She and her husband, Mark, became the new senior pastors of Hope Unlimited Church on the Central Coast of New South Wales. She is the former worship pastor (1995–2007) and the longest-serving member of Hillsong's worship team. It’s complicated, yes - but it’s worth it.Darlene Zschech is arguably the most well-known of Hillsong's musicians. Like all love stories, the relationship grows messy as all seek to stay true to who they believe they are. And there are two men who love each other and a church with which they have a profound disagreement. There’s a church with a conservative theology that loves the people that theology affects. The tale of Canfield, Kelly, and Hillsong Church is something of a love story. And we’re telling all our gay friends at Hillsong to do the same.” “They still want us, and we feel called to stay. “If every gay person leaves their church because they have been treated poorly, nothing will change,” Canfield said. But they believe it is the right one for them. They recognize that the decision they’ve made is not one that every person in their position should make. One of the most influential evangelical churches in the world has both reaffirmed its commitment to traditional views on sexuality and has shown a level of openness and flexibility on the matter that would have been difficult to imagine even a decade ago.Ĭanfield and Kelly have decided to keep singing each Sunday at Hillsong, despite the restrictions. So, two things of value have happened that may not satisfy conservative evangelicals or LGBT activists. “But here are two people - and there are many more - who know what we believe and still want to be a part.” While this may sound regressive to many unfamiliar with Christianity, it is astounding given the history of evangelicalism’s treatment of LGBT people. Houston even called Hillsong “a gay-welcoming church” in a statement. Canfield and Kelly, for example, can sing in the choir, but would not be eligible to direct it. They are eligible to serve in some roles, but not others. They are welcome to attend, worship, even participate as members. It’s important for us to be there dialoguing about this.”īy all accounts, Hillsong does seem to want LGBT people to feel welcome - with limits. “This is our home church, and we are not leaving. He wants us to be a part of the church, knowing what we believe,” Kelly said. “We’re grateful for Pastor Carl, and we feel God has called us to be at Hillsong. The couple’s demeanors do not darken when they speak of the ordeal. In turn, Canfield and Kelly profess gratitude for their pastor and the rest of Hillsong’s staff. “We have had ongoing, face-to-face discussions about God, sin, life, and Jesus, because this is what you do in a church.” “At Hillsong, we take the time to sit at the table and hear their pain and hear their journey and consider their thinking,” Lentz said. Carl Lentz, the lead pastor in New York, that they were getting engaged, which triggered a series of personal and ongoing conversations. In December, the couple informed the Rev. Kelly even hosted (but did not lead) a Bible study group in his home for the church. Soon after, he met Kelly and they both served the church faithfully in various capacities. (They haven’t set a date.) On paper, they have a perfect conservative Christian relationship - except for their genders, of course.Ĭanfield was a music director at Hillsong’s campus in London and moved to New York City, in part, to help launch the congregation there. Kelly, who was raised Catholic, says that rather than date, the couple chose to “court,” which included a mutual commitment to refrain from having sex until their wedding day. Canfield was raised in a conservative pastor’s home, attended an evangelical college and served on staff as a music minister years ago. Sitting in a Manhattan diner, Canfield and Kelly use Christian language with ease and regularly inject Bible verses into conversation. Their story - echoed by so many LGBT Christians - is one that needs to be told. But unlike some others, they say they want to stay with the church they love and work for change. Canfield and Kelly, like many gay couples, disagree with the church’s views on homosexuality. Like many conservative churches, Hillsong holds a traditional view of sexuality but wants to welcome and include all people.
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