The Church of the Highlands, a well-known large church located in Birmingham, Alabama, has been under heavy examination and disapproval due to actions by its lead pastor, Chris Hodges, that were not sensitive to racial issues.
Established in 2001, the Church of the Highlands quickly became the biggest church in Alabama under the guidance of Hodges, attracting more than 50,000 people every week at 22 different locations. Despite its growth, the church and Hodges’ engaging way of preaching have been the subject of debate before.
A recent scandal involving Pastor Chris Hodges of the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, has caused significant controversy. It all started when Hodges “liked” several social media posts by Charlie Kirk, a controversial leader from the conservative group Turning Point USA, which has faced accusations of promoting racism.
As a consequence, the city of Birmingham decided to end partnerships with the church, including programs related to housing, healthcare, and education for underprivileged citizens. Hodges expressed tearful apologies but maintains that he is not racist, pointing to his decades of community service.
The scandal has sharply divided opinions. While some conservative figures support Hodges, black leaders and liberal voices continue to criticize him. Some experts believe this situation highlights Hodges’ alignment with Donald Trump and insensitivity toward race-related issues.
The long-term impact on Hodges’ reputation and the church’s growth remains uncertain. The controversy has laid bare divisions related to race, politics, and social justice.
For the influential Church of the Highlands, which is known for its youthful atmosphere and millennial members, this moment represents a critical juncture. How Hodges and his congregation respond, as well as their ability to rebuild community trust, will be pivotal.
Overview Church of The Highlands Exposed
The Church of the Highlands is a big Christian church without a specific denomination, located in Birmingham, Alabama. It was started in 2001 by Pastor Chris Hodges and has quickly expanded in the last twenty years. Today, it has more than 20 locations throughout Alabama and over 38,000 people attend its services every week.
This church aims to assist individuals in discovering and adhering to Jesus’ teachings. It holds similar views to widely accepted evangelical Christian beliefs. The Church of the Highlands focuses on teaching from the Bible, holding worship services with modern Christian songs, organizing small group gatherings, and engaging in community help both locally and around the world.
Over the past few years, the Church of the Highlands has been the subject of some negative attention and disputes:
- Financial Clarity and Giving: There have been doubts about how open the church is with its money matters, especially regarding Pastor Hodges’ large salary. Although the church earns a lot of money each year, some believe it does not give enough back to the local community, considering its wealth.
- Offshore Expansion Concerns: The church set up an affiliate in the Cayman Islands in 2014, which led to suspicions that it was trying to get around U.S. financial reporting rules. This branch was shut down in 2018 after people started asking questions.
- Alleged Cult-like Culture: Ex-members and employees have claimed the church suppresses different opinions and demands high levels of respect and obedience to Pastor Hodges and other leaders, likening it to a cult.
- Sexual Abuse Case: A youth pastor from the church’s Birmingham location resigned and was arrested in 2016 for sexually abusing a young person, raising questions about the church’s oversight.
- Controversial Partnerships: The church’s support for Dave Ramsey, a Christian finance expert criticized for his views on giving to the church and debt management, has been seen as troubling by some.
- Pandemic Response: In 2020, Pastor Hodges chose to ignore Alabama’s COVID-19 safety measures by keeping the church fully open, which led to disagreements with government officials and concerns for public health.
- New Campus Plans: In 2018, the church wanted to build a new location in Huntsville, Alabama. Some locals and business owners did not like this idea because they thought a big church might change the small-town atmosphere. Despite their objections, the church got the approval to build.
- Counseling Concerns: Critics have noted that the church’s counseling program does not have the proper licenses and does not use professionally trained therapists. They worry that this kind of counseling might not be good for people.
- Training Program Questions: Highlands College, the church’s training program for ministry, has been questioned for not having official recognition and being costly. Some of the students who finished the program feel they were not well-prepared for real ministry work.
- Resignation After Allegations: A pastor working with children at the church stepped down in 2022 after being accused of wrongdoing. The church was criticized for not looking into the matter more and just letting him resign.
- Controversial Book: Pastor Hodges wrote a book called “The Cure” that talks about how the church believes people should live as Christians. But some people think the book encourages unhealthy views on guilt, sexuality, and human nature.
- Volunteer Pressure: The church has been accused of pushing its members to volunteer, give money, and bring in new people. There are stories about churchgoers feeling embarrassed or even being threatened with losing their volunteer positions if they do not “serve the house” well enough.
- Spending Priorities: Even though the church says it is focused on helping the community, it has spent more than $100 million on making its buildings bigger and better and on improving its productions. Some people think this shows the church cares more about how it looks than about helping others.
- Ignoring Health Orders: In 2020, Pastor Hodges held big church services without any safety measures for COVID-19, going against the rules for keeping people apart. He said the church did not have to follow these rules because of religious reasons. Many people thought this was risky and selfish during a health emergency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Church of the Highlands has experienced significant growth and has a devoted membership. However, it has also encountered criticism related to transparency, accountability, financial decisions, and leadership methods. The overall impact of the congregation is still a topic of debate.
People May Ask
What did Pastor Chris Hodges son do?
Pastor Chris Hodges’ son, Michael Hodges, was removed from his position as pastor of the Greystone campus of the Church of the Highlands due to a “moral failing”. He has since returned to public ministry.
Where is Pastor Chris Hodges now?
Pastor Chris Hodges is based in Birmingham, Alabama, where the Church of the Highlands is headquartered.
How much does Church of the Highlands pastor make?
Church of the Highlands Pastor’s Salary: The exact salary of Pastor Chris Hodges is not publicly disclosed. However, the average salary for a pastor at Highlands Church in the United States is approximately $64,244, which is above the national average. There are estimates that suggest Pastor Chris Hodges’ salary could be between $100,000 and $500,000 annually.
What denomination is Chris Hodges?
The Church of the Highlands, where Chris Hodges is the senior pastor, is a non-denominational evangelical Christian church. Some sources mention that he is associated with the Assemblies of God denomination, which is part of the broader Pentecostal Christian tradition.