The founding father of Hillsong, the worldwide megachurch that has attracted celebrities and younger individuals, has resigned after an inner investigation decided he behaved inappropriately in direction of two ladies.
Brian Houston, the Australian pastor who co-founded the Sydney-based church along with his spouse Bobbie, had already stepped down because the director of all Hillsong boards in January. Houston stated he wanted time to defend a criminal charge that he hid youngster sexual abuse by his father, who was additionally a pastor.
Nevertheless, on Friday, the worldwide board of the church stated that it had additionally been coping with complaints from two ladies about Houston. An inner investigation decided that he had breached the church’s code of conduct.
The performing head of the church, Pastor Phil Dooley, introduced at an emergency all-staff assembly Wednesday that Houston had resigned as world senior pastor of Hillsong and the board had accepted it, Australian media reported.
The church issued a statement on-line, saying it had dedicated to an unbiased evaluate of its governance construction.
“Hillsong Church was birthed out of Brian and Bobbie’s obedience and dedication to the decision of God and we’re extraordinarily grateful for all that Brian and Bobbie have given to construct His home,” it said. “We ask that you simply proceed to wish for them, and your complete Houston household, throughout this difficult time.”
The church additionally apologized for Houston’s actions.
“We apologize unreservedly to the individuals affected by Pastor Brian’s actions and decide to being obtainable for any additional help we will present,” it said.
The primary incident the church investigated, from 2013, concerned “inappropriate textual content messages” despatched to a feminine employees member that resulted in her resigning, the assertion stated.
“On the time, Pastor Brian was underneath the affect of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence,” the assertion continued. “He instantly apologized to the individual. We additionally labored intently with Pastor Brian to make sure he obtained skilled assist to remove his dependency on this remedy, and this was achieved efficiently.”
The second criticism was obtained in 2019. In that occasion, the board stated Houston grew to become disoriented after consuming anti-anxiety remedy past the prescribed dose and mixing it with alcohol.
“This resulted in him knocking on the door of a lodge room that was not his, getting into this room and spending time with the feminine occupant,” the assertion stated.
Though Dooley stated the girl reported “no sexual exercise,” Houston spent 40 minutes in her room. And he was “extraordinarily remorseful,” the church said.
The scandal was yet one more blow to the repute of the church, which has confronted a string of controversies involving its pastors, together with accusations of racist and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and exploitative conduct in direction of volunteers.
In keeping with its web site, Hillsong has church buildings in 30 international locations and on six continents. It’s well-known for interesting to younger individuals with its upbeat ambiance and music. In keeping with the church, its worship tunes are sung by an estimated 50 million individuals in 60 languages.
The church has additionally attracted celebrity worshippers, like Justin and Hailey Bieber, Chris Pratt and Vanessa Hudgens.
