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Former Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz denies abuse claims but admits ‘inappropriate relationship’ with family nanny

by Kelly Valencia
Carl Lentz FX.png - Banner image
FX

Former leader of Hillsong New York Carl Lentz will deny claims he sexually abused his family nanny in an upcoming documentary about the megachurch.

The Secrets of Hillsong, will explore the myriad of scandals facing Hillsong, including the Lentz’s account of events after he was let go in 2020.  The former pastor was dismissed after he admitted to being unfaithful to his wife of 17 years.

A year after his departure, in an article on Medium, Leona Kimes, alleged that she had been sexually and emotionally abused by the "lead pastors" of Hillsong NYC, while working as their nanny.

Kimes had been the Lentz family nanny for seven years, during which her husband, Josh, served as the associate pastor of Hillsong NYC.  Later, the Kimes' took on the responsibility of pastoring Hillsong Boston but resigned from their position last year.

Now, Lentz has “categorically” denied any “notion of abuse” but has admitted to having an “inappropriate relationship” with her.

Speaking in the documentary, he said: “I am responsible for allowing an inappropriate relationship to develop in my house with someone that worked for us."

“There were mutual adult decisions made by two people who lied profusely, mainly to my wife. It's an issue because I was a boss. This person was an employee. I'm responsible for that power dynamic and the management of it and the wisdom that goes with it, and I failed absolutely miserably," he continued.

Earlier this month, Lentz took to social media to say he and his family are in a "happy and deliberately honest place" now and explained that their participation was "part of the healing" process. 

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