH NEWERS AND HILLSONG VETERANS WOULD NVENE, TALK ABOUT J, AND TAKE SELFI.AS A FULL-TIME STUNT WORKG MULTIPLE JOBS, I DIDN’T HAVE TIME FOR THE “HANGS.” ANDREW WOULD EQUENTLY GUILT-TRIP ME FOR NOT GOG, TEXTG ME “BUMMER…” OR “WE MISSED YA…”. AND THE MORE VOLVED THAT YOUTH MEMBERS BEME WH THE CHURCH, THE CLOSER THEY GOT TO THE PASTORS – OR STARDOM, WHICH BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GOG TO THE CHURCH THE FIRST PLACE. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAMOWN THE MOMENT! IT’S BEEN AN AWOME FEW DAYS. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS AND IM EXCED AND ENURAGED TO SEE THIS BOOK START TO VA MANY DIFFERENT SPAC.. I WROTE THIS BOOK WH THAT TENTN. TO BE ABLE TO HAND TO A PASTOR, OR A PRISONER. SOMEBODY A RPORATE OFFICE, OR SOMEBODY STG A URTSI OFFICE. I HOPE I FD LAYG AROUND EVERYWHERE!! ONE OF THE MA THEM THIS BOOK IS MY BELIEF THAT WE TLY N “OCCUPY ALL STREETS”. THAT WHO WE ARE IS NOT ULTIMATELY FED BY “WHAT WE DO”. WHEN YOU OWN THAT MENTALY, YOU DON’T NEED A TLE, A NEW POSN, OR A “STAT” LEVEL TO BE SECURE. BEE YOU ALREADY HAVE SECURY! NOW, YOU N BRING VALUE TO ANY TLE, YOU N BRG PASSN TO ANY POSN, BEE YOU KNOW YOUR PURPOSE. TAKE A MOMENT AND CHECK OUT #OWNTHEMOMENT … LIFE IS WAY TO SHORT TO WA FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO GIVE YOU “PERMISSN” TO TAKE GROUND. YOUR TIME IS RIGHT NOW… #OCCUPYALLSTREETS #OWNTHEMOMENT #LKTHEBA POST SHARED BY CARL LENTZ (@RLLENTZ) ON NOV 3, 2017 AT 11:11AM PDTI WAS ALSO TAKEN ABACK BY HOW HILLSONG PHED MARRIAGE ONTO S YOUNG MEMBERS. IN MY YOUTH GROUP, MOST OF THE TWENTY-SOMETHGS WERE VIRGS AND A SH TO GET MARRIED. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN SOME OF THE MEMBERS THOUGHT MY SEXUAL CHOIC WERE HERETIL AND ASKED IF I WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED AGA, JT BEE I WAS HAPPILY SEXUALLY ACTIVE AND OPEN ABOUT . (I CLED THE VATN TO BE BAPTIZED, EVEN THOUGH BAPTISMS ARE A HUGE SPECTACLE AT HILLSONG. EVERY OTHER WEEK PASTORS WILL “BAPTIZE” DOZENS OF PEOPLE AT THE GANSEVOORT HOTEL’S ROOFTOP POOL. IT’S KD OF LIKE HILLSONG-IATN. MANY HILLSONG-ERS WILL ATTEND, SGG WORSHIP SONGS TO SUPPORT THE NEWLY BAPTIZED.)MARRIAGE PREPARATN AND VAR MARRIAGE-RELATED WORKSHOPS ARE TWO OF THE MOST-EQUENTLY NDUCTED EVENTS AT THE CHURCH. IT’S TYPIL FOR A HILLSONG-ER TO ABSTA OM SEX UNTIL MARRIAGE. THE PASTORS OFTEN TALK ABOUT THEIR RECKLS DAYS OF PREMARAL SEX BEFORE THEY FOUND J SAYG THAT ENGAGG SUCH IS A TEMPTATN OM THE VIL.MORE SIDLY, THE CHURCH’S PRSURE TO GET MARRIED WAS STRICTLY HETERONORMATIVE. THIS WAS A CLEAR MSAGE G OM THE CHURCH’S UPPER ECHELONS. THE CHURCH FOUND SELF MOORED NTROVERSY OVER THIS 2014, WHEN S FOUNR, THE SYDNEY-BASED BRIAN HOTON, RELEASED A STATEMENT REGARDG HIS OPN ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AFTER WAS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS AN OPENLY GAY UPLE ON THE CHOIR STAFF. HOTON SAID HE DID NOT “DIMISH BIBLIL TTH OR SUGGT THAT I OR HILLSONG CHURCH SUPPORTED GAY MARRIAGE.”HOTON LATER PUBLISHED A BLOG POST ON HILLSONG’S WEBSE TLED “DO I LOVE GAY PEOPLE?” “HILLSONG CHURCH WEL ALL PEOPLE BUT DO NOT AFFIRM ALL LIFTYL,” HE WROTE. “PUT CLEARLY, WE DO NOT AFFIRM A GAY LIFTYLE AND BEE OF THIS WE DO NOT KNOWGLY HAVE ACTIVELY GAY PEOPLE POSNS OF LEARSHIP, EHER PAID OR UNPAID.” IT’S NO E GETTG ANYONE THE CHURCH TO TALK ABOUT THIS, MOST WILL CLE IF YOU ASK THEM. A STOCK RPONSE IS SOMETHG ALONG THE L OF “EVERYONE IS WELE AT HILLSONG, BUT THE CHURCH DO NOT NDONE GAY MARRIAGE OR ABORTN.” FURTHER, MORS OF GAY NVERSN THERAPY WH THE CHURCH DID NOT EASE MY NCERNS ABOUT S STANCE NCERNG NON-HETEROSEXUAL RELATNSHIPS.ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER MY FIRST HILLSONG EXPERIENCE, I CID TO LEAVE THE CHURCH. WHEN I TRIED TO RAISE MY NCERNS ABOUT WH MY YOUTH GROUP MEMBERS, THEY’D SHG THEIR SHOULRS. I KNEW THAT MY OUTSPOKENNS WASN’T WELED. ONCE I OFFICIALLY LEFT, MY HILLSONG PEERS STOPPED TALKG TO ME AND SOME EVEN UNFOLLOWED ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA. PEOPLE WHO QUTN AND LEAVE THE CHURCH ARE NSIRED RENEGAS.IN A WAY, I THK THAT I REJECTED HILLSONG AS MUCH AS REJECTED ME. I DIDN’T F THEIR VERSN OF A NTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN, EVEN 2018. I DON’T REGRET THE CISN TO WALK AWAY OM A CHURCH THAT R SO MUCH ABOUT FAME MORE THAN FAH. LEA CEASRE IS A JOURNALIST NEW YORK CY. THE OUTLE

HILLSONG'S BRIAN HOTON ON GAY MARRIAGE: 'I BELIEVE THE WRGS OF PL ARE CLEAR ON THIS SUBJECT'

| (Photo: Hillsong Church)Hillsong Church pastor Brian Hoton has issued a statement specifyg his posn on marriage and homosexualy after a news outlet reported that he "won't take (a) public posn on LGBT issu.

MEGACHURCH PASTOR SIGNALS SHIFT TONE ON GAY MARRIAGE

"The news report me after Hoton brought up the topics of homosexualy and same-sex marriage at a prs nference held on Thursday wh New York Cy media, on the ocsn of Hillsong Conference beg held at Madison Square Garn. "Nowhere my answer did I dimish biblil tth or suggt that I or Hillsong Church supported gay marriage, " he adds.

HILLSONG PASTOR RE-AFFIRMS STANCE ON GAY MARRIAGE

My personal view on the subject of homosexualy would le up wh most tradnally held Christian views. | (Photo: The Christian Post/Stt Liu)The qutn that rulted Hoton's remarks on homosexualy centered on how his church tri to rema relevant. In his rponse, the Hillsong pastor offered homosexual marriage as an issue that is a challenge for some church.

HILLSONG'S BRIAN HOTON 'CORRECTS' REPORT THAT 'OPENLY GAY COUPLE' LEADS NYC CHURCH CHOIR, INSISTS STANCE ON HOMOSEXUALY 'ABSOLUTELY' HAS NOT CHANGED

Now wh homosexual marriage legalized, and church for generatns, they hold a set of beliefs around what they believe the Word of God, the Bible says. Hoton, prompted by The New York Tim' qutn for clarifitn, went on to emphasize that, for him, qutns about his posn on homosexualy were "too important for to rce" down to a "y or no answer a media outlet.

GAY, EX-HILLSONG LEAR SPEAKS ABOUT EXPERIENCE WH UNCLEAR POLICY

" His remarks were siar to those prevly ma by Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz, who has cled to take a public "yea or nay" posn on New York Tim published a report on Hoton's remark unr the headle "Megachurch Pastor Signals Shift Tone on Gay Marriage, " and not that the Hillsong Church pastor's "spokman said on Friday that the pastor personally agreed wh tradnal Christian teachg on sexualy. Read more about the prs nference here: Hillsong Pastor Brian Hoton Hammered Wh Qutns About Sex Abe, Homosexualy, Fanc at Start of NYC Conference.

LEAD ARTIST OF HILLSONG UNITED FDS JEN HATMAKER’S AFFIRMATN OF GAY MARRIAGE “REHG”

The ments by Brian Hoton, the senr pastor of Hillsong, immediately attracted ncern om the right and applse om the left, g as many Christian nomatns and ngregatns are stgglg wh how to rpond to rapid expansn of gay rights and legalizatn of same-sex marriage.

Lears of Hillsong have been avoidg nmnatn of homosexualy for some time, and the pastor of Hillsong’s New York Cy mp, Carl Lentz, has cled to take a public posn on same-sex marriage. Hoton’s ments, ma at a news nference Thursday New York, were strikg for their assertn that Christian church have ed pa for some gay Christians, and for their suggtn that the issue of same-sex marriage is not settled. Hoton, as he has done sermons, efully noted the experience of gay children growg up Christian church, sayg that some feel rejected by their youth pastors or even their parents, and that as a rult, some young people “lerally are prsed, maybe even suicidal, and, sadly, oftentim grow up to hate the church bee they feel that the church rejected them.

GAY COUPLE AT CENTER OF HILLSONG CONTROVERSY SAY THEY'VE BEEN 'OPEN AND FORTHRIGHT' ABOUT RELATNSHIP 'FROM THE GET-GO'

“It’s very easy to rce what you thk about homosexualy to jt a public statement, and that would keep a lot of people happy, ” he said, “but we feel at this pot, that is an ongog nversatn, that the real issu people’s liv are too important for jt to rce down to a y or no answer a media outlet.

”Some of Hillsong’s church appear to be open to gays and lbians. Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, a gay uple featured on the current season of “Survivor;” worship and sg the choir at Hillsong New York; Mr.

Hoton’s ments were weled by Matthew V, a young gay evangelil who is tryg to persua the evangelil world that fah the Bible is not at odds wh openns to gays and lbians.

ON GAY MARRIAGE AND THE HILLSONG MOVEMENT: DID J CALL US TO BE RELEVANT OR BIBLIL?

”A versn of this article appears prt on, Sectn A, Page 17 of the New York edn wh the headle: Megachurch Pastor Signals Shift Tone on Gay Marriage. Hoton's reactn follows his appearance Thursday at a news nference New York Cy that gave rise to media reports suggtg Hoton had a "shift tone on gay marriage. Nowhere my answer did I dimish biblil tth or suggt that I or Hillsong Church supported gay marriage, " Hoton said a statement published by the Christian Post.

"My personal view on the subject of homosexualy would le up wh most tradnally held Christian views. Hillsong Church operat 12 mp around the world, cludg facili Los Angel and New York Cy, where gay marriage is legal. "I was asked a qutn on how the Church n stay relevant the ntext of gay marriage beg legal the two stat of the USA where we have mp.

Viral Blog Post, Cg PlayBill and New York Tim, Claims Two Engaged Gay Men Are Involved MistryPastor Brian Hoton appears on stage durg Hillsong's 2014 nference New York Cy at The Theater at Madison Square Garn.

WHY THIS GAY COUPLE FROM 'SURVIVOR' IS STAYG WH HILLSONG CHURCH

| (Photo: Hillsong Church)Hillsong Church foundg pastor Brian Hoton sists that his Sydney-based megachurch has ma "absolutely no change" regard to s "stance on homosexualy and gay marriage, " after a cril blog post claimed that two engaged openly gay men were leadg Hillsong NYC's choir.

HILLSONG NYC'S GAY UPLE SAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN 'OPEN AND FORTHRIGHT' ABOUT RELATNSHIP

4, 2015, "rrectg" reports that two openly gay men were leadg the choir at Hillsong NYC.

| (Photo: The Christian Post)"There has been absolutely no change to Hillsong Church's stance on homosexualy and gay marriage, " Hoton wrote on his Twter acunt early Tuday morng. In the statement, Hoton challeng the recent blog post about two gay men who attend Hillsong's NYC lotn. Hoton wr:"I wish to rrect reports that Hillsong church has 'an openly gay uple directg a choir' at our New York Cy mp.

HILLLSONG'S BRIAN HOTON BACKS BIBLIL MARRIAGE BUT SLAMS CHRISTIANS CONMNG GAYS AHEAD OF ATRALIA VOTE

Hillsong's posn on homosexualy and gay marriage has not changed and is nsistent wh Scripture. "The statement lks to a blog post wrten by Hoton also published Tuday, which the megachurch pastor explas that gays are wele to attend, worship and "participate as a ngregatn member" at Hillsong church. However, Hoton adds that gay worshippers nnot "take an active learship role.

WHY I LEFT HILLSONG, JT BIEBER’S BELOVED EVANGELIL CHURCH THE CELEBRY-FILLED CHURCH PH RETROGRA VALU ON S PARISHNERS. LEA CEASRE SEP—13—2018 09:49AM EST I’LL NEVER FET WHEN MY IEND ANDREW BROUGHT ME TO MY FIRST HILLSONG CHURCH SERVICE THE WTER OF 2013. WE WERE BOTH SOPHOMOR AT MANHATTAN COLLEGE, WHERE I SLOWLY STARTED TO PH AWAY THE CHRISTIAN FAH I GREW UP WH. BY THE TIME I WENT TO HILLSONG, I NSIRED MYSELF AGNOSTIC.ANDREW (NOT HIS REAL NAME) HAD BEEN VG ME TO THIS “HIP” CHURCH THAT HE JOED YEARS AGO. KNOWG THAT I HAD STRAYED OM RELIGN AND WAS ALSO ALG WH MENTAL-HEALTH ISSU, HE SISTED THAT HILLSONG ULD REALLY “SAVE” ME. TWICE A WEEK, HE WENT DOWNTOWN TO IRVG PLAZA, WHERE THE CHURCH HELD SERVIC ON WEDNDAYS AND SUNDAYS. I WAS IALLY HANT TO GO WH HIM, BUT WAS SUCH A DARK PLACE THAT I EVENTUALLY GAVE .WALKG TO IRVG PLAZA’S 1,200-PERSON ARENA THAT DAY, I WAS PHED TO A MOSH P OF HIPSTERS. THEY LOOKED EXTRATERRTRIAL WH THEIR HANDS FLOATG THE AIR, SGG HILLSONG’S SIGNATURE DREAM-POP-WANNABE-ROCK TUN UNISON. “YOU’LL GET ED TO ,” ANDREW SAID.BEFORE I KNEW , I WAS SGG ALONG WH MY PALMS RAISED, TOO. I MEMORIZED THE LYRICS OF “CORNERSTONE,” ONE OF THE CHURCH’S MOST POPULAR BALLADS, WHICH ARE RERD AND SUNG BY THE CHURCH’S OFFICIAL BAND, HILLSONG UNED. (THE BAND HAS MORE THAN 1 LN FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM, MORE THAN 30 LN STREAMS ON SPOTIFY, AND IS ONE MA REVENUE STREAM FOR THE CHURCH, REPORTEDLY EARNG ABOUT $100 LN PER YEAR.) VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAMLOST PHOTO FIL/THROWBACKTHURSDAY/FLASHBACKIDAY/SBACKSATURDAY? SPECIAL THANKS TO @LEVILKO WHO NOT TOO LONG AGO TOOK TO A ROCK QUARRY MONTANA TO SHOOT GUNS AND SRED ME TO ATH ...MEANWHILE, THE @EASYMONEYSNIPER IS QUIETLY REHABBG AND PREPPG FOR WHAT WILL BE A MONSTER OF A SEASON FOR HIM..#WATCHTHISSPACE GOG THROUGH THE VALLEYS THIS LIFE: UNAVOIDABLE.. LEARNG WHILE YOU ARE THEM? INVALUABLE..#OCCUPYALLSTREETS #DONTWASTEAMOMENTA POST SHARED BY CARL LENTZ (@RLLENTZ) ON JUN 26, 2015 AT 10:35PM PDTSCE HILLSONG WAS FOUND SYDNEY, ATRALIA 1983, THE CHURCH HAS BEE AN EVANGELIL EMPIRE. IRVG PLAZA EVENTUALLY BEME TOO SMALL A VENUE FOR SERVIC NEW YORK CY; THE CHURCH NGREGAT EVERY SUNDAY AT HAMMERSTE BALLROOM, WHICH N HOLD 8,000 PARISHNERS (THOANDS MORE ATTEND SERVIC AT THE CHURCH��S 20-PL LOTNS). HILLSONG’S LEAD PASTOR NEW YORK CY, CARL LENTZ, IS PERHAPS THE CHURCH’S MOST-FAMO FIGURE. HE HAS MORE THAN 600,000 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS AND N BE SEEN HANGG OUT WH NBA STAR KYRIE IRVG AND THE NEWLY ENGAGED JT BIEBER AND HAILEY BALDW. BIEBER’S CLOUT HAS BEEN A HUGE BON FOR HILLSONG, BUT HE’S NOT THE ONLY CELEBRY WHO HAS BEEN VOLVED WH THE CHURCH — HAS BEEN VISED BY SISTERS JENNER, KEV DURANT, NICK JONAS, VANSA HUDGENS, AND SELENA GOMEZ.ULTIMATELY, MY PROBLEM WH HILLSONG WASN’T S SIZE, S CULTISH ATMOSPHERE, OR S RELIANCE ON CELEBRY RELATNSHIPS. IT WAS THE ASPIRATNAL WEALTH AND CLASSISM THAT RAN RAMPANT THE CHURCH’S MUNY — TO ME, WAS EVANGELIL ELISM. UNR A VENEER OF OLNS AND PROGRSIVISM, THE CHURCH IS A RETROGRA STUTN, PHG TRADNAL VALU ON S WI-EYED, AND OFTEN EP-POCKETED, MEMBERS. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAMLOVE THE TWO SPEAKG OF LOVE...A WISE MAN NAMED PL ONCE SAID..."LOVE NEVER GIV UP. LOVE R MORE FOR OTHERS THAN FOR SELF. LOVE DON’T WANT WHAT DON’T HAVE. LOVE DON’T STT, DON’T HAVE A SWELLED HEAD, DON’T FORCE SELF ON OTHERS, ISN’T ALWAYS “ME FIRST,” DON’T FLY OFF THE HANDLE, DON’T KEEP SRE OF THE SS OF OTHERS, DON’T REVEL WHEN OTHERS GROVEL, TAK PLEASURE THE FLOWERG OF TTH, PUTS UP WH ANYTHG, TSTS GOD ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOOKS FOR THE BT, NEVER LOOKS BACK, BUT KEEPS GOG TO THE END. LOVE NEVER DI." IF SOMEBODY SAYS THEY "LOVE YOU" BUT YOU DON'T SEE THESE THINGS? GRD YOUR HEART! IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED LOVE LIKE THIS? BT THG YOU N EVER DO, IS SHARE W/ AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU N... ANOTHER WISE MAN NAMED CHRISTOPHER WALLACE SAID "SPREAD LOVE, 'S THE BROOKLYN WAY.." MAY BE OUR WAY, DAY BY DAY.. #OCCUPYALLSTREETS #AVIATORSMOUNTUP #LONGERTHETRAFFICLONGERTHEPTNA POST SHARED BY CARL LENTZ (@RLLENTZ) ON MAR 28, 2017 AT 4:44PM PDTI REMEMBER ONE SERVICE DURG WHICH A HOMELS MAN HAPPENED TO BE STANDG A FEW ROWS BEHD ME. PASTOR CARL POTED HIM OUT DURG THE SERMON TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE CHURCH OPENED S DOORS TO EVERYONE, REGARDLS OF SOCIAL CLASS, RACE, ETC. BUT WAS HARD FOR ME TO TAKE SERLY THIS KD OF MSAGE OM LENTZ, WHO REPORTEDLY HAS A WORTH OF $2 LN AND LIK TO FLNT HIS SIGNER THREADS AND GOLD CHAS ON INSTAGRAM.ACRDG TO COSMOPOLAN, HILLSONG PASTORS DO NOT TAKE A “VOW OF POVERTY” — MEANG THEY N STILL EARN A SALARY AND HAVE LAVISH LIV, PARED TO OTHER PARISH AT WHICH PASTORS ARE MORE TO ASCETICISM THAN NSPICUO NSUMPTN. I WAS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF HILLSONG-ERS WHO WERE STUNTS AND WORKG MULTIPLE JOBS, AND WE SHARED ANXIETY ABOUT BEG ABLE TO AFFORD LIVG AN EXPENSIVE CY AND DITG TIME TO CHURCH EVENTS. STILL, ON WEEKENDS SOME OF THEM ELECTED TO TO “VOLUNTEER” AT CHURCH RATHER THAN WORK. (I WILL SAY THAT HILLSONG WAS EXEMPLARY THEIR MISSN OUTSI THE CHURCH, MOSTLY THROUGH LOL IATIV LIKE SERVG THE ROCKAWAY BEACH MUNY AFTER HURRINE SANDY.)IN MY FIRST YEAR AT HILLSONG, I STARTED HANGG OUT WH THE BLØCK, THE CHURCH’S “YOUNG ADULT MUNY.” FROM THE OUTSET, I FOUND HARD TO F . THERE WAS PRSURE TO ATTEND THE FRIDAY NIGHT “HANGS,” DURG WHICH NEWERS AND HILLSONG VETERANS WOULD NVENE, TALK ABOUT J, AND TAKE SELFI.AS A FULL-TIME STUNT WORKG MULTIPLE JOBS, I DIDN’T HAVE TIME FOR THE “HANGS.” ANDREW WOULD EQUENTLY GUILT-TRIP ME FOR NOT GOG, TEXTG ME “BUMMER…” OR “WE MISSED YA…”. AND THE MORE VOLVED THAT YOUTH MEMBERS BEME WH THE CHURCH, THE CLOSER THEY GOT TO THE PASTORS – OR STARDOM, WHICH BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GOG TO THE CHURCH THE FIRST PLACE. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAMOWN THE MOMENT! IT’S BEEN AN AWOME FEW DAYS. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS AND IM EXCED AND ENURAGED TO SEE THIS BOOK START TO VA MANY DIFFERENT SPAC.. I WROTE THIS BOOK WH THAT TENTN. TO BE ABLE TO HAND TO A PASTOR, OR A PRISONER. SOMEBODY A RPORATE OFFICE, OR SOMEBODY STG A URTSI OFFICE. I HOPE I FD LAYG AROUND EVERYWHERE!! ONE OF THE MA THEM THIS BOOK IS MY BELIEF THAT WE TLY N “OCCUPY ALL STREETS”. THAT WHO WE ARE IS NOT ULTIMATELY FED BY “WHAT WE DO”. WHEN YOU OWN THAT MENTALY, YOU DON’T NEED A TLE, A NEW POSN, OR A “STAT” LEVEL TO BE SECURE. BEE YOU ALREADY HAVE SECURY! NOW, YOU N BRING VALUE TO ANY TLE, YOU N BRG PASSN TO ANY POSN, BEE YOU KNOW YOUR PURPOSE. TAKE A MOMENT AND CHECK OUT #OWNTHEMOMENT … LIFE IS WAY TO SHORT TO WA FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO GIVE YOU “PERMISSN” TO TAKE GROUND. YOUR TIME IS RIGHT NOW… #OCCUPYALLSTREETS #OWNTHEMOMENT #LKTHEBA POST SHARED BY CARL LENTZ (@RLLENTZ) ON NOV 3, 2017 AT 11:11AM PDTI WAS ALSO TAKEN ABACK BY HOW HILLSONG PHED MARRIAGE ONTO S YOUNG MEMBERS. IN MY YOUTH GROUP, MOST OF THE TWENTY-SOMETHGS WERE VIRGS AND A SH TO GET MARRIED. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN SOME OF THE MEMBERS THOUGHT MY SEXUAL CHOIC WERE HERETIL AND ASKED IF I WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED AGA, JT BEE I WAS HAPPILY SEXUALLY ACTIVE AND OPEN ABOUT . (I CLED THE VATN TO BE BAPTIZED, EVEN THOUGH BAPTISMS ARE A HUGE SPECTACLE AT HILLSONG. EVERY OTHER WEEK PASTORS WILL “BAPTIZE” DOZENS OF PEOPLE AT THE GANSEVOORT HOTEL’S ROOFTOP POOL. IT’S KD OF LIKE HILLSONG-IATN. MANY HILLSONG-ERS WILL ATTEND, SGG WORSHIP SONGS TO SUPPORT THE NEWLY BAPTIZED.)MARRIAGE PREPARATN AND VAR MARRIAGE-RELATED WORKSHOPS ARE TWO OF THE MOST-EQUENTLY NDUCTED EVENTS AT THE CHURCH. IT’S TYPIL FOR A HILLSONG-ER TO ABSTA OM SEX UNTIL MARRIAGE. THE PASTORS OFTEN TALK ABOUT THEIR RECKLS DAYS OF PREMARAL SEX BEFORE THEY FOUND J SAYG THAT ENGAGG SUCH IS A TEMPTATN OM THE VIL.MORE SIDLY, THE CHURCH’S PRSURE TO GET MARRIED WAS STRICTLY HETERONORMATIVE. THIS WAS A CLEAR MSAGE G OM THE CHURCH’S UPPER ECHELONS. THE CHURCH FOUND SELF MOORED NTROVERSY OVER THIS 2014, WHEN S FOUNR, THE SYDNEY-BASED BRIAN HOTON, RELEASED A STATEMENT REGARDG HIS OPN ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AFTER WAS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS AN OPENLY GAY UPLE ON THE CHOIR STAFF. HOTON SAID HE DID NOT “DIMISH BIBLIL TTH OR SUGGT THAT I OR HILLSONG CHURCH SUPPORTED GAY MARRIAGE.”HOTON LATER PUBLISHED A BLOG POST ON HILLSONG’S WEBSE TLED “DO I LOVE GAY PEOPLE?” “HILLSONG CHURCH WEL ALL PEOPLE BUT DO NOT AFFIRM ALL LIFTYL,” HE WROTE. “PUT CLEARLY, WE DO NOT AFFIRM A GAY LIFTYLE AND BEE OF THIS WE DO NOT KNOWGLY HAVE ACTIVELY GAY PEOPLE POSNS OF LEARSHIP, EHER PAID OR UNPAID.” IT’S NO E GETTG ANYONE THE CHURCH TO TALK ABOUT THIS, MOST WILL CLE IF YOU ASK THEM. A STOCK RPONSE IS SOMETHG ALONG THE L OF “EVERYONE IS WELE AT HILLSONG, BUT THE CHURCH DO NOT NDONE GAY MARRIAGE OR ABORTN.” FURTHER, MORS OF GAY NVERSN THERAPY WH THE CHURCH DID NOT EASE MY NCERNS ABOUT S STANCE NCERNG NON-HETEROSEXUAL RELATNSHIPS.ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER MY FIRST HILLSONG EXPERIENCE, I CID TO LEAVE THE CHURCH. WHEN I TRIED TO RAISE MY NCERNS ABOUT WH MY YOUTH GROUP MEMBERS, THEY’D SHG THEIR SHOULRS. I KNEW THAT MY OUTSPOKENNS WASN’T WELED. ONCE I OFFICIALLY LEFT, MY HILLSONG PEERS STOPPED TALKG TO ME AND SOME EVEN UNFOLLOWED ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA. PEOPLE WHO QUTN AND LEAVE THE CHURCH ARE NSIRED RENEGAS.IN A WAY, I THK THAT I REJECTED HILLSONG AS MUCH AS REJECTED ME. I DIDN’T F THEIR VERSN OF A NTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN, EVEN 2018. I DON’T REGRET THE CISN TO WALK AWAY OM A CHURCH THAT R SO MUCH ABOUT FAME MORE THAN FAH. LEA CEASRE IS A JOURNALIST NEW YORK CY. THE OUTLE

"Hoton stat this blog post, which is clud full at the end of this article:"I also live by my own nvictns, and hold to tradnal Christian thought on gay liftyl and gay marriage. The wrgs of the apostle Pl scripture on the subject of homosexualy are also clear, as I have mentned prev public statements. Put clearly, we do not affirm a gay liftyle and bee of this we do not knowgly have actively gay people posns of learship, eher paid or unpaid.

" Grir, also intified as a street preacher, published his now viral blog post on Hillsong NYC's openly gay and engaged members, Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, on Sunday, Aug. His post, shared more than 55, 000 tim via Facebook, Grir wr:"Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly are a proudly-out homosexual uple who preach the gospel of the LGBT Agenda.