Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly Issue Statement After Pastor Brian Houston Clarifies Megachurch’s LGBT Stance

The 2 homosexual guys in the center of a debate regarding their participation with popular and influential Hillsong Church assert they’ve been available about their relationship through the start, and “have experienced discussion with Hillsong NYC’s lead pastors about the church’s non-LGBT affirming stance.”

“The drama that is unfolding in the moment all revolves round the undeniable fact that we’ve been heavily involved with our church, Hillsong NYC,” reads a public declaration authored by Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, the homosexual couple highlighted in a viral article critical of their involvement because of the megachurch.

“Josh was with Hillsong for eight years in many ways: choir manager, vocal manager, and worship group. I have been here considering that the start of your relationship, over 3 years ago, and in the end started performing in the choir and starting my apartment because the gathering spot for a group that is connect Hillsong users within the Broadway and theatrical communities,” the statement continues.

The males add: “we now have been available and forthright about our relationship through the get-go.”

Geoffrey Grider, a Christian minister, published a viral weblog post on Hillsong NYC’s freely gay and engaged people, Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, on Sunday, August 2. | (Photo: Google Plus)

The couple that is gay who will be involved, continue to refer for their “openness and incredibly general public look together” regarding the CBS reality show “Survivor” while the reason behind their “conversation with Hillsong NYC’s lead pastors about the church’s non-LGBT affirming stance.”

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“Hillsong has its own campuses across the world, numerous in places where marriage that is gay now legal, and this was a continuous discussion racking your brains on just how and where we, included in the LGBT community, easily fit into. As a church family members, we’ve been wading through these uncharted waters of moving tradition and social change,” Canfield and Kelly add inside their declaration.

The men point out a viral weblog post at nowtheendbegins.com this is certainly critical of Hillsong NYC “for permitting us to provide whenever we are ‘unrepentantly embracing [our] sin’ as homosexuals.” The viral blog post, in addition to ensuing general public attention it prompted, “worked up Christian communities all over the world, as much turn to our church as a model of contemporary Christianity become emulated,” the guys add.

Hillsong Church’s senior pastor, Brian Houston, released a statement that is public Aug. 4 in an attempt to “correct” news reports in regards to the new york congregation, headed by Carl Lentz and their son, Joel Houston.

Houston additionally re-affirmed Hillsong Church’s biblical beliefs on peoples sex and its particular place regarding LGBT worshippers inside the very own lengthy post entitled, “Do Everyone loves Gay individuals?”

Hillsong NYC, which apparently welcomes a large number of worshippers to regular solutions, stays a well known religious community for a-listers like Justin Beiber and celebrity athletes like Kevin Durant, both reportedly baptized by Lentz. Because of its appeal and Lentz’s obvious style that is unconventional Hillsong NYC was covered extensively by the spiritual and secular press because it launched solutions in October 2010.

In their statement, Houston writes:

“If only to fix reports that Hillsong church has ‘an openly homosexual couple directing a choir’ at our new york campus. Hillsong’s place on homosexuality and marriage that is gay perhaps not changed and it is in keeping with Scripture. When I have actually stated formerly, I think the writings of Paul are unmistakeable with this topic. Almost a year ago whenever certainly one of our choir directors made an urgent statement that is public their engagement to a person whom often sang into the choir, it absolutely was an entire shock to us also. It really is my comprehending that they will have not been taking part in an active leadership or ministry part since. That said, we nevertheless love them and acknowledge on this journey with elegance and compassion. which they– as with any of us – are on a journey, and our part as a church is always to help them”