by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
I told myself I would watch more docuseries this year. There are a lot of amazing ones to watch, but sadly, there’s also a finite amount of time in the day. Docuseries usually have fewer episodes than a sit-com, but they’re also informative in a way that a typical drama or comedy isn’t. So I started with The Secrets of Hillsong.
Most of the people I knew who went to Hillsong Church don’t go anymore because of the various controversies surrounding it. The dynamic preaching, booming music, and huge crowds couldn’t mask the trouble they were facing. As Hillsong made headlines for their stance on social issues, the dismissal of Carl Lentz (co-founder of the New York City congregation), and the criminal charges for Senior Global Pastor Brian Houston, the church is suffering from a crisis, unlike anything it’s ever faced. Each of the issues is addressed in the docuseries, with interviews and excellent reporting to help everyone watching get up to speed on what’s happening.
There are two social issues that created unwanted attention for Hillsong. The first is the church’s stance on the LGBTQIA+ community. Hillsong considers homosexuality wrong, and the docuseries interviews a few people about how much it hurt for the church to take such a stance. Josh Canfield, a music leader of one of the U.S. congregations, and a contestant on Survivor, is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. He believes Hillsong sends mixed signals about loving everyone of all identities, but condemning homosexuality. Because he identifies as a member of Hillsong and as openly gay, Canfield’s music leader role diminished to the point where he had to leave the church.
The other social issue that Hillsong had problems with is supporting the Black Lives Matters movement. One would assume that supporting the Black Lives Matter movement would be a welcome view, but The Secrets of Hillsong interviews a few former members who question the stance’s sincerity. Hillsong did not have an issue declaring Black Lives Matter, but the interviewees talk about not being able to rise up the leadership ranks, and not being listened to about policies involving diversity. None of the interviewees believe that Hillsong Church is racist, but they do accuse them of being tone deaf and out of touch with the Black community.
Lentz and his dismissal of the church is a hot topic for The Secret of Hillsong. His interviews in the series are the first since his dismissal from Hillsong. The entire second episode is dedicated to him, showing the significance he plays in the docuseries’ message. Lentz, who befriended and guided Justin Bieber, along with other celebrities, is unlike a typical Hillsong Church leader. He is young, has tattoos, and looks like a rock star while preaching. When church elders dismissed Lentz for his extramarital affair, Hillsong never found a leader similar to him. The ousted leader struggles with childhood issues, he explains in his interview, but he also blames Hillsong for enabling his behavior, and caring more about money than spreading the word of God. Although it’s hard to judge his sincerity at times, his actions since his dismissal show he’s trying to be a better person. In reflecting on Hillsong, Lentz also thinks he gets thrown under the bus, despite other individuals who have been accused of criminal behavior.
Houston’s numerous legal issues continue to put pressure on Hillsong, even today. The accusations against him include financial crimes, inappropriate behavior towards women, and the protection of his father Frank, who is accused of child sexual abuse throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the Southwest Pacific Ocean. Hillsong faces accusations of misappropriating funds and accounting abnormalities, which Lentz mentions in his interview. The docuseries crew talks to people who used to work on finances, and confirms Hillsong’s desire to keep the cash flowing, yet spending lavishly on non-church-related items. For instance, Houston preaches about stewardship and the importance of tithes, but he uses church funds to pay for new watches, boats, and vacations. This is another example of how Hillsong does not practice what they preach.
Secondly, Houston has two incidents of inappropriate behavior towards women. Both incidents occurred before Lentz’s firing, which calls into question why he got dismissed, and Houston remained in power. Accusations of double standards and hypocrisy begin to surface and trust erodes among congregation members. In addition to the accusations, Houston uses church money to silence women. It’s a disturbing allegation, especially with what Houston’s father is accused of.
Finally, Houston is in hot water for the protection he gives his father Frank. The allegations were brought to the attention of church leaders, who choose not to do anything with the information. They paid victims for their silence (more financial issues), and tried to sweep everything under the rug to protect the institution. The Secrets of Hillsong does a great job outlining the case against Frank — it shows how the coverup can be just as bad as the crime itself. He died before any semblance of justice was brought to him, though. The case against Brian Houston for hiding the accusations is still pending, making the docuseries now more important than ever in regards to keep audiences informed.
Reviewing The Secret of Hillsong was hard. As someone who volunteers for organizations that spread awareness of sexual assault and abuse, it’s difficult to watch another organization choose to protect itself, instead of holding its people accountable for their actions. As the case against Brian Houston enters the latest phase, Hillsong is at a crossroads. They’re trying to get their bearings under them, but shavings make a pile, and the problems are adding up quickly. I appreciate what the docuseries tries to do, though: expose how an out-of-control organization thinks rules doesn’t apply to them. Hopefully The Secrets of Hillsong can help bring accountability to the powerful organization.
Score: 6/10
The Secrets of Hillsong is currently streaming on Hulu
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