The Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz, the Celebrity Pastor of Hillsong Church
But as Mr. Lentz’s profile rose, many congregants felt the focus on fame and cultural power that had helped the church grow was overwhelming its spiritual mission. Last month, it all came crashing down for Mr. Lentz in a scandal that has cast a shadow on one of the most influential megachurches in America.
On Nov. 4, Brian Houston, the founder of Hillsong, announced he had fired Mr. Lentz, citing “leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures” in an email to churchgoers. The day after the announcement, Mr. Lentz confessed on Instagram, where he has almost 700,000 followers: “I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life.”
In a private video conference with staff members and volunteers at the church’s East Coast branch on Nov. 19, a recording of which was obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Houston described the church’s...
