Hillsong Church, probably the most influential Pentecostal church networks on the planet, misplaced two extra pastors Monday because the leaders of Hillsong Boston introduced their departure, media experiences point out.
Josh and Leona Kimes have “made the tough resolution to resign,” Faith Information Service reported, citing an Instagram put up from an account that’s now marked “non-public” on the social media web site.
“It was by no means our plan to ever depart Hillsong Church. It’s been house for 22yrs of my life. It’s the place I’ve pastored for the final 16yrs,” RNS quoted Mr. Kimes as saying.
The information company mentioned the pastor provided an apology for his position in “perpetuating a tradition that at instances valued the constructing of the church on the expense of these constructing it.”
The Kimeses have been previously related to Hillsong’s New York Metropolis congregation.
New York pastor Carl Lentz, famous for his affiliation with celebrities resembling singer Justin Bieber, supervised the couple, with Josh working as an affiliate pastor and Leona as a nanny for the Lentz household.
Mr. Lentz was fired from Hillsong New York in November 2020 when particulars of an adulterous affair surfaced.
A subsequent inside investigation leaked to The Christian Put up web site revealed that the New York pastor had sexually abused Mrs. Kimes, who detailed a few of these points in a put up on Medium.com.
“In the course of the years I spent serving them, I used to be subjected to manipulation, management, bullying, abuse of energy, and sexual abuse,” Mrs. Kimes wrote of the Lentz family.
“Whereas he by no means had intercourse with me and by no means kissed me, I used to be bodily violated by his undesirable and repeated sexual touching of my intimate areas. I froze. Each time, I froze,” she added.
The Christian Put up reported Mr. Lentz had, “via a authorized consultant,” denied Mrs. Kimes’ accusations when she printed her weblog put up.
Hillsong, famous for Christian music megahits resembling “Shout to the Lord” and “Oceans,” has been a significant power in Pentecostalism for a number of a long time.
Based in 1983, Hillsong was affiliated with the Australian wing of the Assemblies of God, a denomination based mostly in Springfield, Missouri. Hillsong left the Australian Christian Church buildings group in 2018.
Hillsong co-founder Brian Houston resigned from his “international pastor” place in late March after allegations of “inappropriate contact” with two feminine church members. Each have been attributed to substance abuse, church leaders mentioned on the time.
Mr. Houston additionally faces legal fees within the Australian state of New South Wales over accusations he had not reported to authorities youngster sex-abuse claims from the Nineteen Seventies made towards his late father, Frank Houston.
The elder man died in 2004 and was by no means charged.
• This story relies partially on wire service experiences.
