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(RNS) – Senior pastors at Hillsong Dallas Church have resigned, adding to two months of transition and turmoil in the global mega-church.
On Sunday (January 3), Reed Bogard announced his resignation and that of his wife in a pre-recorded message broadcast during the church’s non-stop worship service.
“The last 10 years spent in church planting mode really had a negative impact on Jess, me and our family,” Bogard said. “We really feel like it’s time to leave our staff and take some time. Stay healthy, be healthy and really see what next season has in store for us. “
The announcement, which was preceded by worship music, was relatively short, with no further explanation for their resignation.
Bogard’s departure follows the November dismissal of Hillsong New York’s senior pastor Carl Lentz and Lentz’s admission to an extramarital affair. Lentz’s foreclosure sparked a storm of tabloid coverage of Lentz’s relationship with a jewelry designer, who opened up about their relationship on “Good Morning America.”
RELATED: Celebrity Pastor Carl Lentz ousted from Hillsong NYC Confesses He Was ‘Unfaithful’ To His Wife
Since Lentz’s admission, some of his most famous followers, including Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, have reportedly cut ties with Lentz and Hillsong. Bieber recently announced on Instagram that he is now dating Churchome, run by Pastor Judah Smith.
Bogard, 38, and his wife, Jess Bogard, 35, were among the “field teams” that founded the New York Hillsong Church in 2010 alongside Lentz.
Like Lentz, Bogard met his wife at Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia. After assuming various roles on the Hillsong headquarters staff in Australia, the couple returned to the United States to plant churches. In addition to helping launch the New York City, Bogard and his wife also helped start a Los Angeles branch of the mega-church, according to their profile on the Dallas church website.
After Bogard’s announcement, Hillsong co-founder Brian Houston addressed the Dallas congregation, saying of Bogard’s departure: “I don’t know if this comes as a shock.”
Brian Houston, co-founder of Hillsong. Video screenshot
Houston went on to praise the Bogards’ work, saying the couple “gave their heart and soul to the pioneer of Hillsong Dallas.”
“Reed and I have been talking for a while now and we both agreed that this would be a great time for them to move on to a new season in their lives, which means a new season for Hillsong Dallas as well,” Houston said. , adding Church leaders would take their time to find the right replacement for the couple.
Bogard, for his part, also expressed his gratitude for Houston and his wife and church co-founder Bobbie upon his resignation, calling them “the greatest cheerleaders” and saying he did had “never met two people who believe in people so much. “
Houston did not mention the situation at the Manhattan outpost, where Hillsong is conducting an independent investigation to examine the “inner workings” of the church following Lentz’s termination and after Hillsong NYC leaders “heard a number of people talk about their experiences and concerns.
In an audio call in late November with world Church leaders and major donors, Houston accused Lentz of narcissistic, manipulative and untrustworthy behavior. Houston went on to describe the global mega-church network as “a house with many rooms,” but said Lentz always seemed to be doing his own work with Hillsong East Coast.
RELATED: Carl Lentz and the ‘Hot Pastor’ Problem
Since Lentz’s dismissal, the mega-church has come under scrutiny for its celebrity culture. Besides Gomez, Bieber and his wife, Hailey Baldwin Bieber, Kevin Durant, Chris Pratt and the Jenner sisters frequented Hillsong NYC. Former volunteers have denounced a hierarchy that takes advantage of volunteer work and treats pastors as “royalty.”
The Houstons founded the original Hillsong Church in 1983 on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia. It now has sites in 28 countries and, before the pandemic, saw an average of 150,000 participants each week, according to its website.
The various world churches all report to Houston and to an all-male elders committee.
Hillsong Global did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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