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. It was just, like, Wow. It doesnt matter how many mistakes youve made. Susan Greene. Stake-in-the-ground type decisions to hold me through the seasons. She was so sweet and patient with me. In early January, the lead pastors of Hillsong's Dallas church, Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess Bogard, resigned with little explanation. After 4-5 months of going to church, I had never asked the question, How can I become a Christian? I just felt as though I couldnt be in a relationship with God because of all I had experienced in my life. With the boys, I try to be as real as possible. I think at this stage Im not going to comment. Volunteers have already accused the church of using them to perform manual labor and fulfill the personal needs of its leadership. At the end of the day, you have to get a little gritty in your decisions and understand that we only have one life. She added: 'I bought a designer purse and $100 or $200 of food from Dean & DeLuca for visiting pastors.'. I think the bill was $600 to $700, Walker recalled. read more. More than two-thirds of the cash went on staff salaries, benefits and expenses as well as operating costs. Stroud end up? 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Other former church members have compared it to a cult and detailed incidents of sexual assault. At night when Im tired and want to go to bed and see the dishes in the sink, I do them because I know the next morning with the boys will be crazy and Ill feel better if I do it now. Reed Bogard, pastor of Hillsong Dallas in Dallas, Texas, announced Sunday that he and his wife, Jess, are stepping down as pastors in order to pursue health and to transition into a new season in their lives. We had a mutual friend who thought we would be good together. ', 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. Ms. [redacted] stated that she probably participated in the kiss. I feel so incredibly privileged to be called a Christian. Reed Bogard and Jess Bogard are incredible leaders who have been. Bogard was ousted from the church along with his wife last year amid claims they had been misappropriating church donations to fund their lavish lifestyle. Reed (L) and Jess (R) Bogard speak during a Sunday service at Hillsong Dallas on Oct. 25, 2020. 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. 12 years ago, we were living in New York. Youre a mom, wife, and lead pastorhow do you find the time to grow in your relationship with God? Less than two weeks after Reed Bogard abruptly resigned as lead pastor of the now-defunct Hillsong Dallas in January 2021, an internal investigation commissioned by Hillsong Global showed that the married father of three was accused of rape by a junior female staffer with whom he had a monthlong affair while serving at Hillsong NYC years earlier. "An additional cause for concern is that even within the parameters of the sexual relationship between them, it appears that the sexual activities between the two frequently suggest that they were designed to reinforce the power imbalance between them.. Houston later said the couple, who had served in New York with . Its such a rough season. When the time is right and we have identified and trained suitable lead pastors, we will consider relaunching.. The affair happened in 2013 and lasted until the following year. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. I gave my life to Jesus and have never looked back. In 2019, New York state extended the state statute of limitations for reporting second-degree rape to 20 years and third-degree rape to 10 years. On Sunday, Reed Bogard announced his and his wife's resignation in a prerecorded message that aired during the church's streaming worship service. I lift my hands in worship, even when I dont feel itand it fills my spirit. 1 overall pick and where will QBs Bryce Young and C.J. Right now were in North Dallas High School, and after COVID, were excited to do something in Frisco as well as Downtown Dallas. I thought, f I cant have a relationship with You, then I dont want to go to church." Ive never met two people who believe in people so much, said Bogard, adding that he believes the best is yet to come for Hillsong Church in general and for Hillsong Dallas in particular. By posting your comment you agree to the house rules, By Thank you for allowing God to use you to touch the lives of others in our city! I met a beautiful lady named Mary. In a comment on this article yesterday, I foolishly included information that was wrong for me to share, Brian wrote in a reply. So the church got together to sponsor me to go. Houston wrote in his email that 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 current pandemic was also cited as a reason for the Dallas church closure. We accepted their resignations and acknowledged the time that the Bogards spent establishing our Dallas location, Houston and his wife, Bobbie, told members of the church launched in 2019 in an email cited by The Daily Mail. I apologize for any pain I have caused. Please click here to learn how. I would ask her questions, convinced I had done a sin that couldnt be forgiven. A few other Hillsong resignations have followed Lentz, including Darnell Barrett, creative director of Hillsong Church Montclair in New Jersey, as well as Reed and Jess Bogard from Hillsong Dallas, which has since closed. Shannon stated that Mr. Bogard had an enormous amount of power and that Mr. Bogard was someone that if you said no to, it would be used against you in a lot of different ways. Mr. Church leaders did know about the affair and had for years, but they thought it had always been consensual, the report claims. Before becoming the lead pastor at Hillsong Dallas, Pastor Reed Bogard served alongside recently fired Hillsong New Yorks Pastor Carl Lentz. 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 continued. 6. A leaked call later revealed that Hillsong leadership had concerns about, prior to revelations about his marital unfaithfulness. Hillsong admittedin December that it knew about 'serious allegations' against the church in 2018 and 'found some were true'. A number of things in this article are factually wrong, but abuse is NEVER ok. My understanding is that Anna was originally abused in her fathers church in Pennsylvania. The Christian Post obtained a copy of the investigation report in which lawyers said it was still a possibility that Bogard could face criminal charges. Hillsong Churchstated at the time that it launched an independent investigation "into the inner workings of Hillsong NYC/ East Coast" after hearing concerns from people affiliated with those churches. The former pastor is reportedly, for depression, anxiety, and pastoral burnout, and Hillsong has launched an independent investigation into the culture at, in the past and who was friends with Lentz, has distanced himself from Hillsong after a Dec. 31, that the star had plans to go into ministry at Hillsong NYC. I am . Im a big believer in maintaining my own relationship with Jesus. There can be no doubt that given the extreme power imbalance between the two, as well as the dont say no culture which permeated the New York Church at that time, there was ample opportunity for Mr. Bogard to take advantage of a systemic inability for Ms. [redacted] to have meaningfully consented at the time in question, the report noted. On Sunday (Jan. 3), Reed Bogard announced his and his wife's resignation in a prerecorded message that aired during the church's streaming worship service. Others, however, believe the megachurch needs to have a much deeper reckoning before it can be anywhere close to redeemed for its leadership failures. We suspended him from his pastoral duties as we initiated a review into these incidents, the Houstons wrote, adding that the Bogards decided to resign early in the investigation process, which has since concluded. Once they were in the car, things quickly got out of hand. Weve had some crazy days, some great days seeing God do many, many miracles, and so were so grateful for that., Reed and Jess Bogard met at Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia and later returned to the U.S. to plant the three Hillsong churches with which they have been involved. When did you know it was time to start your own church? [redacted] says that Mr. Bogard ignored her comment and continued his climb on top of her. The former pastor is reportedly undergoing treatment for depression, anxiety, and pastoral burnout, and Hillsong has launched an independent investigation into the culture at Hillsong NYC. [redacted] recalls that at around this point, Mr. Bogard undid his pants. Bieber responded on Instagram, saying that the story was fake news and adding, And btw, Hillsong is not my church. 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. You are bold, beautiful, and inspiring. I havent been a part of that organization for over a year, he said when contacted by CP. This Hillsong megachurch branch has been deemed beyond immediate redemption. God can use you where you are. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Buying us expensive gifts, giving us money, like, I got your back, so when I need you to have my back, this is something to remember.. Jess and Reed were a byproduct of an unhealthy spiritual environment that reproduces the same type of leader over and over again, added Babbitt, who baby-sat for the Bogards during her years in NYC. Hillsong Church Senior Pastor Brian Houston of Sydney, Australia, speaks at Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 7, 2016. Reed Bogard, pastor of Hillsong Dallas in Dallas, Texas, announced Sunday that he and his wife, Jess, are stepping down as pastors in order to pursue health and to transition into a new season in their lives. We loved our time with Jess and we know you will too. In January, it was revealed that the Bogards and other church staff allegedly usedworshipper donations to fund their lifestyles using the cash to pay for luxury apartments, designer clothes, cars and restaurants. Jess Bogard and her husband, Reed, are the Lead Pastors of Hillsong Dallas! Bogard then asked Ms. [redacted] to take off her pants. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. The indefinite pausing of Hillsong Dallas is the latest in a series of scandals, transitions and general tumult facing the . By Adam Schrader and Lauren Fruen For Dailymail.com, Published: 20:16 EDT, 10 April 2021 | Updated: 19:59 EDT, 11 April 2021. New Hampshire is crowned beer capital of America and Washington DC has biggest number of winos, official data shows so how boozy is your state ? Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP, did not respond to requests for comment. '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. New York's statute of limitations for reporting rape cases can be as long as 20 years. But I never want to push God on my kids because God is capable of getting their attention Himself. UPDATE: Brian Houston Announces Dallas Hillsong Closing After Pastors Misuse of Funds, ChurchLeaders original article written on, In addition to helping plant Hillsong Dallas and Hillsong LA, the Bogards helped plant Hillsong NYC while, It has been an incredible ride thus far,, ina prerecorded message prior to Sundays livestreamed sermon, which was delivered by Hillsong pastor, . Thank you, Jess! But there was another girl who had started to vibe with Reedand I found out she was doing his laundry and making him apple pies. In January, Reed and Jess Bogard, lead pastors of the Dallas location, abruptly resigned during a Sunday morning service. Weve had some crazy days, some great days seeing God do many, many miracles, and so were so grateful for that.. Reed and Jess Bogard, the former lead pastors of Hillsong Dallas before their sudden and quiet resignation in January. I walked into the Hillsong arena conference, a naive young girlI grabbed my senior pastor and said, I didnt know there were this many Christians in the world! I just decided I wanted to be part of this church for the rest of my life. Liked by Jasmine Bogard. 8. The Houstons examination has now concluded after interviewing members of the church who asked the church not to reveal personal details. When I try to step out of my lane, I get out of Gods grace. The former junior Hillsong NYC staffer who asked not to be publicly named in this report when contacted by The Christian Post, said she has been trying to move on with her life. Everything that you have in that deposition is obviously something that I did, and I said in the context of a legal deposition. 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The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. RNS. Return to homepage. Houston later said the couple, who had served in New York with Lentz . Ms. [redacted] reports that at this point, she froze., Mr. Multiple media reports have painted a picture of money. 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 explained. Kelly told investigators that even if Bogard did not physically force himself on his accuser she did not have the ability to say no. Bogard did present as aggressive.. Bogard, who now works as a director of business development for Keller Williams in Michigan, said he was done with all things Hillsong as well. '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.'. Along with the former junior staffer and Bogard, the following individuals were interviewed as part of the internal investigation: a former Hillsong NYC congregant; Shannon Kelly, a former creative director at Hillsong NYC; Amanda and Robert Fergusson, a husband and wife team of Bible teachers and key leaders of Hillsong Church; Jess Bogard, wife of Reed Bogard; Lauren Brooks (sic), a former creative producer at Hillsong NYC; Tolu Badders, chief operating officer and executive pastor at Hillsong Church NYC; Kane Keatinge, Hillsong NYC staff pastor; Carl Lentz, former Hillsong NYC lead pastor who wasfired in November 2020 over leadership issues and moral failures, including being unfaithful to his wife; Laura Lentz and Ben Houston. She stated people did not say no to Mr. Bogard, investigators said. Last April, Hillsong paused its Dallas campus after Pastors Reed and Jess Bogard resigned in January as they were being investigated for leadership failures and accused of overusing church expense cards . I love to be around people, to communicate, or to give others an understanding of God. 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.. Specifically, in discussions with certain leaders of Hillsong NYC, Ms. [redacted] asserted to them, apparently for the first time, that her sexual experience with Mr. Bogard, at least initially, had not been consensual, the report said in a summary. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. BOGARD, Jud Age 45, passed away peacefully in his North Hollywood, California home on January 24, 2022. Trans swimmer Lia Thomas is now telling women what feminism is - and if we protest then we're bigots. Then COVID happenedand it feels like were going to be starting from scratch all over again. The relationship began in September 2013 and continued through the beginning of January 2014. Filed Under: Church. The email goes on to detail a previously unannounced internal investigation into the Dallas branchs former lead pastors, Reed and Jess Bogard, who quietly and suddenly resigned in January after more than a decade of employment at the once-celebrity-beloved international worship chain. Primary Sidebar. The fact that no Church leader appears to have even considered this issue is a cause for concern," investigators said. In an email to members, founders Brian and Bobbie Houston addressed the church's investigation into former Dallas pastorReed Bogard and his wife, Jess Bogard, who resigned in January after revelations they used donations tofund their luxury lifestyle. Ms. [redacted] now reports that at this point, she said no. Mr. Bogard began to apply his hands to Ms. [redacteds] breasts. Again, she complied. The details have never been made public until now. Its selling point are its army of young, glamorous and trendy pastors who give concert-like sermons and appeal to Instagram-savvy, younger worshippers. '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,' Brian and his wife said at the time. Former members of the church told the New York Post how staff would use pre-paid expense (PEX) cards with funds made from tithes. In the email, the Houstons also blamed a lot of the reasoning for the Dallas closure on the coronavirus pandemic. The good news is were all going through it together." 2. I had no money, was a young, grimy little 13-year-old girlbelieving big things for her life. 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. Bogard's departure from the church is the latest in a string of scandals to have plagued the organization. Please click here to learn how. He was forced out of his role in the celebrity-favorite church in January 2021 amid claims he and his wife had misappropriated funds to satisfy their own lavish taste. '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.'. My biggest obstacle is myself. I dont have any comment on that. Another former Hillsong congregant who spoke with the Post was 27-year-old Jenna Babbitt, who started attending Hillsong NYC in August 2011. Hillsong ChurchAustralia found out about it in 2014. These complaints included the misuse of worshipers tithes. Pop star Justin Bieber, who has attended Hillsong in the past and who was friends with Lentz, has distanced himself from Hillsong after a Dec. 31 report suggested that the star had plans to go into ministry at Hillsong NYC. The Church isnt a building. Thats why we originally moved to New York. That makes it sadder. Reed Bogard, 38, and his wife, Jess Bogard, 35, the lead pastors of the Australia-based institution's Dallas branch, are stepping away from the once-celebrity-beloved international worship chain after over a decade of employment there. Babbitt, who said she gave. The Bogards resigned less than two months after former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz was fired last Novemberover leadership issues and moral failures, including being unfaithful to his wife. Hillsong Church has faced controversy recently after Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz was fired on Nov. 4 for what Houston first announced as moral failures. The next day, Lentz published an apology in which he admitted that he was terminated because he had been unfaithful to his wife. I dont want to get to heaven and think I could have done more with my life. He spent most of his The church then said it would understand if its members opted to attend local churches in Dallas rather than watch Hillsong broadcasts online. Both Bogard and his rape accuser offered varying accounts of their first sexual encounter which happened inside his car on Manhattans Upper East Side after they had a clandestine meeting at a local bar, investigators said. "The last 10 years of being in church planting mode has really taken a bit of a toll on Jess and I and our family," Bogard said. Be sure to follow us on social media @equippedbyfaith and subscribe to our newsletter at info@equippedbyfaith.com to receive weekly Bible Reading Plan devotionals, Equip Group meet-ups, and other special updates! 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. Return to homepage. I would wish I could have a relationship with Him, but I felt unqualified. It was natural for me to want to preach. , updated Hillsong Dallas pastor Reed Bogard was secretly accused of raping a younger, female staffer who he had an affair with in 2013, it has been revealed. The following day, he apologized for the tweet. We called our friends to come see our new car. [Your] 1st response to article is indicative of mishandling Anna from day one. The Bogards resignation came after Hillsongs leadership suspended their pastoral duties as they investigated members complaints they werent upholding Hillsongs leadership standards. Church leaders were led to believe the relationship was consensual and "consequences to both [parties] were meted out accordingly," investigators revealed. However, the leader of the Australia-based global megachurch assured members of the young Dallas congregation that they would eventually get new lead pastors, and they were not going to be forsaken.. He was fired by Brian Houston and retreated from the limelight, which he had enjoyed with his celebrity following. 4. Friday Highlight! Months on the heels of a sex scandal that rocked its Hillsong NYC location, Hillsong Church is now facing allegations of financial abuse as a number of former members accuse pastors of splurging tithe money on lavish expenses. 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Early this year, Reed and Jess Bogard abruptly resigned from their positions as lead pastors at Hillsong Church's Dallas location. She has always had a passion for the written word and has been writing professionally for the past five years. 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When Houston and his wife, Bobbie, announced they were pausing the Dallas campus in April 2021, they failed to mention that Bogard, 39, had been accused of rape. I want to get to heaven exhaustedusing every opportunity I had to share about God's grace and love. In part, Ms. [redacted] now believes that she went to the bar to satisfy her own curiosity, investigators said. And this is yet another example of the abuse of power that seems to have permeated the entire relationship, they said. I would meet with Mary every Tuesday afternoon and we would read the Bible together. 1. 5. Read more of her story below or watch the Facebook Live video here! He laterreleased a statement claiming that he lied about having cancer because he was addicted to pornography. All of the ugly things we dont want to talk about. In April 2021, former Hillsong Dallas Lead Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess, abruptly resigned from their positions. Hillsong Dallas pastor Reed Bogard was secretly accused of raping a younger, female staffer who he had an affair with in 2013, it has been revealed. I fell in love with Dallas the moment we flew in 18 months ago. It shows that Hillsong Church Australia first learned of the sexual affair between Bogard and the junior staff member in the second half of 2014. Houston is now facing claims that his father, who founded the church, covered up sexual abuse during his tenure in charge. Repent and change your waysGod can use you wherever youre at. Updated April 12, 2021: A few months ago, Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess, resigned as pastors at Hillsong Dallas. and Chelsea Smith with campuses in Seattle and Los Angeles. Investigators said Bogard disputed the level of drinking. Ben Houston, Brian Houstons son, who was leading Hillsong LA and serving as Bogards boss when the former junior staffer first revealed her sexual relationship with him to Hillsong senior leaders, told investigators that he had spoken with his father and members of the churchs global board about the relationship. The investigators further explained that it was concerning that Hillsong Church never considered the power imbalance between the two Bogard and his accuser once they were informed about the relationship. The former Hillsong junior staffer said they stayed at the bar for about 45 minutes, having only one drink each. But over the last few years, the so-called disciples of the church have revealed themselves to have somewhat compromised morals. The Bogards helped former pastor Carl Lentz plant Hillsong NYC in 2010. The report states that the junior staffer "resurfaced the issue" in October 2020, six years after initially confessing to having a consensual relationship.