The popular Christian band “Hillsong Worship” out of Australia-based megachurch Hillsong is canceling its U.S. tour with “Casting Crowns” and “We The Kingdom.”
Hillsong Worship made the announcement Wednesday that they asked Premier Productions if they could bow out of the tour days after a Discovery Plus docuseries called “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” hit the streaming platform. “We are so sorry,” the band said.
“Whilst we are deeply disappointed to have to make this difficult decision, we do feel that is the right one at this time in our history and the decision that, for us, requires the most faith.” The members of Hillsong Worship are either on staff or volunteers at local Hillsong campuses as the church is “walking through some difficult days and navigating significant change.”
“Hillsong Worship has asked to be withdrawn from the upcoming Casting Crowns/Hillsong Worship tour with We The Kingdom,” a statement on Hillsong Worship’s social media pages read. The group is “deeply disappointed,” the statement continued. But in light of Hillsong Church’s situation now, not going on tour “puts the health and well-being of the people on our team first,” according to the statement.
Hillsong’s global church is splintering in the wake of founder Brian Houston’s resignation following revelations of misconduct. Two former Hillsong churches are set to relaunch on Easter after cutting ties with the movement.
The pastor of a third church that’s splitting from Hillsong has said Hillsong’s Global Board exercised heavy-handed control and sought to keep secrets, sometimes by forcing pastors to sign non-disclosure and non-compete agreements. The worldwide church was also the focus of a critical documentary series recently released on Discovery+. Hillsong leadership has said the documentary doesn’t paint an accurate picture of the church.
Hillsong Worship stated it is “an extension of and expression of Hillsong Church—a collective of our local church worship teams.” Hillsong Worship members are “either on staff at Hillsong Church or volunteers at” Hillsong campuses, according to the statement. “Now is the time for us to humbly seek the Lord, to grieve in hope, and to heal in community, together,” the statement continued. The team apologized for pulling out of the tour and said it was “devastated” to do so.
