‘BREACHES OF TRUST’

Celebrity Megachurch Hillsong Fires Justin Bieber’s Favorite Pastor Carl Lentz for ‘Moral Failures’

Lentz founded the New York City branch of the popular megachurch.

Hillsong, the Australian Christian megachurch attended by Justin Bieber and a host of other celebrities, has fired one of its American leaders, Pastor Carl Lentz, for what it described as “breaches of trust” and “moral failures.” Lentz co-founded the popular New York City branch of the church in 2010 and rose to fame via a star-studded congregation and Justin Bieber’s 2014 detox that entailed moving in with the priest. A Nov. 4 email from the church’s founder Brian Houston reads, “This action has been taken following ongoing discussions in relation to leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures.” Houston did not specify the nature of these offenses. Lentz has yet to offer a response to the news.