CHURCHES
/
INDEPENDENT/NON-DENOMINATIONAL
/
HILLSONG CHURCH
HILLSONG CHURCH
New York, NY
35/100 COURAGE
|
SOFT WOKE
|
AVOID
CORE DOCTRINE
60%
COMPROMISED
SEXUALITY
50%
COMPROMISED
LEAD PASTOR
Phil
Phil Dooley
1
RED FLAG
STATEMENT
YES
PUBLISHED
ABOUT
Global megachurch network welcoming all people with a message of inclusive love and acceptance
LOCATION & CONTACT
ADDRESS
Various Locations, New York, NY, 10019, USA
WEBSITE
LEAD PASTOR
Phil Dooley
Since 2022 (4 years)
CHURCH TYPE
⛪ Traditional Church
PASTOR INFORMATION
Per Pages 6-7 - Check Pastor's Social Media & Background
Phil Dooley
PRIMARY
Global Senior Pastor
TENURE:
Since 2022 (4 years)
SPOUSE:
Lucinda Dooley
RED FLAG INDICATORS
• OTHER WOKE INDICATORS
THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
Pentecostal/Charismatic. Led Hillsong South Africa before taking global role after Brian Houston's resignation.
Brian Houston
FORMER
Founder & Former Global Senior Pastor
TENURE:
1983 - 2022 (39 years)
SPOUSE:
Bobbie Houston
RED FLAG INDICATORS
• CELEBRATED PRIDE MONTH
• OTHER WOKE INDICATORS
THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
Founded Hillsong Church (originally Hills Christian Life Centre). Built global megachurch brand with Hillsong Music.
CONCERNS / RED FLAGS
Resigned in 2022 due to alcohol-related indiscretion. Father Frank Houston was convicted child abuser. Brian failed to report abuse to police.
DOCTRINAL POSITIONS
29/100
ESSENTIAL (CLOSED-HANDED)
60%
BIBLICAL INERRANCY
✗ NO
TRINITY
✓ YES
VIRGIN BIRTH
✓ YES
PHYSICAL RESURRECTION
✓ YES
EXCLUSIVE SALVATION
✗ NO
BIBLICAL SEXUALITY
50%
BIBLICAL GENDER ROLES
✗ NO
TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE
✗ NO
REJECTS LGBTQ LEADERSHIP
✓ YES
NO SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
✓ YES
SECONDARY (OPEN-HANDED)
67%
COMPLEMENTARIAN (NO WOMEN PASTORS)
✓ YES
PRACTICES CHURCH DISCIPLINE
✗ NO
HAS STATEMENT OF FAITH
✓ YES
WEIGHTS:
Essential 35% | Sexuality 25% | COVID 10% | Non-woke 10% | Statement
10% | Secondary 5% | Sermon 5%
PROBLEMATIC COVID RESPONSE
This church had a problematic response during the COVID-19
pandemic. According to "How to Find a Courageous Church" (page 6),
churches that "closed forever, had silly mask mandates, or made you
pre-register" demonstrated a lack of courage and faith.
SPECIFIC ISSUES:
- VACCINE MANDATES
- MASK MANDATES
- PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED
- EXTENDED CLOSURE
A courageous church trusts God's sovereignty and prioritizes
gathering believers for worship, teaching, and fellowship.
MISSING REQUIRED CHURCH ELEMENTS (86%)
According to "How to Find a Courageous Church" (page 10), every
legitimate church must have seven required elements. This church is
missing
1
element:
Public Scripture Reading
See the Church Elements Checklist in the sidebar for full details.
INADEQUATE SERMON LENGTH
This church's sermons are
25
minutes on average, which is less than the 30-minute minimum.
According to "How to Find a Courageous Church," sermons under 30
minutes suggest this may be a "weekly Ted Talk for Christ group and
not much of a church."
Adequate biblical teaching requires sufficient time to properly
expound Scripture and apply it to daily life.
VIRTUE SIGNALING LANGUAGE DETECTED
According to "How to Find a Courageous Church" pages 6-7, certain
words in church descriptions signal potential theological
compromise.
DETECTED RED FLAG WORDS:
INCLUSIVE
WELCOMING
DOCUMENTED EXAMPLES:
Website uses 'welcome home' and 'for everyone' messaging. Carl Lentz era promoted celebrity culture and avoided clear doctrinal positions. Ambiguous on LGBTQ+ issues - refuses to make clear statements.
Red flag words include: tolerance, inclusion/inclusive, open,
affirming, accepting, welcoming, safe space, diversity, equity,
progressive
REASONS TO AVOID THIS CHURCH
• COMPROMISED ON ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
• COMPROMISED ON BIBLICAL SEXUALITY
• WOKE STATUS:
SOFT_WOKE
• USES VIRTUE SIGNALING LANGUAGE
CHURCH ELEMENTS
6/7
Preaching/Teaching
YES
Baptism
YES
Lord's Table/Communion
YES
Corporate Prayer
YES
Public Scripture Reading
NO
Offerings
YES
Worship Music (Singing)
YES
Missing
1
required element
per Page 10.
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RATING
Per Page 8 - Both Doctrine AND Community
No dimensional ratings yet
Per page 8: A good church needs BOTH sound doctrine AND loving community.
Rate this church on multiple dimensions for a complete picture.
Page 8: "You need a church that is both theologically sound AND relationally warm.
A church with perfect doctrine but cold hearts is not following Christ's example.
A warm church with weak doctrine will eventually lead people astray."
STATEMENT OF FAITH ANALYSIS
Per Page 4 - Check Doctrinal Statements
Statement of faith exists but text has not been captured for analysis.
WHAT WE CHECK FOR (Page 4)
Trinity: God as three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
Biblical Inerrancy: Scripture is without error
Virgin Birth: Jesus born of virgin Mary
Exclusive Salvation: Salvation only through Christ
Hell: Literal eternal judgment
Physical Resurrection: Bodily resurrection of Christ
Deity of Christ: Jesus is fully God
QUICK FACTS
DENOMINATION
PRIMARY BIBLE TRANSLATION
NIV
+
TYPICAL SERMON LENGTH
25
MINUTES
?
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT
PROGRESSIVE
COVID RESPONSE
EXTENDED CLOSURE
-
• Vaccine requirements
• Mask mandates
• Preregistration required
BLM SUPPORT
YES -
COORDINATES
40.7614,
-73.9776
SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYSIS
Per Pages 6-7 - Check Social Media
No social media accounts tracked
?
Rainbow flag
?
Pride month
?
Endorsed Dems
?
Woke indicators
LEADERSHIP COMPOSITION
Per Pages 4, 6 - Leadership Team
Biblical Leadership
PASTORS (1)
MALE:
0
FEMALE:
0
LEADERSHIP FLAGS
+
No women pastors
+
No women elders
+
No LGBTQ leadership
Last updated:
Nov 30, 2025
TREND TRACKING
Doctrinal drift & change history
STABLE
No trend events recorded
Changes to doctrinal positions, courage rating, and key stances will be tracked here automatically.
EVIDENCE GALLERY
(0 items)
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USER TESTIMONIES
(0)
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VISIT REPORTS
(0)
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SERMON ARCHIVE
Per Page 11 - Track Sermon Length
No Sermon Archive
avg 25 min
No sermons have been archived yet.
REPORTED LENGTH:
25 minutes
Below 30 min minimum
DRIVE TESTIMONIALS (0)
Per Page 11 - People Who Drive Here
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story!
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