Series synopsis
The Secrets of Hillsong is an American documentary television series that premiered on FX on May 19, 2023. It ended on May 26, 2023. It stars Carl Lentz, Alex French, Dan Adler and Brian Houston.
With fresh reporting and analysis from journalists, historians and policymakers, go beyond the sensational headlines and behind the velvet rope to examine the church's long pattern of covering up misconduct to protect itself.
Premise
With fresh reporting and analysis from journalists, historians and policymakers, go beyond the sensational headlines and behind the velvet rope to examine the church's long pattern of covering up misconduct to protect itself.
Premise: A troubling pattern of misconduct.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Carl Lentz as Self - Former Lead Pastor
- Alex French as Self - Vanity Fair
- Dan Adler as Self - Vanity Fair
- Brian Houston as Self - Hillsong Church Founder (archive footage)
- Bobbie Houston as Self - Hillsong Church Founder (archive footage)
Guest cast
- Tiff Perez as Self - NYC Congregant (2012-18)
- Josh Canfield as Self - NYC Congregant (2010-16)
- Crystal Rose as Self - Kansas City Congregant (2016-19)
- Nathan Hughes as Self - Hillsong Musician (2016-19)
- Mike Cosper as Self - Writer & Podcaster
- Janice Lagata as Self - NYC Congregant (2010-17)
- Mary Jones as Self - NYC Congregant (2011-16)
- Ashley Jones as Self - NYC Congregant (2010-16)
- Katelyn Beaty as Self - Faith & Culture Writer
- Ajanet Rountree as Self - NYC Congregant (2010-15)
- Howie Kahn as Self - Journalist
- Abby Ross as Self - NYC Congregant (2010-18)
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 4 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 4 | May 19, 2023 | May 26, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Church in the Wild In 2015, a young pastor named Carl Lentz lands in NYC to spread the Word of Hillsong, an ascendant Australian megachurch. But allegations of volunteer exploitation, racism, sexual abuse and homophobia explode. Lentz is fired and disappears until now. |
May 19, 2023 |
| 2 |
The Prodigal Son In their first interviews since expulsion from the church, Carl and Laura Lentz guide viewers into the inner sanctum of Hillsong, detailing the building the church’s congregation and the response from church leadership when it deemed Carl a liability. |
May 19, 2023 |
| 3 |
Sins of the Father As a group of international reporters examine Hillsong’s global network, it becomes clear that long before Carl Lentz’s transgressions, Hillsong’s founding father, Frank Houston, laid the groundwork for the church’s pattern of covering up misconduct with non-disclosure agreements and hush money. And his son, Brian Houston, has allegedly been trying to cover up his father’s predatory past for decades. |
May 26, 2023 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | FX |
|---|---|
| First aired | May 19, 2023 |
| Last aired | May 26, 2023 |
| Status | ended |