Whether a viewer sees such a moment as goofily profound or profoundly goofy will, of course, vary by person. At one point in his interviews with director Lee, Carl adapts the serenity prayer to ask for the strength to get through the documentary. Carl baptized Bieber in NBA player Tyson Chandler’s XXL bathtub this isn’t a guy who doesn’t want people to pay attention to him. It’s also to acknowledge, and even invite, the schadenfreude the Carl Lentz/Hillsong scandal-and all the celebrity-church scandals like it, going back at least as far as the disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson almost 100 years ago-evokes in the culture at large. The Secrets of Hillsong understands that its brief isn’t only seeing what Carl has to say, or updating French and Adler’s investigative file. More than one former Hillsong congregant interviewed for Secrets describes Lentz’s irresistible charisma, remembering his megawatt charm in sometimes regretful tones, and the fact is, whether you buy into Carl’s hipster gospel or you think it’s shtick, your eye goes right to the guy. In the aughts and 2010s, Lentz was everywhere, and the series’ first two episodes unpacks how that came to be. Well, he says plenty, and I’ll look at the substance in a moment, but Secrets has a solid handle on another major component of its own appeal, namely Carl himself-whether he’s giving a present-day interview or appearing in older footage. Is it the main reason? Let’s run down the biggest draws in The Secrets of Hillsong’s first two episodes. The Lentzes breaking their silence isn’t the only reason to make room for Secrets in your weekend-viewing schedule. Secrets sees Carl-and his wife of 20 years, Laura-sitting for their first interviews since the scandal sent them into functional exile. French and Adler’s February 2021 report is a great place to start for background, and the reporters are on camera to help set the scene, along with former Hillsong congregants, experts on spirituality in culture, Australian senators-and the once-ubiquitous Lentz himself. Fortunately, The Secrets of Hillsong has you covered.ĭirected by Stacey Lee ( Underplayed), based on Alex French and Dan Adler’s reporting for Vanity Fair in “ Carl Lentz and the Trouble at Hillsong,” and coproduced by Scout Productions and Vanity Fair Studios, The Secrets of Hillsong traces the church’s beginnings, its rise and expansion, its troubling culture of alleged abuse and cover-ups, and Lentz’s rapid rise and fall. Or you might not remember much about Lentz, or Hillsong, or that Carl’s expulsion as one of the lead pastors of Hillsong’s New York City branch was only the first visible crack in a dam holding back allegations of abuse, corruption, and cover-ups against the international megachurch and its Sydney-based power elite, because two-plus years can feel like 10 in post-COVID time. The reason for Lentz's removal was cited as "leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures."Lentz revealed on his Instagram page he was unfaithful to his wife and he was held accountable for that action.You might recall many of celebrity pastor Carl Lentz’s trademarks-the tats, the skinny jeans, the mentor relationship with Justin Bieber and other big names-before his late-2020 ouster from Hillsong Church and news of his marital infidelity. On November 4, 2020, Brian Houston, Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong announced that he fired Lentz through member wide email list. It's unclear if he received any clarity or made any progress on his "journey of rebuilding trust with my wife, Laura and my children," which he said he'd begin following his revelation. Carl Lentz was seen swiming at the beach, where he was photographed shirtless while talking on the phone, and at one point, meditating. The family relocated to LA after they sold their $1.5 million Montclair, New Jersey, home just days before the scandal broke. Laura and the kids were all seen wearing masks while Lentz, 42, didn't attempt to conceal his face. Former Hillsong East Coast senior pastor Carl Lentz and his wife, Laura, have uprooted from New York and they have settled in Los Angeles. The couple was spotted walking with their kids around Los Angeles following a family dinner Sunday night.
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