Brian Houston Shuts Down Hillsong Dallas Church Amid Controversy
Hillsong’s Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston has pulled the trigger and shut down Hillsong Dallas, scattering the congregants into the wind in the wakes of a series of scandals that have plagued the American branches.
We wrote two months ago how lead Pastors Reed and Jess Bogard gave a sudden resignation announcement back in January. It was later revealed that like Hillsong NY, they were using the church to fund their lavish lifestyles, including $1100 a night Air B&B’s and $800 meals. At the time Hoston reassured that the congregation would live on and be cared for, writing:
Reed and Jess have given their heart and soul to the pioneering of Hillsong Dallas Love the last couple of years, and we’re grateful for that, and the great work they’ve done.
Reed and I have been talking now over a period of time and we both agreed 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.
I do believe in the future of Hillsong Dallas. In the meantime, we will make sure week by week that the church is being cared for. We have a great team over in America and around the world. Even though we are restricted in what we can and can’t do right now in terms of travel, you are not going to be forsaken.
But forsaken they were. Rather than just having another one of the other elder/pastors take the preaching role like a normal church, Brian Houston announced they were closing the franchise.
Early in our process, the Bogards decided to resign from Hillsong Church. We accepted their resignations and acknowledged the time that the Bogards spent establishing our Dallas location…
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. 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…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…
Many factors, all amplified by the pandemic, have resulted in the difficult decision to pause all operations at Hillsong Dallas for now.
Houston explains that while he understands some may choose to watch the livestream, others may want to attend other churches and he gives them his blessing to do that, while at the same time leaving the door open to the possibility of reestablishing some time in the future.
We still have a huge heart and vision for the great state of Texas. When the time is right and we have identified and trained suitable lead pastors, we will consider relaunching.
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One less McChurch in the world
We wrote an article over at our website, theologyarchaeology, called ‘do we respect God?’ It seems that Hillsong does not and treats the church like it is their own personal business.
The Bakers (Jim and Tammy) were not the first religious shysters and obviously were not the last.
Always grievous to hear negative reports like this….hopefully all of us can find some grace in our hearts and be the spiritual one who works to restore.
It is good for heretical churches to shut down so they can no longer lead people astray.