5 Shocking Truths About Hillsong Church Los Angeles: Is The Celebrity Megachurch Still Open After The Scandals?

The question on everyone's mind as of December 12, 2025, is whether the once-dominant, celebrity-magnet Hillsong Church Los Angeles has survived the global wave of scandals and closures that decimated its US network. The short answer is yes: Hillsong Los Angeles, operating under the umbrella of Hillsong California, remains active, making it one of the few US campuses to weather the storm. Its continued operation is a testament to the church's resilience—or perhaps its deep roots in the Southern California culture—even as the global organization undergoes a massive, painful restructuring.

This survival story is one of the most compelling narratives in modern religious movements. The LA campus, once a beacon of cool, contemporary worship frequented by A-list celebrities, is now navigating a post-scandal reality. The energy has shifted from viral fame to quiet recovery, led by new local and global pastors tasked with rebuilding trust. What exactly is happening inside the Hillsong LA walls today, and how did they manage to stay open when so many others folded?

The New Face of Hillsong California: A Leadership Profile

Following a period of intense turmoil and the resignation of multiple high-profile leaders across the globe, Hillsong California has installed a new pastoral team focused on local stability and rebuilding. The leadership structure is now clearly delineated between the local and global levels.

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Sam and Courtney Lopez: Hillsong California Lead Pastors

• Role: Lead Pastors of Hillsong California, overseeing the Los Angeles and Orange County campuses.
• Focus: Their mandate involves steering the California church away from the celebrity-driven culture of the past and toward a focus on community and local ministry.
• LA Campus Location: Services are notably held in the LA Fashion District, a starkly urban and diverse center, reflecting an attempt to root the church in a different cultural context than its previous high-profile image.
• Key Collaborations: Hillsong California has been known to hold unified services and collaborations with other local ministries, such as Oasis Church LA, indicating a strategy of local partnership and resource sharing.

Phil and Lucinda Dooley: Global Senior Pastors

• Role: Global Senior Pastors of Hillsong Church.
• Appointment Date: Officially took over in February 2023, following a period as interim leaders after the resignation of founder Brian Houston.
• Background: They previously served as Lead Pastors of Hillsong Church Africa for 16 years.
• Mandate: The Dooleys are responsible for implementing governance reform, addressing systemic issues, and restoring the global reputation of the Hillsong association of churches.

The Five Global Scandals Hillsong LA Survived

The Los Angeles campus's continued existence is remarkable given the sheer volume and severity of the controversies that engulfed the global church. These crises led to the closure of 11 of Hillsong's 16 US campuses, leaving LA as one of the few survivors.

1. The Carl Lentz Scandal and Moral Failure

The 2020 firing of Carl Lentz, the charismatic former pastor of Hillsong NYC and a close friend of many celebrity attendees, was the initial domino. His dismissal due to "moral failures" (adultery) was a massive blow, especially since Lentz was the face of Hillsong's "cool" movement that was so popular in LA and New York. The scandal drew intense media scrutiny to the entire organization, including its celebrity connections.

2. Allegations of Lavish Spending and Financial Misconduct

The megachurch model, particularly its US branches, came under fire for the lavish lifestyles of its pastors, allegedly funded by congregant tithes and offerings. Reports emerged from former members, including a former Hillsong LA service pastor, detailing how church funds were used for expensive trips, designer clothes, and luxury living, directly contradicting the church's spiritual message.

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3. The Brian Houston Resignation and Abuse Cover-Up

The most significant organizational crisis was the resignation of founder Brian Houston in March 2022. This followed an internal investigation into his conduct, which included inappropriate behavior toward women and the revelation of his father, Frank Houston, having committed child sexual abuse, which Brian failed to report to police. This exposed deep-seated governance and ethical failures at the highest level.

4. Systemic Abuse and Labor Exploitation Claims

Multiple reports and documentaries, such as "Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed" on Discovery+ and "The Secrets of Hillsong," brought forth a deluge of accusations. These included allegations of child abuse, sexual assault, racial discrimination, and widespread labor exploitation of volunteers and staff across various campuses. This painted a picture of a toxic, high-pressure work environment hidden behind the glossy exterior.

5. The US Campus Mass Exodus

The cumulative effect of these scandals led to a massive loss of trust and the departure of numerous US churches from the global network. Hillsong San Francisco, for example, announced its departure, reducing the US footprint to just five remaining congregations: Los Angeles, Orange County, New York City, Boston, and New Jersey. This massive contraction highlights the severity of the damage to the brand.

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The Unbreakable Connection: Hillsong LA and Celebrity Culture

Hillsong Los Angeles was arguably the epicenter of the church's cultural relevance in the United States. Its proximity to Hollywood and its emphasis on contemporary, high-production-value worship made it a natural magnet for young, influential, and famous attendees. This celebrity factor both fueled its rise and contributed to the intense scrutiny during its downfall.

The A-List Congregation

For years, Hillsong services were a celebrity hotspot, with paparazzi often capturing famous faces attending Sunday worship. The list of high-profile attendees and former congregants is extensive, creating an undeniable link between Hillsong LA and the entertainment industry.

• Musicians: Justin Bieber (who was notably baptized by Carl Lentz), Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas, Bono, and Joe Jonas.
• Actors and Personalities: Chris Pratt, Vanessa Hudgens, Austin Butler, and the Kardashian-Jenner family members, including Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner.
• Athletes: NBA stars like Kevin Durant, Tyson Chandler, and Kyrie Irving also attended services.

The Enduring Legacy of Hillsong Music

The one aspect of the Hillsong brand that remains globally influential and largely untarnished by the scandals is its music. The worship groups—Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United, and Hillsong Young & Free—continue to produce popular Christian music that is sung in churches worldwide, including the LA campus. This musical legacy provides a continuous stream of cultural relevance and financial stability, separate from the leadership controversies.

The celebrity attendance, while now less publicized, highlights the strategic importance of the Los Angeles location. It's not just a church; it's a cultural node. The survival of Hillsong LA suggests that the demand for its unique blend of contemporary music, charismatic preaching, and community remains strong in Southern California, even if the brand now carries a heavy weight of public disillusionment.

The Current State of Hillsong Los Angeles: A New Path?

As of late 2024 and early 2025, Hillsong Los Angeles is focused on a difficult transition. The goal is to move from being a scandal-plagued megachurch to a more transparent, locally-focused Christian association. The new global leadership has promised significant governance changes to separate church and corporate authority, aiming to prevent the unchecked power that led to previous abuses.

For the average congregant in the LA Fashion District, the focus is now less on celebrity sightings and more on the core tenets of faith and community. The presence of the church in two major California cultural hubs—Los Angeles and Orange County—demonstrates that the California operation is a critical component of the restructured, smaller US footprint. The future of Hillsong LA depends entirely on the success of this new leadership in restoring the community’s trust and proving that they can operate with integrity and accountability, a stark contrast to the dramatic headlines of the last few years.