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Brian Houston resigns from Hillsong amid more scandal

Brian Houston’s reign as the head of Hillsong Church has come to a shocking end, after it was announced he resigned from the global megachurch. The church’s founder resigned as Global Senior Pastor after an internal investigation into two incidents involving Brian found he had breached the church’s code of conduct, as reported by <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/hillsong-church-brian-houston-resigns-as-head-of-megachurch/f4ead2f0-5292-418f-a38a-5c579ee2680b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. “Dear Church, we would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation,” a statement from the church read. “Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and (his wife) Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades. “We ask that you continue to pray for them, and the entire Houston family, during this challenging time.” The church revealed last week that Brian had breached its moral code following the investigation. He allegedly sent inappropriate text messages to a staff member a decade ago, and entered a woman’s room at a conference in 2019 after mixing medication and alcohol. “The first issue was approximately a decade ago and involved inappropriate text messages from Pastor Brian to a member of staff, which subsequently resulted in the staff member resigning,” last week’s statement read. “At the time, Pastor Brian was under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence. Hillsong said Brian apologised to the staff member and received help from the church for his use of sleeping pills. “Following an in-depth investigation, it was found that Pastor Brian became disoriented after a session at the Hillsong Conference, following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol,” the statement said of the second incident. “This resulted in him knocking on the door of a hotel room that was not his, entering this room and spending time with the female occupant.” Although members of the church were likely rocked by the news on Wednesday afternoon, this moment has been a long time coming for critics of the church and its leader. Brian Houston‘s resignation as Global Senior Pastor of the church comes just a month after he stepped down as the church’s figurehead last month while facing charges of concealing historic child sex abuse offences committed by his father, Frank. He was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence of another person in October last year, pleading not guilty to the charges after he returned to Australia from the US. “Hillsong’s external legal counsel gave the board advice regarding the current charge I’m facing and that it would be best practice for me to step aside completely from church completely during court proceedings,” Brian previously said. These aren’t the first scandals Hillsong has been embroiled in either, with accusations of homophobia, celebrity pastor infidelity, and the accepting of millions in tax-free donations from attendees being just a few. “With that tax-free status must come greater responsibility. If you don’t pay taxes, like you and me, then you ought to be more accountable,” former Senator Nick Xenaphon told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/hillsong-church-critic-reacts-to-leader-brian-houstons-resignation/fe878186-9fa6-4b1b-adf1-345478595282" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. “Obviously there’s a lot to unravel here but if you’re the leader then the buck must stop with you.” With Brian’s resignation, Phil Dooley and his wife Lucinda have now taken over leading the church. However, it’s still possible that this will simply be an interim measure until a new leader is appointed. Image: Getty Images

Legal

“Absolutely double standards”: Hillsong accused of breaching Health Order

Australian artists have <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/outrage-over-hillsong-video-showing-crowds-singing-dancing-nsw-085606215.html" target="_blank">expressed their outrage</a> after footage of people singing and dancing at a Hillsong event emerged online, despite new restrictions banning these activities from happening in NSW. Some have pointed out that Hillsong’s Wildlife Summer Camp, a three-day “summer camp” held near Newcastle, looks similar to a music festival - where singing and dancing have been prohibited. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846808/hillsong2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8b1806a689dd4ef182e72a7825f6258c" /> Hillsong has been accused of breaching the Public Health Order banning singing and dancing at recreational facilities. Image: @hillsongyouth (Instagram) Images and videos from the event show teenagers dancing to religious music - with many appearing to be unmasked - sparking outrage from the entertainment industry, which has seen many scheduled events cancelled in wake of the state’s rules. Music festivals across the country have also been forced to be cancelled or postponed, prompting claims that Hillsong being allowed to hold such an event is a “double standard”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Seeing all the artists, promoters, staff and vendors in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSW</a> suffer after having outdoor events cancelled and then seeing THIS happening right now in NSW for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hillsong?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hillsong</a> is disgusting, a huge gut punch to the already suffering industry. Absolute double standards. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NswPol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NswPol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nswcovid?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nswcovid</a> <a href="https://t.co/fi5pyQZnrr">pic.twitter.com/fi5pyQZnrr</a> — Leon Sjogren (@Leonsjogren) <a href="https://twitter.com/Leonsjogren/status/1481460688032010241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> Music producer Leon Sjogren wrote on Twitter: “Seeing all the artists, promoters, staff and vendors in NSW suffer after having outdoor events cancelled and then seeing THIS happening right now in NSW for Hillsong is disgusting, a huge gut punch to the already suffering industry. “Absolutely double standards.” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the new restrictions on singing and dancing last week, telling reporters the activities would be prohibited in indoor venues from January 8 until January 27. According to the Public Health Order, singing and dancing aren’t allowed at places such as music festivals, nightclubs, major recreation facilities, hospitality venues, and entertainment facilities. However, weddings, music classes, and churches are exempt. Although Hillsong defended the event, telling the ABC it was “not similar to a music festival in any way”, NSW Health has requested that the organisation “stop singing and dancing”. “Our camps involve primarily outdoor recreational activities including sports and games,” Hillsong said in a statement to the national broadcaster. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846809/hillsong1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ddd8f167cd714df785dde4fc56b5a6e6" /> Despite footage showing unmasked teens singing and dancing, the religious organisation says it was not breaching the Public Health Order banning those activities. Image: @hillsongyouth (Instagram) The organisation added that they “follow strict Covid procedures” and “adhere to government guidelines”. But, a statement from NSW Health accused the organisation of breaching the Public Health Order, as “singing and dancing at a major recreation facility” is prohibited. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said: “While the Order does not apply to religious services, it does apply to major recreational facilities and this event is clearly in breach of both the spirit and intent of the Order, which is in place to keep the community safe.” Other Australian artists have also taken aim at the event, with rapper Illy criticising the banning of singing and dancing at festivals but not in churches. “You can postpone all our festivals and gigs, you can say no to dancing in clubs for the next 50 years, and you can make singing and shouting in public illegal except in sermons and the cricket for some reason,” he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I can handle the singing, the dancing, and the no mask wearing at this Hillsong festival last night, even though it’s illegal for the entire arts industry to do the same. But playing“turn down for what” in 2022?! Too far. <a href="https://t.co/byOWufUaWa">pic.twitter.com/byOWufUaWa</a> — Illy (@illyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/illyal/status/1481461459368701960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> “FYI I’m for everyone’s religious beliefs. The post is a joke, aimed at the latest horse s*** double standard the music industry is ONCE AGAIN having to face. Not attacking religion at all.” Others said the rules should apply to everyone, religious or not. “The double standard applied to this Hillsong event vs other indoor or outdoor music festivals makes NO sense at all,” one critic shared on Twitter. “You risk a big increase in Covid infections & prolonging this pandemic for all of us. The same rules need to apply to everyone.” Image: Getty Images / @hillsongyouth (Instagram)

Music

Hillsong founder will “set the record straight’ on new charges

Brian Houston, the founder of the Hillsong Church, has said he will fight to clear his name after he was charged with allegedly concealing information about child sex abuse committed by his father. “Police will allege in court the man knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that to the attention of police,” a NSW Police spokesperson said. His father, Frank Houston, was a Pentecostal Christian pastor who faced multiple allegations of child sex abuse in the years leading up to his death in 2004. Frank Houston admitted to the abuse at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse, which occurred several decades ago in Australia and New Zealand. Before the abuse became public, Frank Houston was allowed to retire from the church. Brian Houston was charged following a two-year investigation. After police served his Sydney-based lawyers, Mr Houston, who received an exemption to leave Australia with his wife during the pandemic, released a statement concerning the allegations. “These charges have come as a shock to me,” he said. “I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.” In a statement, Hillsong said it was “disappointed” that Mr Houston had been charged. “[We] ask that he be afforded the presumption of innocence and due process as his right. He has advised us that he will defend this and looks forward to clearing his name,” the church said in a statement. “Given that this matter is now before the court, neither Pastor Brian or Hillsong Church will be making further statements. “We thank all who are part of our church for their support and prayers at this time.” Mr Houston will be required to appear before a Sydney magistrate at Downing Centre Local Court on October 5.

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Brian Houston resigns from Hillsong amid more scandal

“Absolutely double standards”: Hillsong accused of breaching Health Order

Hillsong founder will “set the record straight’ on new charges