Probe Launched into NYC Branch of Hillsong Church after Justin Bieber’s Former Pastor and Wife Fired

Justin Bieber’s embattled former pastor Carl Lentz’s sex scandal took down his wife and has prompted Hillsong Church to launch an investigation into the NYC branch he was fired from. 

The celebrity pastor was let go from his position as the head of Hillsong megachurch for “moral failures” in early November after cheating on his wife of seventeen years. Lentz, 41, admitted to infidelity in an Instagram post apologizing to his family and former congregation. 

“I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life, and held accountable for that. This failure is on me, and me alone, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he posted to Instagram.  

Laura, 40, who was also a pastor at Hillsong NYC, was also let go from her position, despite being the spouse that was wronged. Hillsong had previously announced that the mother of three was leaving the church, but she was reportedly fired after news of the scandal broke. 

Lentz’s alleged mistress made headlines following in a tell-all interview about the affair, when she stated: “We were obsessed with each other. He was like a drug to me. I was a drug to him.”

Hillsong co-founder Brian Houston took to Twitter to announce that the church would be initiating an investigation into the leadership at the NYC branch.  

“We are launching an independent investigation into the inner workings of Hillsong NYC/ East Coast,” he wrote.  “We need a solid foundation for a fresh start and new beginning. The best is yet to come.”

In a Saturday sermon, Houston said that “key leaders” in the New York chapter were supportive of the decisions the church made. “This is a season of transition. It’s a time when I’m so grateful for the team we have there, we’ve got such strong, committed and deeply loyal people who are part of the team.” 

Marie Finn