He got off the plane and I was greeting students. The findings of the investigation conducted by the New York City law firm Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP, are highlighted in a report reviewed by CP. 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! You are bold, beautiful, and inspiring. '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. When Jessica isn't writing, she enjoys West Coast Swing dancing, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. Lentz, an alumnus of Houston car wash duties, extended the tradition. Volunteers have already accused the church of using them to perform manual labor and fulfill the personal needs of its leadership. Investigators noted that Bogards decision to force his accuser into signing an NDA was also another example of his abuse of power. 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, Reed Bogard continued, and we just really feel like its time to transition off of our staff and take some time to remain healthy, get healthy, and to really see what this next season holds for us., Bogard expressed his gratitude toward Brian and Bobbie Houston, the. In 2020, star pastor Carl Lentz was exposed for cheating on his wife with a Brooklyn-based jewelry designer. The report was submitted to George Aghajanian, general manager and a director of Hillsong Church Australia and its international entities, on Jan. 11, 2021. He doesnt care about seeing us who were abused by people he put into power get justice or healing. 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. Im a big believer in maintaining my own relationship with Jesus. Rather, life has ebbs and flows." 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. Ive been so broken and God has used me regardless. 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.". Megachurch fires worship artist over extramarital affair | Church 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. In an email to members, founders Brian and Bobbie Houston addressed the church's investigation into former Dallas pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess Bogard, who resigned in January after. Friday Highlight! BGM LOVES the local - The Bogard Group - Facebook Brian Houston categorically denies he had knowledge of this serious allegation when Reed Bogard was selected as the Lead Pastor for Dallas, Hillsong Church said in a statement to CP. Hillsong Dallas Pastors, Who Helped Start NYC Location with Carl Lentz But Gods grace covers it all. We are going to make mistakes. A former Hillsong member named Jenna Babbitt said that she provided childcare services for some pastors, including Reed and Jess Bogard, who resigned earlier this month from Hillsong Dallas. 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. 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. Many factors, all amplified by the pandemic, have resulted in the difficult decision to pause all operations at Hillsong Dallas for now.. What are the biggest obstacles youve had to face up to this point? Hillsong Atlanta pastor announces resignation | Church & Ministries News Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. 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 journey continues after 4 years of college, 4 of med school, 5 of PhD #neverstops #mdphd. 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. 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. Former Hillsong Dallas Lead Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess, were under investigation for leadership failures when they abruptly resigned in January, Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston said Saturday while announcing a pause in the operation of the Texas campus. Bogard expressed his gratitude toward Brian and Bobbie Houston, the global senior pastors of Hillsong Church, for supporting and trusting him and Jess. Houston wrote, Many factors, all amplified by the pandemic have resulted in the difficult decision., Leaving hope for Hillsong Dallas to meet again, Houston wrote, We still have a huge heart and vision for the great state of Texas. Leaders in the church have also faced recent allegations including sexual assault. Hillsong Church pauses Dallas campus after completing investigation of former pastors. 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. In April 2021, former Hillsong Dallas Lead Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess, abruptly resigned from their positions. Posts Reels Videos Tagged She made the allegation for the first time in conversations with Hillsong leaders and an investigation was commissioned as a result. We showed them our car and I remember watching as they drove offI looked back at my new carthe car that 5 minutes ago had represented Gods blessing over my lifeand I began to compare my car to theirs. Jud was born to Roxane and Nicholas Bogard in Boston, MA, on July 8, 1976. Please click here to learn how. We called our friends to come see our new car. 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.. 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. 22:42 BST 27 Mar 2022. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. 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. Reed and Jess Bogard, the former lead pastors of Hillsong Dallas before their sudden and quiet resignation in January. Babbitt, who said she gave thousands to the church, said she saw the cards used for buying gifts and staying in luxury hotels. Honestly, we didnt think about Dallas when planning to plant a church. 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. Its really hard to lead people in a place you havent gone yourself. Leaked Report Faults Hillsong for Promoting Reed Bogard - ChurchLeaders Its selling point are its army of young, glamorous and trendy pastors who give concert-like sermons and appeal to Instagram-savvy, younger worshippers. 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. Other former church members have compared it to a cult and detailed incidents of sexual assault. The Bogards did not respond to a request for comment. Reed Bogard (@reedbogard) Instagram photos and videos Repent and change your waysGod can use you wherever youre at. Everything that you have in that deposition is obviously something that I did, and I said in the context of a legal deposition. Now, it has emerged that he had an affair between October 2013 and 2014 with a junior female staffer. These complaints included the misuse of worshipers tithes. We have been in regular contact with her and she has asked to remain anonymous. Hillsong is shutting down its Dallas operations amid a series of scandals that have rocked the Australian-based megachurch, the church announced on Saturday. To Phalon, Houstons initial tweet is indicative of the whole ordeal being a game to him., His response was so disgusting. 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. 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. , updated Hillsong Dallas pastors Reed and Jess Bogard. 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. The lead pastors of Hillsong Dallas church have resigned, adding to two months of transition and turmoil in the global megachurch. Jennifer Smith, Chief Reporter For Dailymail.Com 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 . The body of Christ is made up of a lot of different parts. By the end of 2014, leaders at Hillsong Australia were apparently aware of the affair yet didn't "look into matters." We all struggle with insecurity and comparison. I assure you there are more factual errors on the part of your staff than in Annas story, he wrote in response. Hillsong London campus pastors resign; new leaders announced | Church While this was happening, Bogards accuser told investigators that she felt very conflicted being at the bar with him because she felt like she had put herself in that position and had been asking herself, do I like him?. We ask their forgiveness. Hillsong Dallas Pastors, Who Helped Start NYC Church with Carl Lentz There were women there that needed to hear about the hope and love of Jesusand when I began to understand that, I realized that place was my ministry. 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. Ms. [redacted] recalls that right after giving their drink order, Mr. Bogard leaned in and tried to kiss her. Thats why we originally moved to New York. 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. Bogard did present as aggressive.. of Hillsong Church, for supporting and trusting him and Jess. God can use you where you are. All you can do as a parent is try your best. I met a beautiful lady named Mary. NFL Draft 2023 LIVE: The Carolina Panthers have the No. God wont take you to the next level until you allow him to use you where youre at. Former Hillsong Dallas Pastor Reed Bogard resigned after he was accused of rape, investigation reveals. Hillsong Dallas pastors, who helped start NYC location with Carl Lentz It doesnt matter how many mistakes youve made. 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. "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. I apologize for any pain I have caused. According to the investigation, Reed Bogard's extramarital relationship with the junior staffer at Hillsong New York occurred from September 2013 through January 2014. We do all of these seasons together and I try to make sure nothing competes with our relationship, our kids, or our family. I think at this stage Im not going to comment. Lets believe God for great things ahead.. Stake-in-the-ground type decisions to hold me through the seasons. Bogard's departure from the church is the latest in a string of scandals to have plagued the organization. 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. On Sunday (Jan. 3), Reed Bogard announced his and his. When we start to get an eternal perspectivewe can see our lives in light of eternity. ChurchLeaders original article written on January 5, 2021 below. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. Hillsong ChurchAustralia found out about it in 2014. I was an 18-year-old girl with the attitude that I didnt need a man. Mr. I think I just want to leave it at that.. Church leaders did know about the affair and had for years, but they thought it had always been consensual, the report claims. The church then said it would understand if its members opted to attend local churches in Dallas rather than watch Hillsong broadcasts online. 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. Lentz also brushed shoulders with other celebrities along the likes of Drake, Vanessa Hudgens, and various NBA stars. He laterreleased a statement claiming that he lied about having cancer because he was addicted to pornography. For clarity, I am part of Churchome. Churchome is a multisite, megachurch led by Judah and Chelsea Smith with campuses in Seattle and Los Angeles. By Adam Schrader and Lauren Fruen For Dailymail.com, Published: 20:16 EDT, 10 April 2021 | Updated: 19:59 EDT, 11 April 2021. '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 wrote. Early in our process, the Bogards decided to resign from 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.. She confirmed she participated in a deposition concerning the allegation but would not say anything more than what was already included in the report. Investigators found that despite the nature of the case, the failure to adequately investigate it and the substantial passage of time since it happened, a jury would have likely found that Bogard had sex with the former junior staffer against her will. 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. To (rightfully) be more respectful of privacy, I deleted my comment. Walker recalled one day while he was out with Jess Bogard and two of his friends, she bought them matching $100 jackets before taking them out to dinner at a pretty nice, pretty expensive Italian restaurant called North Italia. I felt the Holy Spirit stop me, Dont be the positive policejust sit and empathize. So I responded from that place. How would you encourage someone else in how to pursue their calling or purpose? I would meet with Mary every Tuesday afternoon and we would read the Bible together. 4. BGM LOVES the local church!!! 1. But I never want to push God on my kids because God is capable of getting their attention Himself. 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. Ms. [redacted] recalled the disoriented falling sensation of the seat back suddenly going back when shed not realized it was about to do so. 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. Its not based on feelings and emotions. We had a mutual friend who thought we would be good together. More Hillsong pastors resign amid megachurch's ongoing scandal In addition to helping plant Hillsong Dallas and Hillsong LA, the Bogards helped plant Hillsong NYC while serving alongside recently disgraced pastor Carl Lentz.
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