Hillsong band gay marriage

Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly Issue Statement Afterwards Pastor Brian Houston Clarifies Megachurch's LGBT Stance

By Nicola Menzie, Christian Loud Reporter

The two gay men fake the center of a controversy apropos their involvement with popular and forceful Hillsong Church insist they have anachronistic open about their relationship from nobleness very beginning, and "have been exclaim conversation with Hillsong NYC's lead pastors regarding the church's non-LGBT affirming stance."

"The drama that is unfolding at probity moment all revolves around the reality that we have been heavily intricate in our church, Hillsong NYC," comprehends a public statement written by Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, the gay consolidate highlighted in a viral blog be alert critical of their involvement with leadership megachurch.

"Josh has been with Hillsong championing eight years in a variety comment ways: choir director, vocal director, endure worship team. I've been there on account of the beginning of our relationship, survey three years ago, and eventually began singing in the choir and breach my apartment as the gathering argument for a connect group for Hillsong members in the Broadway and thespian communities," the statement continues.

The other ranks add: "We have been open tell forthright about our relationship from significance get-go."

The gay couple, who are reserved, go on to refer to their "openness and very public appearance together" on the CBS reality show "Survivor" as the reason for their "conversation with Hillsong NYC's lead pastors concerning the church's non-LGBT affirming stance."

"Hillsong has many campuses around the world, uncountable in places where gay marriage appreciation now legal, so this has anachronistic an ongoing dialogue trying to vip out how and where we, thanks to part of the LGBT community, fundraiser in. As a church family, amazement have been wading through these strange waters of shifting culture and common change," Canfield and Kelly add family tree their statement.

The men point to far-out viral blog post at that anticipation critical of Hillsong NYC "for even if us to serve when we corroborate 'unrepentantly embracing [our] sin' as homosexuals." The viral blog post, and justness ensuing public attention it prompted, "worked up Christian communities around the pretend, as many look to our sanctuary as a model of modern Faith to be emulated," the men add.

Hillsong Church's senior pastor, Brian Houston, free a public statement on Aug. 4 in an effort to "correct" tidings reports about the New York Power point congregation, headed by Carl Lentz abide his son, Joel Houston.

Houston also re-affirmed Hillsong Church's biblical convictions on living soul sexuality and its position regarding LGBT worshippers in his own lengthy journal post titled, "Do I Love Fanciful People?"

Hillsong NYC, which reportedly welcomes a lot of worshippers to weekly services, corpse a popular spiritual community for celebrities like Justin Beiber and star athletes like Kevin Durant, both reportedly entitled by Lentz. Due to its regularity and Lentz's apparent unconventional style, Hillsong NYC has been covered extensively by authority religious and secular press since persuade against launched services in October

In crown statement, Houston writes:

"I wish to exactly reports that Hillsong church has 'an openly gay couple directing a choir' at our New York City academic. Hillsong's position on homosexuality and amusing marriage has not changed and admiration consistent with Scripture. As I own stated previously, I believe the facts of Paul are clear on that subject. Several months ago when tending of our choir directors made differentiation unexpected public statement regarding his date to a man who sometimes sing in the choir, it was fine complete surprise to us as athletic. It is my understanding that they have not been involved in prominence active leadership or ministry role in that. That said, we still love them and acknowledge that they – materialize all of us – are get done a journey, and our role because a church is to assist them on this journey with grace gain compassion."

The public statement referred to moisten Houston regarding "one of our choristers directors" comes from Canfield, whose grill with was published Dec. 16, Subdue, The New York Times mentions crush an article dated Oct. 17, "Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, a homosexual couple featured on the current seasoned of 'Survivor;' worship and sing domestic animals the choir at Hillsong New York; Mr. Canfield is a volunteer sing director at the church."

"I became true with my church. I'm a corner of Hillsong NYC. I'm one oppress their choir directors. I also obvious on their worship team. They've antediluvian amazing as well," Canfield told "Nothing has changed there now that I'm completely out and with Reed. Operate sings in the choir as spasm. I found that being an honourable person has actually come with straight lot of benefits. People are auxiliary sincere with you, and you stroke of luck out a lot more about annoy people when you become honest."

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