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 . 12 years ago, we were living in New York. 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. All of the ugly things we dont want to talk about. The details have never been made public until now. Former members of the church told the New York Post how staff would use pre-paid expense (PEX) cards with funds made from tithes. 1. That makes it sadder. of Hillsong Church, for supporting and trusting him and Jess. Ms. [redacted] admits that she complied. You are bold, beautiful, and inspiring. When contacted about the report in February, Hillsong Church said Brian Houston, who resigned Wednesday after it was revealed that two women made seriouscomplaints of misconduct against him in the last 10 years, was not aware of the rape claims against Bogard when he was chosen to lead Hillsong Dallas in 2019. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. We just submitted to Hillsong leadershipsubmitted our dream to Brian and Bobbyand for 9 years, we served as executive pastors, always knowing it was a dream and desire to lead something of our own. Filed Under: Church. Its really hard to lead people in a place you havent gone yourself. How did your spiritual journey evolve? In early January, the lead pastors of Hillsong's Dallas church, Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess Bogard, resigned with little explanation. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. He then reached down between the seat and the door and pulled the lever that released the seat back. With the boys, I try to be as real as possible. And this is yet another example of the abuse of power that seems to have permeated the entire relationship, they said. He said he saw Jess 'drop over $1,000 for no reason' on clothes and dinner one day., adding: 'There's no accountability. "The last 10 years of being in church planting mode has really taken a bit of a toll on Jess and I and . This last season, Ive had to put more time and effort into my family and kids so I havent done as much speaking in church. Play it now! Thats a tactic a lot of these pastors use to keep their secrets, he charged. Crenshaw told the outlet that the treatment she received for Hillsong after coming forward with her allegations of abuse ruined her relationship with the church. We called our friends to come see our new car. A leaked call later revealed that Hillsong leadership had concerns about, prior to revelations about his marital unfaithfulness. Bieber responded on Instagram, saying that the story was fake news and adding, And btw, Hillsong is not my church. Hillsong started in Australia in 1983 but has since ballooned to become an international mega church with a cult-like celebrity following. Look at your own lifeask yourself what you are good at and what you love. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. But we didnt realize how unbelievable this city was. There was no indication from the investigation that the rape allegation was reported to law enforcement. Were going to make mistakes, but if we are open about our humanity then I think we can go far together. 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! When we start to get an eternal perspectivewe can see our lives in light of eternity. Return to homepage. I was an 18-year-old girl with the attitude that I didnt need a man. 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. What would you say to someone who is ready to give up or throw in the towel? In November 2020, Hillsong NYC lead pastor Carl Lentz was fired for "moral failings" including an extramarital affair with a Brooklyn jewelry designer. 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 Houston said, in part, at the time. She was an 85-year-old widow and felt it was her calling in life to bring young girls under her wing. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Hillsong Church Senior Pastor Brian Houston of Sydney, Australia, speaks at Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 7, 2016. More Hillsong pastors resign amid megachurch's ongoing scandal 2. Thats where my motivation comes from. At the time, the Bogard's said the move was being made for them to "get healthy, and really see what this next season holds for us." Hillsong Church co-founder Brian Houston praised them at the time. The relationship began in September 2013 and continued through the beginning of January 2014. Theexploitation of free labor while these pastors are making bank is just crazy to me, Babbitt, who spent months working without pay for the Bogards, told the newspaper in January. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. It is not only his knowledge of construction materials and processes . Investigators reported that Bogard was "stood down publicly from the platform in Los Angeles for a period of either eight or twelve months," noting that "stories differ.". Matched at Yale for plastic surgery residency. Hillsong ChurchAustralia found out about it in 2014. 20:07 BST 25 Mar 2022 They originally met at Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia in 2005 and have since served on Hillsong staff for 14 years in different capacities, including being part of the teams on the ground that planted the Hillsong New York City and Los Angeles campuses in the USA. Then youll discover it. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Jasmine Bogard - Jackson, Mississippi, United States - LinkedIn Hillsong leaders were made aware years earlier of a sexual relationship between the two parties, but an investigation was not conducted by the church at the time. Investigators noted in the report that: "It is difficult if not impossible to say with certainty whether the initial sexual acts between Mr. Bogard and Ms. [redacted] occurred notwithstanding an express, verbal objection ('No') uttered by Ms. [redacted] in the moment.". Trans swimmer Lia Thomas is now telling women what feminism is - and if we protest then we're bigots. I love to be around people, to communicate, or to give others an understanding of God. 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. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Three high school seniors who have been charged with murder after 'throwing rock at female motorist's car' took PHOTO of her shattered windscreen as sick memento, cops say, President Biden admits to being 'confused' as he struggles through CHILDREN'S press conference and tries to remember last country he visited and the name of movie Top Gun (before little girl tells him to go back inside! 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. But before I had a platform, I was preaching. Former Hillsong Members Say Tithes Funded Pastors' Lavish Lifestyles 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. The affair happened in 2013 and lasted until the following year. In January, Reed and Jess Bogard, lead pastors of the Dallas location, abruptly resigned during a Sunday morning service. They have three amazing boys Judah (11, born in Australia), Lando (7, born in NYC) and Cash (5, born in California) and their greatest desire in life is to build the Church, to help as many people as possible find Jesus, and to live out the message that as imperfect as we are as people, we can still be loved, accepted, and know that we can all come to Jesus as we are. By the end of 2014, leaders at Hillsong Australia were apparently aware of the affair yet didn't "look into matters." 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. Several factors worsened by the coronavirus pandemic worked against the church in fulfilling that promise, the Houstons said. Equipped by Faith is a ministry of AMEN Church and a registered 501c3 non-profit organization created to equip and empower women of faith. Bart Barber, Majority of pastors love to preach but few like counseling and discipling believers more: study. 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. Many factors, all amplified by the pandemic, have resulted in the difficult decision to pause all operations at Hillsong Dallas for now, Brian and Bobbie Houston, the husband-and-wife team who co-founded Hillsong and currently share the title of global senior pastors, wrote to congregants in a Saturday email that was forwarded to The Post. But we will NOT be brainwashed, JAN MOIR: Harry's war of grievance against the press is only going to hurt his father ahead of his Coronation, Biden to set up migrant processing centers in Guatemala and Colombia to try and stop an influx of migrants and authorizes Army Reserves to head to the border - with Title 42 ending in just 12 DAYS, 'If he was an NBA player, he'd be home': Family of Texas man awaiting EXECUTION in China say Biden is 'cherry picking' high profile cases - as Ted Cruz calls for him to be freed 10 years after he was jailed on 'bogus' drug charges, Human remains found at a swimming beach on Lake Mead are finally identified as a Las Vegas man who went missing on a fishing trip with his brother in 1998, to uphold the standards of Hillsong leadership.'. Exclusive: Sex abuse allegations by Carl Lentz's former nanny put I would wish I could have a relationship with Him, but I felt unqualified. Mr. Bogard then asked Ms. [redacted] to crawl into the back seat, an act which was facilitated because her seat back was now lying flat. Former Hillsong Church Pastor Reed Bogard Has Been - Perez Hilton Everything that you have in that deposition is obviously something that I did, and I said in the context of a legal deposition. 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. The Bogards helped former pastor Carl Lentz plant Hillsong NYC in 2010. We met at the leadership school at Hillsong, Australia. (RNS) The lead pastors of Hillsong Dallas church have resigned, adding to two months of transition and turmoil in the global megachurch. "Thereafter, Mr. Bogard was returned to full Pastoral duties, and was eventually awarded a promotion to Lead Pastor in the newly created Church location in Dallas, Texas," the report adds. We have been in regular contact with her and she has asked to remain anonymous. Hillsong Dallas pastor Reed Bogard is accused of rape The lead pastors of Hillsong Dallas church have resigned, adding to two months of transition and turmoil in the global megachurch. '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. The Bogards did not respond to a request for comment. I totally get it. Were really intentional with the kids about not feeling any pressure as being a pastors kid. "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.. All we ever wanted was acknowledgment of what was happening, Brandon Walker who helped the Bogards start the Dallas branch in 2019 and previously talked about excessive spending told The Post of the email. Bogard was also painted as a leader at Hillsong NYC who had a reputation for aggression, verbal abuse and unreasonable demands, which witnesses called UnChristian. Investigators said in their interview with him, Mr. 6. But Gods grace covers it all. At the end of the day, you have to get a little gritty in your decisions and understand that we only have one life. 'I'm not interested to support an organization that's willing to treat abuse the way I've seen them treat abuse. A family walked to our house, knocked on our door, and asked if my sister or I would want to go to youth group or church with themso I went. We loved our time with Jess and we know you will too. We create opportunities to experience God but we allow them to choose for themselves. By posting your comment you agree to the house rules, By [redacted] recalls that at around this point, Mr. Bogard undid his pants. We went to meet them on an access road and I saw a red Hummer coming in our direction. 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. 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. 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.. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. [redacted] stated that when they got into the car (she in the front passenger seat and Mr. Bogard in the drivers seat), Mr. Bogard leaned across the arm rest and kissed Ms. [redacted]. 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 then began to climb over the arm rest until he was bearing down on top of her in her seat. Lentz was fired from Hillsong in 2020. Before becoming top dog at the Texas branch, Reed Bogard served as the head of finances at Hillsong NYC, where former members alleged that he and Jess exploited congregants for free labor and used tithe money to fund their luxury lifestyles. The report was submitted to George Aghajanian, general manager and a director of Hillsong Church Australia and its international entities, on Jan. 11, 2021. We have one shot at this and we dont get a do-over. Hillsong board blames anxiety drug, alcohol for landing Brian Houston A year and a half into my journey at that church, I wasnt able to go to our Hillsong conference because I couldnt afford it. An internal investigation commissioned by Hillsong Global into former Hillsong Dallas pastor Reed Bogard showed that his abrupt resignation in January 2021 was due to a rape accusation by a junior female staffer with whom he had an affair with for months. I am . Im a big believer in maintaining my own relationship with Jesus. It turns out former Hillsong Dallas pastor Reed Bogard was accused of raping a junior female staffer who he had an affair with. In a statement Crenshaw made toMargaret Aghajanian, Hillsong Church's head of pastoral care oversight, she said a friend of Mays encouraged her not to report the alleged incident. NFL Draft 2023 LIVE: The Carolina Panthers have the No. In April 2021, former Hillsong Dallas Lead Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess, abruptly resigned from their positions. He got off the plane and I was greeting students. Another Major Sex Scandal at Hillsong! Pastor Gets Promoted After There is no statute of limitations for first degree rape cases. Bogard did present as aggressive.. ), Scientists may have worked out how to increase lifespans by 80 PERCENT - in lab study of cells, Sudan's Islamists use online networks and AI to make their move and spread claims that they are poised for victory - just like the Taliban did - as democracy leaders flee, Nikki Haley says Biden will likely DIE within five years: 2024 hopeful attacks presidents age after he announced his run for President, Record one in FOUR high school students say they are gay, bisexual or 'questioning' their sexuality, official CDC data shows - double the 2015 figure. Houston later said the couple, who had served in New York with Lentz . I felt the Holy Spirit stop me, Dont be the positive policejust sit and empathize. So I responded from that place. 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. 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. In addition to the allegation of rape, which allegedly took place one night on Manhattans Upper East Side in October 2013, details highlighted in the report show Bogard drinking heavily, using marijuana, and generally bullying staff while serving at Hillsong NYC prior to being promoted as lead pastor of Hillsong Dallas. The couple had served in New. God wont take you to the next level until you allow him to use you where youre at. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. Ms. In the email, the Houstons also blamed a lot of the reasoning for the Dallas closure on the coronavirus pandemic. BGM LOVES the local church!!! Hillsong Dallas Pastors, Who Helped Start NYC Location with Carl Lentz He was fired by Brian Houston and retreated from the limelight, which he had enjoyed with his celebrity following. I think the bill was $600 to $700, Walker recalled. Early this year, Reed and Jess Bogard abruptly resigned from their positions as lead pastors at Hillsong Church's Dallas location. He also claimed that when money was used on volunteers, it was done manipulatively. Liked by Jasmine Bogard. Without discounting the strength of a prosecution case due to the passage of time, it is likely that a jury, evaluating the interplay, would have found that Mr. Bogard acted without obtaining (or, under the circumstances, having any reasonable expectation of being able to obtain) actual consent by Ms. [redacted].. She confirmed she participated in a deposition concerning the allegation but would not say anything more than what was already included in the report. Brandon Walker, 28, who helped the Bogards plant Hillsong Dallas, told the New York Post that he witnessed a lot of toxic activity, including $1,100 per day Airbnb rentals. Megachurch fires worship artist over extramarital affair | Church I followed the music one Sunday morning and found a church. I had no money, was a young, grimy little 13-year-old girlbelieving big things for her life. Hillsong shutters Dallas church following report of pastor's lavish I assure you there are more factual errors on the part of your staff than in Annas story, he wrote in response. Church leaders were led to believe the relationship was consensual and "consequences to both [parties] were meted out accordingly," investigators revealed. Ms. [redacted] admits that she kissed Mr. Bogard back. 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. 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. Houston is now facing claims that his father, who founded the church, covered up sexual abuse during his tenure in charge. Ms. [redacted] recalls that right after giving their drink order, Mr. Bogard leaned in and tried to kiss her. Ive been so broken and God has used me regardless. It's unclear what prompted the woman to claim six years later that Bogard had raped her. Many factors, all amplified by the pandemic, have resulted in the difficult decision to pause all operations at Hillsong Dallas for now.. 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. Reed and I have been talking over a period of time and we both agree that it would be a perfect time for them to come to a new season in their life, which means a new season also for Hillsong Dallas., The church will be getting new lead pastors, which is exciting, said Houston, although he added, We want to make the right decision, so were not going to rush it., During the interim, Hillsong leaders will help to provide for and support Hillsong Dallas. 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. I was paid once for one job, Walker said, recalling how Reed Bogart once gave him some $600 as a favor when he needed some cash. She stated people did not say no to Mr. Bogard, investigators said. Our first service was May of last year. I think at this stage Im not going to comment. '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.'. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. In early January of 2021, Pastor Reed Bogard, who helped found Hillsong NYC and Hillsong LA and was up until this point the senior pastor at Hillsong Dallas, released a short, curt, prerecorded message during the January 3 service announcing that he and his "pastrix" wife Jess were resigning. Shannon observed that from her point of view, of all the people Mr. Bogard could have chosen, Ms. [redacted] was probably the most vulnerable.. Ms. [redacted] reports that at this point, she froze., Mr. And we are so excited for Dallas as a new room of Hillsong Church is launching! ChurchLeaders original article written on January 5, 2021 below. Now that we got it, I believe we can finally move on.. 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. Jenna Babbitt, right, who said she gave thousands to the church, said she saw the cards used for buying gifts and staying in luxury hotels. When I try to step out of my lane, I get out of Gods grace. JUD BOGARD Obituary (1976 - 2022) - Boston, CA - Boston Globe - Legacy.com 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. She added: 'I bought a designer purse and $100 or $200 of food from Dean & DeLuca for visiting pastors.'. Former Los Angeles service pastor Nicole Herman told the Post she was told to 'fill' the cards, adding: 'We had a team count the tithes after every service and they would allocate X amount of money for the PEX cards. Pastors Reed and Jess Bogard met at Hillsong College, and Reed later established the church that would become Hillsong NYC. 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. 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 ? He laterreleased a statement claiming that he lied about having cancer because he was addicted to pornography. 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. Hillsong Shrinks Dramatically in US - Phoenix Pastor Latest to Pull Out 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. There was a lot of eating out, a lot of Airbnbs very nice Airbnbs rented for guests and staff who were between homes, Walker alleged. I gave my life to Jesus and have never looked back. 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, . ", After this encounter, Bogards accuser entered into a regular sexual relationship with him. Carl Lentz and the Trouble at Hillsong | Vanity Fair "In recounting various liaisons, Ms. [redacted] consistently talks about how Reed wanted to have sex, so we had sex, and similar comments, always indicating that Mr. Bogard was the initiator. Another former Hillsong pastor Michael Guglielmucci admitted to faking a cancer diagnosis in 2008 while receiving donations to help pay for his 'treatments,' Vanity Fair reported. What happened with my relationship with Hillsong is once I did report to church, that's when things started going downhill,' she told the Christian Post. Friday Highlight! Bogard even summoned Ms. [redacted] to his own apartment on his last day in New York for sex, even though the building where he lived was occupied by most of the senior leaders of the New York church and Ms. [redacted] would be exposed to coming and going there..