PopUps: Bieber Denies Rumors He's Studying to Become a Pastor, Disavows Hillsong Church
Justin Bieber is denying rumors that he is studying to become a pastor with the controversial Hillsong Church and even said he's no longer part of the church, Page Six reports.
Bieber took to his Instagram Stories this week, writing, "IM NOT STUDYING TO BE A MINISTER OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE TO THAT...HAVE NO DESIRE FOR THAT THIS IS FAKE NEWS." He also added: "AND BTW HILLSONG IS NOT MY CHURCH.. FOR CLARITY I AM A PART OF CHURCHOME."
A 2019 article from Marie Claire says Churchome "has become one of the most influential Christian congregations in Hollywood" and has locations in Washington State as well as California, adding, "it's not uncommon to find the front rows reserved for celebrities and the back doors staked out by paparazzi. The L.A. services have drawn the likes of Kourtney Kardashian, Ciara and Russell Wilson, and Selena Gomez."
Bieber added in his Instagram Stories that "church is not a place" and that he doesn't "need a building to connect with God."
"God is with us wherever we are," he wrote.
In November it was reported that Hillsong's leader Carl Lentz, a onetime mentor to Bieber, was fired from his position due to having an affair. A few years before that, however, it appeared as though Bieber and Lentz had a falling out.