Hillsong announces successors to ousted Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz

Chrishan and Danielle Jeyaratnam

Chrishan and Danielle Jeyaratnam have been named as the successors to ousted Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz. 

Lentz was fired last November over "moral failures" and leadership issues. He subsequently admitted he had been unfaithful to his wife. 

The Jeyaratnams were confirmed as his successor during a sermon by senior Hillsong pastor Brian Houston on Sunday.  

The couple, who have four children, are lead pastors of Hillsong's Perth campus in Australia, as well as being the State Oversights for Hillsong's Western Australia and Bali Campuses.

Announcing their appointment, Houston said the Jeyaratnams had been "put through a heavy interviewing process" but that he was "thrilled" about their selection. 

He said God was going to rescue and rebuild the East Coast Church in the US but asked for prayers "because it has been hit hard."

"Certainly most people would know that toward the end of last year, it's been a very challening season at Hillsong in the United States and in particular in the East Coast, in New York ... and we're still working our way through that," he said. 

Their appointment follows the announcement by Hillsong that it has closed an investigation into the NYC campus.

Houston confirmed the end of the independent investigation in an email to the Hillsong East Coast family, in which he cited the "significant ways" that the NYC megachurch had "failed to reflect Hillsong global culture."

The findings will not be released publicly though. 

"Every Hillsong location must honor our commitment to creating a caring and healthy environment for our team, volunteers and members," the email said.

"Under the previous lead pastor, this was not always the case."

News
Palm Sunday: the triumphal entry and its meaning for us today
Palm Sunday: the triumphal entry and its meaning for us today

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred week in the Christian calendar.

The backstory to Palm Sunday most evangelicals miss
The backstory to Palm Sunday most evangelicals miss

29 March is Palm Sunday, or the sixth Sunday in Lent, which kicks off Holy Week. The events of this day echo a historical episode from Jewish history which most evangelicals miss. This is the story …

Iraqi Christians told to cancel Palm Sunday and Easter celebrations
Iraqi Christians told to cancel Palm Sunday and Easter celebrations

The Palm Sunday celebrations in Northern Iraq usually are big celebrations to commemorate Jesus entering Jerusalem.

Historic England grants £1m to renovate three churches
Historic England grants £1m to renovate three churches

Funding has also been provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.