On Sunday, Feb. 16, the global leadership of Hillsong Church announced that Pastors Brenden and Jacqui Brown, leaders of Hillsong San Francisco, are transforming that campus into a separate, independent faith community. The name of the new church will be announced on Feb. 23.
Sam Lopez, lead pastor of Hillsong California, told congregants that “nothing happened” in a negative sense. Instead, he said, the Browns are “an incredible couple [who] have a vision…and God has asked them to take a step of faith.”
Hillsong leadership backs the move “100%,” Lopez added, and is “releasing them with full blessing and in unity and excitement.”
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The move was announced on Hillsong’s annual Mission Sunday. This year’s theme is Taking Another Step by Faith.
San Fran Split Leaves 2 Hillsong Campuses in CA
With the loss of its San Francisco campus, Hillsong Church now has just five U.S. locations: Los Angeles and Orange County in California, as well as New York City, New Jersey, and Boston. Before a series of high-profile scandals rocked the Australia-based megachurch, it had 16 campuses in America.
ChurchLeaders has reported extensively on Hillsong’s trouble-filled past few years. Various scandals were also featured in the docuseries “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed.”
Phil Dooley, global senior pastor of Hillsong, acknowledged during his Feb. 16 sermon that “we’ve faced some challenges as a church.” Using biblical lessons from the life of Joshua, Dooley encouraged congregants to keep taking steps of faith and not to get discouraged.
Dooley then discussed the next step for Hillsong California, calling the announcement “kind of happy/sad but I think mainly happy.” He described the San Francisco campus as “healthy,” saying the Browns’ “leadership has made a lasting impact on our church.”
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To the couple and the church, Dooley said, “We love you, and we are committed to remaining in close relationship with you as we embark on this faithful journey together.”
Pastors Brenden & Jacqui Brown Separate From Hillsong
Lopez, who has overseen all three Hillsong California campuses, offered more context about the move, saying it’s been under discussion for two years. The Browns approached him with their “fresh vision,” he said, and Hillsong leaders were just waiting for “the right time” to move forward.
