Unity is not uniformity. All rights reserved (About Us). One of the posts, according to AL.com, shows two photos one featuring President Donald Trump standing next to Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks with the caption The racist Donald Trump in the 1980s, and the other featuring Democratic Virginia Gov. Thats why small groups existto make these life-changing relationships relevant and accessible to you. Rizzo and COTH have never released details about Rizzos inappropriate relationship. The Church of the Highlands Senior Pastor Leadership Team are: 2. I truly believe the devil is going to be defeated and were going to see not only a healing from a disease, but I dont think our land is ever going to be the same again. I once served Dino Rizzo, his wife and daughters while working at Ruths Chris Steakhouse just before the scandal broke of him having the extra marital affair. What he failed to tell everyone is his RoundTable cost $7500 for the Pastor or $10,000 if they bring their spouse. It is headquartered next to COTHs Greystone Campus in Birmingham, Alabama. Im saying he likes someone who post[s] things that do not seem culturally sensitive to me., In his message on Sunday, Hodges clearly stated that white supremacy is of the devil. On June 9, the Birmingham Board of Education voted to terminate its leases with the Church of the Highlands, which had been paying Birmingham City Schools $6,000 a week to rent the facilities at Parker and Woodlawn High Schools on Sunday mornings. Watch Now. For the past 12 weeks, the Church of the Highlands has held online worship services without Sunday morning in-person group gatherings. Grow, now called Highlands Resources,continues to provide resources to over 16,500 churches globally at no cost. Connection Card:. Similarly, Hodges son, Michael Hodges, also experienced an undisclosed moral failing and was removed as a pastor at COTHs Greystone campus in 2017. He resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Laura. In Alabama, the Church of the Highlands is kind of a big deal. The brothers grandfather founded the megachurch in the familys living room in 1963, and it has since grown to over 8,000 members across five Louisiana campuses, making it among the largest megachurches in the US. That means acknowledging that an affair or inappropriate relationship between a pastor and his congregant is, in fact, abuse. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. GrowLeader is devoted to sharing ideas, tools and resources that will help grow your leadership. Anna Crenshaw, a preachers daughter who was studying at Hillsong College in 2016, appears in the doc to describe an instance in which she alleges that she was assaulted by a Hillsong staffer, who groped her at a house party in front of other people. Prior to being appointed the Greystone campus pastor, Michael had been on Church of the Highlands staff since 2015, serving in capacities such as director of ministry partnership and placement, and member of the Highlands College Team, which teaches students at the churchs ministry training program, AL.com said. Surratt confirmed to The Roys Report that ARC churches often give a portion of their annual income to ARC. . Two years ago, controversial longtime Alabama pastor the Rev. A broken and contrite heart is the pathway to the presence and the anointing of God. But I can look you in the eye and say I have been tested, stripped, disciplined, broken.. The sign also caught my attention. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. 23K views, 309 likes, 371 loves, 903 comments, 213 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Church of the Highlands: We can't wait to worship with you tonight at #FirstWednesday! ARC CFO Derek Neece told The Roys Report that about 24% of ARCs cash donationsabout $2.8 million annuallygoes toward ARC salaries. The Roys Report reached out to Grow Leader for more information about the organization and who gets its proceeds, but no one responded. Rizzo has a history of sexual misconduct himself. Im not absolute that certain things ban a pastor for lifeif Paul can murder Stephen and become an apostle, that seems to exceed the Biblical restraintbut I do think that its key that a person demonstrate good behavior for a few years before resuming ministry. Chris is the Founder and President of the, Chris is the Founder of a coaching network called, Chris is the Secretary of the Board and on the Advisory Board of. I want to be known for that., Hodges said hed rather prevent moral falls than clean them up, but added, I dont mind doing that. While there is no minimum amount to become a part of the ARC Family, there are partnership requirements to participate in some of ARCs benefits., ARC receives nearly $12 million in annual cash donations, according to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Sign: It is a privilege to be on this stage thank you God for choosing me. We met playing golf. His wife and daughters left and then he ordered an alcoholic dessert. Oxford, Alabama 36203 The Roys Report reached out to Chris Hodges and COTH for comment about these pastors and the churchs restoration process, but no one responded. The fact that it doesnt meet the demands for disclosure from The Roys Report or its readers doesnt mean it wasnt biblical or effective. They didnt worry about that. I was a member and my wife was a prayer partner at Healing Place Church in 2012. Our Oxford location meets at the Oxford Civic Center. But restoring a fallen pastor after a year at a new congregation that doesnt even know him is nuts. You state that Restoring and training pastors appears to be a lucrative endeavor However, you only give examples of moneymaking in training pastors. I remember being in a greenroom at a Church where this clown (Hodges) was bragging about how little he pays lower staff members because people are lined up wanting jobs at COTH. The reason he isnt building a retreat center for victims is because he sees upper level ministers/pastors as more important than your average lowly church attender. Theyre wondering, where do you really stand? in order to better support pastors and leaders in their desire to personally grow in leadership so their churches can reach more people and make a greater impact. But all was not holy. But Proverbs 31 says to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. PASTOR: Scott T. McCurdy ADDRESS: 6621 Hunter Rd., Harrison, TN 37341 . Theres no biblical authority or principle for the specifics of his failure to be shared publicly. The church can help the nation change, he said. It seems like Pastors have created a similar good old boys club where once you are in the club you are taken care of regardless of your failures. It makes you feel like your belief system is valid in the modern world, Hardy says, referring to Lentzs cutting-edge haircut, tattoos and clothing, which lured in millennial and Gen Z congregants. This story has been shared 132,431 times. I started to pull back and say, I dont want this anymore, leave me alone. But, the more you say no to him, the more he keeps coming back., Karim describes her relationship with Lentz as the most toxic thing Ive ever had to deal with. But he should stay out of ministry and not expect a congregation to trust him. From the beginning, Church of the Highlands has been controversial, with accusations by some more established churches that it was stealing sheep from their congregations with its rock. If I could go back and never meet Carl, I would.. Chris remains the senior pastor and Chancellor of Highlands College, a ministry training school that has trained and launched hundreds of students into full-time ministry careers all over the world. That said, the two lawsuits against ARC or Rizzo involve pastors sent by ARC, which has a nearly $12 million budget. And whatever it takes to achieve that.. After founding AppOne, a national financial tech company acquired by a multi-billion dollar company 10 years later, Lee served as CEO until retiring in 2011. For every person that has been marginalized, rejected or belittled, abused or even afraid because of how God made you, Tammy and I, the Church of the Highlands family, stand with you.. Michael R. Jordan of New Era Baptist Church in Birmingham slammed the Church of the Highlands as racist and "hypocritical" in its bid to start a church plant in one of Birmingham's most violent neighborhoods. He let it slip to me about the intern from Oklahoma working on a video series with him. This sub advocates for transparency and accountability at Church of the Highlands, and provides support for former and current members. Hodges said he met with the four black campus pastors for the Church of the Highlands this past week. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. The biblical standard for an elder is being above reproach or blameless, so it is very difficultif not impossibleto attain that standard after admitting to impropriety. According to Karim, over the course of their affair, Lentz cried in front of her, which she took as a sign of his vulnerability. How so? Hes influenced our church. They were definitely checking for mix-ups or errors. The Roys Report also looked into the financial arrangement between ARC and its church planting pastors. Larry Stockstill is also on the board of Overseers at Church of the Highlands and Bethany Church is currently a member of ARC Churches, overseen by Church of the Highlands. I would be upset if it comes off as me judging him. Its really been one of the most painful things Ive been through, he said. In January 2021 we launchedGrowLeader in order to better support pastors and leaders in their desire to personally grow in leadership so their churches can reach more people and make a greater impact. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Restoring pastors also appears to be an emphasis for ARC, where both Hodges and Rizzo serve on the Lead Team with well-known Christian celebrities, like Christine Caine and Miles McPherson. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Grow Leader also sponsors two-day Round Tables, where for $7,500 lead pastors and leaders can learn from Hodges and Domingue in an intimate setting. . Hodges now serves as special projects director at Highlands College, a COTH-affiliated school on its Greystone campus. Your pastor today has not only invited me to speak but two of my other sons, the one that lives here and one that lives with us in Birmingham, are speaking at the other two locations, he continued. : https://evangelicaldarkweb.org/2020/03/30/is-chris-hodges-a-false-teacher/, Russell Hinson Church of the Highlands bloodless gospel: https://churchofthehighlandsbloodlessgospel.com/, 9Marks 4 Reflections after Listening to 18 Hours of Sermons in Americas Biggest Churches: https://www.9marks.org/article/4-reflections-after-listening-to-18-hours-of-sermons-in-americas-biggest-churches/, Disrupting Giants Chris Hodges: http://disruptinggiants.blogspot.com/, The Wartburg Watch Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Neece said ARCs non-officer board members are not paid. We cant get there if were not willing to change. Profit is what he made. Providing online services in a cautious way that doesnt lead to mass gatherings of people in accordance with the HO's guidelines is not at all a bad thing. We live in a society that wants instant feedback. And we shouldnt. Get Directions. *All services are in Central Time Zone unless otherwise specified. : http://thewartburgwatch.com/2013/11/13/dino-rizzo-stovall-weems-and-steven-furtick-banking-on-the-arc/, The Wartburg Watch: A Closer Look at Pastors in the ARC: http://thewartburgwatch.com/2014/11/07/a-closer-look-at-pastors-in-the-arc/, NAR Watch Israel Sickening, But Hardly Surprising: https://www.narwatchisrael.info/nwi-blog/sickening-but-hardly-suprising, Regional President & CEO Teen Challenge Pacific Northwest, https://bereanresearch.org/association-of-related-churches-time-to-get-off-the-arc/, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2019/1/if-im-a-butterfly-why-am-i-still-crawling, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2018/7/live-fearless, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2019/5/worst-easter-sermon-do-you-love-me, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2018/9/jen-hatmaker-preaches-about-inclusion, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2018/7/dream-again, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2017/11/the-babylon-mentality, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2017/8/thumb-and-big-toe-prophecy, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2017/4/look-it-in-the-eye-and-step-into-it, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2017/1/your-moses-needs-to-die, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2014/9/a-tale-of-two-mars-hills, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2012/03/19/perry-noble-offers-preaching-advice, https://aspreeman.com/2013/05/30/rick-warrens-top-100-pastors-to-follow-2/, https://evangelicaldarkweb.org/2020/03/30/is-chris-hodges-a-false-teacher/, https://churchofthehighlandsbloodlessgospel.com/, https://www.9marks.org/article/4-reflections-after-listening-to-18-hours-of-sermons-in-americas-biggest-churches/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2014/11/19/where-have-all-the-flowers-gone-demons-tongues-and-healings-at-chris-hodges-church-of-the-highlands-arc/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2014/11/17/pastorcentric-looking-at-the-arc-and-robert-morris-thru-chris-hodges-church-of-the-highlands/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2016/10/31/the-arcs-church-of-the-highlands-prayer-force-leaders-guide-and-analysis/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2017/01/16/did-you-hear-the-weird-story-about-pastor-david-pursifulls-resignation-from-the-arcs-building-church/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2014/11/05/building-the-arc-an-overview-of-this-church-planting-network/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2014/12/01/arcs-robert-morris-paul-preached-under-the-influence/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2015/06/26/personal-experiences-with-arcs-lifeway-church-of-milwaukee-wisconsin/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2013/11/13/dino-rizzo-stovall-weems-and-steven-furtick-banking-on-the-arc/, http://thewartburgwatch.com/2014/11/07/a-closer-look-at-pastors-in-the-arc/, https://www.narwatchisrael.info/nwi-blog/sickening-but-hardly-suprising. Restoration of relationship and ministry requires full disclosure and an acceptance of responsibility. Grow quickly multiplied year over year, and it became evident that church leaders are hungry to be trained and equipped in a very practical, hands-on way. Church of the Highlands did not disclose what Michael's "moral failing" was in the fall of 2017 when he was stripped of his leadership responsibilities, but after his father announced his removal, all his social media accounts as well as at least one belonging to his wife, Katie, were disabled. But according to the documentary, Lentzs behavior was not an anomaly within the larger organization. I know we need to do something. And many many more, click here for the full list! Im not saying hes a racist. Interview with Church of the Highlands Pastor Chris Hodges 51,474 views Jun 15, 2016 509 Dislike Share ABC 33/40 11.9K subscribers Church of the Highlands Senior Pastor Chris Hodges talks. Privacy Policy. When all of this came out, I was really mad, she says. And though ARC seems to have a number of challenges and potential mistakes around leaders who fail morally, we still dont have all the facts. | Instagram/Chris Hodges Chris Hodges, founder and leader of Church of the Highlands, one of the largest churches in America, apologized Sunday for liking social media posts of Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk that have been criticized as racially insensitive. Lentz became Hillsongs shining star, skyrocketing to such fame that he rubbed elbows with the likes of Bieber and Oprah Winfrey. Tell me what I dont know, he said. [CDATA[*/var out = '',el = document.getElementsByTagName('span'),l = ['>','a','/','<',' 109',' 111',' 99',' 46',' 115',' 100',' 110',' 97',' 108',' 104',' 103',' 105',' 104',' 101',' 104',' 116',' 102',' 111',' 104',' 99',' 114',' 117',' 104',' 99',' 64',' 111',' 102',' 110',' 105','>','\"',' 109',' 111',' 99',' 46',' 115',' 100',' 110',' 97',' 108',' 104',' 103',' 105',' 104',' 101',' 104',' 116',' 102',' 111',' 104',' 99',' 114',' 117',' 104',' 99',' 64',' 111',' 102',' 110',' 105',':','o','t','l','i','a','m','\"','=','f','e','r','h','a ','<'],i = l.length,j = el.length;while (--i >= 0)out += unescape(l[i].replace(/^\s\s*/, '&#'));while (--j >= 0)if (el[j].getAttribute('data-eeEncEmail_vriwJxnadd'))el[j].innerHTML = out;/*]]>*/, Contact Us Online Store Site Feedback Employment Privacy, . No One Knows. While I don't dispute they could have done what the article alleges, if you met Gume, there's a strong chance you would try drown him too.