CCP67: On the Secrets of Hillsong and the Duggars

In this week’s conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss two recent docuseries that have drawn a lot of attention: FX’s “The Secrets of Hillsong” exploring the distressing global patterns of misconduct at Hillsong Church, as well as Prime Video’s “Shiny Happy People” exposing the nightmarish home life of the Duggar Family and the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).

Episode Links

Dr. White wrote a blog on the mess at Hillsong Church titled “Should Churches Still Use Music from Hillsong?” It definitely brought up a lot of points to consider, especially when it comes to contributions through royalties. You can read that blog HERE. Dr. White wrote another blog titled “Should a Church Use NDAs” that has become a big issue for churches like Hillsong that are coming to light. And as he mentioned during today’s conversation, the Hillsong docuseries left a lot to be desired, and even some people who were hurt by it. You can read “The Secrets of Hillsong: An Open Letter to the Director” to see what we mean.

There are a couple podcasts we suggest that you check out where they’ve discussed some of the issues that lead to failings like what happened at Hillsong. These are: CCP40: On Criticism of Mega Churches, CCP31: On Celebrity Pastors, CCP4:On Pastors and Moral Failings.

A recent podcast is also worth going back to listen to as it helps explain how organizations like the IBLP draw people in, even when their practices are so extreme. It’s CCP64: On Cults and Conspiracy Theories.

There are several news stories that were mentioned during today’s conversation or that would be helpful for you to check out as they relate to this episode:

Roxanne Stone, “What the New Hillsong Doc Gets Right … and Wrong + Janice Lagata,”
Religion News Service, June 8, 2023.

Emily Hunter McGowin, “Shiny Miserable Family: How Bill Gothard’s Ministry Missed the Sin Inside,”
Christianity Today, June 9, 2023.

Mariah Espada, “The True Story Behind the Duggar Family Docuseries Shiny Happy People,”
TIME, June 2, 2023.

Russell Moore, “We Believe in the Power of the Gospel, Not the Gospel of Power,”
Christianity Today, June 7, 2023.

Amy Julia Becker, “Opinion: Hillsong Was Extraordinary. That’s The Problem.”
The Roys Report, June 5, 2023.

“Exit Music (For A Church),”
Christianity Today, June 9, 2023.

Finally, Dr. White encouraged pastors to remember that they are not above being susceptible to moral failings. He wrote about this in his book What They Didn’t Teach You in Seminary which you can order HERE.

For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we’d love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday.