Ill step back, and some other young whippersnapper will come in and take us into the future that God has for us, said Glenn. The woman has not said there was any sexual activity. We also worked closely with Pastor Brian to ensure he received professional help to eliminate his dependency on this medication, and this was achieved successfully, Hillsongs statement said. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. Still there today. Two elders at the pastors megachurch have also When the woman confronted Chandler, he thought he did nothing wrong, but he self-reported it to his church's leadership. Updated The 67-year-old Warren will continue to serve as the Saddleback's head pastor until a replacement can be found. . The Arizona megachurchCentral Christian Church (CCC), which has five locations in the Phoenix area announced the termination of Lead Student Pastor and Associate Preaching Pastor Caleb Baker at a church service posted on Feb. 13. Evangelical radio host and blogger, Erick-Woods Erickson, said Chandler and his church modeled what should be done. In the statement, the elders added that Chandler would take a leave of absence and return at a time that would be determined by leadership. Other allegations concerning Mike Baker have also recently come to light. "These 'confessions' are often staged to put the fallen pastor in the best possible light. She said she reported Caleb to the elders in July 2022 and asked for a third-party investigation at that time both into Baker and into an abusive culture at ECC. Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado. A representative of Collier told The Post he was the megachurchs first African American pastor and that he may be the first of many to resign due to the current Hillsong environment.. Then and now the Elders believe that for the health of our church, a third-party involvement is necessary to adequately address allegations. Call (800) 700-7000 or request prayer. Smith said that in 2014, she sat with Sara and broke down about the constant abuse I endured at the hands of her son. Smith told TRR that she asked the Bakers for their support in getting their son counseling, but said she needed to live apart from him to be safe. At the end of 2023, I will step down as senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church, said Glenn following his Sunday sermon. "And the way that played itself out was in a kind of frequency and familiarity that is not wise for someone in my position.". "Chandler, for his part, embraced the church's discipline. The latest breaking Christian news you need to know about as soon as it happens. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. In 2002, he became pastor of First Baptist Church of Highland Village, now called The Village Church. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Leader of Australian Megachurch Steps Down After Charge Over Fathers Sexual Abuse. 2. ". Arkansas Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of Sexual Assault, Churches Respond to Action of SBC Executive Committee, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. While the allegations were not referenced in the resignation statement, the board did acknowledge the accusations last week, stating that it was "dealing with two complaints made against Pastor Brian over the last ten years.". To donate, Vineyard Pastor Resigns, Wont Cooperate With Probe Into Sons Alleged Misconduct, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. Executive Director Brian Howard, who has provided day-to-day leadership for Acts 29 since May 2020, will continue to lead Acts 29 in our commitment to plant disciple-making churches worldwide.". He succeeded longtime Brentwood Baptist minister Bill Wilson, who became pastor shortly after the church was founded in 1968. Hillsong Atlanta Lead Pastor Sam Collier announced Wednesday that he is stepping down in the wake of the allegations of misconduct directed at the global The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. To donate, click here. The Arizona megachurch Central Christian Church (CCC), which has five locations in the Phoenix area announced the Chandler is also president and chairman ofActs 29, an organization dedicated to starting new churches. Instead of having his back, which the church could have done because of Chandler's standing, they decided to act. It's been there for years. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. Each campus has the flexibility to contextualize ministry to its unique community under the leadership of its own campus pastor, the church states. Stephen Crouch, an existing church board member, was appointed as director, according to the newspaper. Brian Houston, Australian pastor and co-founder of international megachurch Hillsong, announced on Sunday that he will be stepping down from his pastoral duties for The church's board of elders announced during Sunday services that longtime, influential Pastor Mark Balmer, 77, was no longer lead pastor and would be given an extended sabbatical. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. TRR reached tried to call and email Mikey Baker for comment but was unsuccessful. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Click on any of the topics below: Need prayer? The pastor of a prominent Dallas-Fort Worth megachurch said he had an inappropriate online relationship with a woman and will step down from preaching and teaching. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. CNN Brian Houston, the founder of Australian megachurch Hillsong, stepped down from his role as global senior pastor amid an internal investigation into Im doing this because no one loves you more than I do, and its just time., Addressing the church, Glenn underlined that no concerns precipitated the change. It was found that Pastor Brian became disoriented after a session at the Hillsong Conference, following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol. "The woman who confronted Chandler about Chandler's relationship with the woman's friend was not vilified. A lead pastor for Hillsong megachurch has stepped down mere hours before the premiere of a docuseries about the institutions recent scandals. Jernigan said he regretted not digging more into the claims, saying he now takes full responsibility for his decision. And so I kind of pushed against that not being okay. Houston, 67, was charged in early August as part of an investigation that has been ongoing since 2019, according to The Guardian. A megachurch pastor is taking a leave of absence after relaying inappropriate messages on social media with a woman, church elders said in a statement on Sunday. We were made to feel that we were overreacting that we werent good Christians because of the things we were questioning.. "Why was he allowed to control the narrative? Click on any of the topics below: Need prayer? A Texas megachurch pastor is taking a leave of absence afterhis church learned of frequent messages between him and a woman who is not his wife. "A few months ago, an individual approached The Village Church's lead pastor Matt Chandler with concerns about the way he was using direct messaging on social media with a woman who was not his wife," elders said in the statement. According to the churchs website, four of these churches were launched by associate pastors of Brentwood and three reflect Brentwood Baptist partnering with existing churches. The news came a day ahead of the Thursday premiere of the three-part docuseries Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, produced in collaboration with The Post and Discovery+/TLC. North Texas megachurch pastor Matt Chandler announced Sunday he will step down from preaching and teaching because of an in appropriate online relationship with a woman. To donate, click here. Weve been working with the trustees for years, knowing that this time of transition would come.. When she filed for divorce, Smith said she felt ostracized from the church and lost her role in the childrens ministry. new! Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response. fun! In a video conference shared with the Australian media, Houstons interim replacement Phil Dooley said the church didnt know whether the incident had involved any sexual activity. CNN has not been able to independently verify the video. Leaders concluded Matt violated their "internal social media use policies," but it did not "rise to the level of disqualification." Conservative and evangelical leaders are speaking out after Pastor Matt Chandler took a leave of absence following some questionable behavior online. To contact us or to submit an article, click here. Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston speaks on stage during the Hillsong Atlanta grand opening at Hillsong Atlanta on June 06, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. This is good," he added. The inquiry followed the release of an internal report that found SBC leaders hadmishandled sexual abuse cases for two decades. Matt Chandler, the lead pastor at the Village Church in Flower Mound, Tex., appeared to fight back tears as he told his congregation on Sunday that he was taking a As I noticed the photo of a worship service [Worship service at Eastview Christian Church in Bloomington/Normal, Illinois. Meanwhile, the global church planting network, Acts 29, where Chandler served as president and chairman, also asked him to step down from speaking engagements. In December of 2019, Houston was invited to a faith briefing with religious leaders at the White House, where he prayed for then-President Donald Trump in the cabinet room. He and his wife live in the Washington, D.C. area with their two children. God has given me the privilege to serve multiple generations," the OC Register reports him saying. Hillsongs public relations team did not comment further on Houstons resignation when contacted by CNN. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. After years of delay, Southern Baptists passed a series of reforms in 2022 aimed at addressing abuse in the nations largest Protestant, A former youth pastor at First Baptist Church (FBC) of Bentonville, Arkansas, has accepted a plea deal for his victimization of children, Several churches deemed not in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) have responded to action taken by the SBC Executive. But it really is up to the consumers if they want this to stop, then theyll have to want something radically different something small, steady, accountable to something outside, less exciting, less amenities and fun.. something more reverent, holy something with a Form that intentionally reflects all the Kingdom rather than american big! Image Source: YouTube Screenshot/Saddleback Church, Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. Get Charisma's best content delivered right to your inbox! Collier makes slightly heavier implications in the email regarding his personal take on Hillsongs current state. ", "We cannot be a church where anyone is above the Scriptures and above the high heavenly call into Christ Jesus," Chandler told congregants at a service on Sunday, adding that the report from the elders "revealed something unhealthy in me. ", "After listening to his statement to the congregation, my educated guess is that there is much more to this story not in a good way," he added. On Sunday, the church published a webpage with details of the process, including members of the search committee and details of the church membership vote to come in future months. The elders decided the initial results, completed in January 2023, were not thorough enough, and requested a second, more detailed audit, looking at workplace culture and HR policies. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. The Asbury Revival Is Over. Pastor Brian remains on a period of leave," the board added. The blame gets shifted to someone else. WebBilly Grahams grandson steps down from Florida megachurch after admitting an affair. By Rebecca Hopkins. There is no doubt that there is a whole lot going on in [Hillsongs] world, but we just want to say that we are continuing to put our trust and our hope in Jesus., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Hillsong megachurch hit with sexual assault lawsuit by student, Hillsong pastor punched by Carl Lentzs jilted wife quits megachurch, Hillsongs bombshell Carl Lentz report leaked: sex, lies and manipulation, Fallen Hillsong Church boss deeply sorry for boozing, fathers evil. The church wrotethat after a thorough and lengthy legal investigation, "we maintain and firmly believe that we committed no wrong.". The news comes as bombshell 300-page report released by the Southern Baptist Church found that leaders either dismissed or hid sexual abuse allegations within the 13 million member organization. Secrets and abuse are furthering harm for generations. As CBN's Faithwire reported, in a blog post published July 23, the Hillsong leadership stated Brian Houston didn't know about his father's criminal action against victim Brett Sengstock until he was 45 and the alleged victim was 37. appreciated. It is known globally for its record label Hillsong Music, which produces Christian pop-rock with groups including Hillsong Young & Free, Hillsong Worship and Hillsong United. Dr. Ed Stetzer, professor and dean at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, tweeted the news and called for prayers, saying: "Today, @RickWarren announced that they will begin searching for his successor. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. The investigators report led the elders to conclude that Chandler had violated the church's internal social-media use policies, and "more importantly that, while the overarching pattern of his life has been 'above reproach', he failed to meet the (Bible's) standard for elders of being above reproach in this instance," the statement reads. No One Knows. Matt Chandler, the lead pastor of the Southern Baptist Village Church, was discovered to have had a history of exchanging the messages after someone reported him and after church elders hired a law firm to review his online messages, according to The Dallas Morning News. Houston temporarily stepped down from his role as global pastor in January, which he said was part of preparation for a trial. CBN News reached out to Saddleback Church for comment on Pastor Warren's departure but did not hear back at the time of publication. Discovery Company. And if he's being transparent, then let's see the texts," she wrote on Twitter. "My wife knew about it. mishandled sexual abuse cases for two decades. Thats why we view every news story through the lens of faith. This resulted in him knocking on the door of a hotel room that was not his, entering this room and spending time with the female occupant, the church said. He also founded Pastors.com, an online interactive community that provides sermons, forums, and other practice resources for pastors. Facts are hidden. God is everywhereeven in the news. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. What Im getting from this article is that Mike and Sara Baker have two sons. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. 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In his video today, Mike Baker accused those who are posting allegations on social media of shooting his family like its the Valentines Day massacre., But Smith said shes refusing to be silenced. Christine Lee, former ECC junior high pastor, came forward today on social media saying that she was the employee who reported abuse to the elders in July 2022. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), is stepping down from his position as lead pastor of the megachurch. A Nashville-area megachurch pastor has announced plans to depart as senior pastor and, starting next year, lead an affiliated church-planting and resource network. But Jernigan said Baker told him leaders had investigated and concluded it was an unfounded claim. Jernigan said the elder Baker asked him to give Caleb a fresh start, and Jernigan consented. ", The Hillsong board said it took appropriate actions at the time, including an investigation by the "integrity unit" after the 2019 incident that determined that Houston had "breached the Hillsong Pastor's Code of Conduct.". Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. "Brian has said there was no sexual activity, but he was in the room for 40 minutes. That same evening, Chandlershared those concerns with his wife, Lauren, and two elders, in an effort to addressthe situation,The Village Church wrote in an Aug. 28 statementon its website. From what I understand, they were not prepared to engage with the type of investigation I asked for until people started coming forward on social media, Lee said. The church was also accused in 2021 of ignoring allegations of sexual assault by its congregants. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), is stepping down from his position as lead pastor of I, and the other leaders of this church, cannot turn a blind eye to this and act as if this didnt happen or that somehow we didnt know, we didnt find out.. AfghanistanWhere Faith Is a Matter of Life and Death. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. Hillsong announced this week that its founder, Brian Houston, has resigned from the church amid allegations of inappropriate behavior towards two women. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. "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. Prophetic messages from respected leaders & news of how God is moving throughout the world. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. ), The combination of these most recent allegations by ECC former staff and the news of Caleb Bakers admitted affair with a staff member of Central Church in Phoenix, Arizona, have reinforced to the Elders that it is best to continue forward with the independent third-party audit, the statement said. Then, when more allegations came out shortly afterwards, Mike Baker asked Caleb to resign. Seems like a very calculated, damage control type of statement. We've received your submission. Following this discovery, Houston "agreed to take specific action including stepping down from leadership for a period. In November 2020, Mr. Houston fired Carl Lentz, the head pastor of Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider They revealed that (he) did not use language appropriate for a pastor, and he did not model a behavior that we expect from him., The statement said his leave of absence is "both disciplinary and developmental, which allows him to focus on growing greater awareness in this area.". Never miss a big news story again. However, both CCC and Bakers former megachurch in IllinoisEastview Christian Church (ECC) in Bloomington/Normaldid turn a blind eye to Bakers abuse seven years ago, according to Former ECC Junior High Pastor Brooke Yarbrough. The first incident occurred approximately a decade ago according to the church and involved inappropriate text messages from Pastor Brian to a member of staff, which subsequently resulted in the staff member resigning., Hillsong claimed that at the time of the incident Houston was under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence.. (Source: Facebook)], it occurred to me that these leaders perhaps believe that theyre much like rock stars and act as if they were. "At the time when she brought it up, I saw no issue with it," he explained. I have yet to see a victim allowed to do that in a church. The news of his retirement comes less than a month after Saddleback announced that it ordained three women as pastors, which goes against the traditions of the strictly male leadership within the SBC. The Acts 29 Board has decided to follow the lead of TVC and ask Matt to step away from his Acts 29 speaking engagements during this time. With all of the documentaries, scandals, articles, accusations and the churchs subsequent management of these attacks its become too difficult to lead and grow a young Church in this environment.. Im held to a higher standard and fell short of that higher standard.. You can help bring hope today! Hillsong founder Brian Houston announced Sunday he is stepping down from his ministry roles. The Village Church (TVC) leader agreed to step down for a period of time after voluntarily disclosing that he had inappropriate communication with a woman on Instagram who was not his wife. "We are strong proponents of brothers and sisters in Christ being friends, but there are boundaries around what's appropriate in these kinds of friendships. In a YouTube video posted today, Baker addressed the situation involving his son. The elders, the statement continues,then commissioned an independent law firm to conduct a review of Chandler'smessaging history across social media platforms, his cellphone and his email. ", "He is the man you hope he is," she continues. six-month-long extramarital relationship with a church employee. Call (800) 700-7000 or request prayer. Considering the findings of the TVC investigation and consistent with the leave of absence from preaching and teaching that the Village Church has placed Matt on, the Acts 29 Board has asked Matt to step aside from Acts 29 speaking engagements during this time," it said. All Rights Reserved. ** Very soon thereafter, regrettably, Mike submitted his resignation as the Senior Pastor of Eastview Christian Church, the church stated. Today, it operates churches in thirty countries including the US and markets itself as a contemporary Christian place of worship. Quick Start Podcast: Biden Calls Trump Voters 'Threat' to America in Divisive Speech, "In this case, while the messages were not romantic or sexual in nature, the frequency and familiarity of the messages crossed a line," it added. Houston, a Pentecostal pastor, is required to appear in Sydney at a court on Oct. 5. to answer allegations that he did not inform police about his father Frank Houston, who's accused of abusing nine underage boys while he was serving as a pastor, according to the Morning Herald. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Hillsong has faced significant scrutiny for its handling of sexual misconduct in recent years. Then , all the deeds previously done in the dark come to the light. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. We just want to give you guys our absolute blessing for the next season, said Dooley in the short clip. Texas megachurch pastor Matt Chandler steps down after DMs with woman 'crossed a line' Natalie Neysa Alund USA TODAY 0:00 0:57 A Texas megachurch But the church said "the frequency and familiarity of the messages crossed a line. God is everywhereeven in the news. The former senior pastor did this while "under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence," according to the board. This is my decision, he said. "It is always best practice to release the result of the independent assessment," Rachael Denhollander, an advocate for sexual abuse victims told the New York Times. The Asbury Revival Is Over. Two megachurchesone in Arizona and one in Illinoisare being rocked by allegations they allowed a pastor guilty of clergy sexual **. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. In thestatement recorded and shared to the churchs website, the pastor explained that a few months back, a woman approached him in the churchs foyer with concerns about how I was (direct messaging)on Instagram with a friend of hers., I didnt think I had done anything wrong in that, Chandler, 48,toldthe congregation. Houston temporarily stepped down from his role as global pastor in January, which he said was part of preparation for a trial. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The actual vote tally was 859 to 12 out of 871 total votes. Its time for me to do that throughout Middle Tennessee., Regarding plans for Engage Church Network, trustee chairman Moss said it enables their congregation to reach out and multiply in ways that we have previously not been able to do., Mike is the perfect person to cast vision for that, to lead that., It is out of a position of health and strength that we know this is the time, Moss concluded.