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Current Hillsong

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The explosive podcast Ep7 (Submit - What Hillsong teaches its young female students about sex.)
we have been waiting for / (or dreading), is now up on the Daily Telegraph website (and will appear on podcast sites in about a weeks time).

This is the episode that led to the accusations of Hillsong have a 'rape culture', and a culture of sexual submission, in relation to a women's role in a marriage.

With the NSW ex-Police Commissioner Mick Fuller having been reported to have had a "special connection to Scott Morrison", and Scott Morrison having been a good friend of, and mentored by ex-Hillsong paster Brian Houston, some might be concerned that there was/is a perceived conflict of interest with any cops who were and still are close/loyal to Fuller, that are involved with making decisions in relation to any current Hillsong allegations/charges.

However, I think that this reported special connection is a complete load of rubbish (bins) ;).


www.theguardian.com

‘Disappointed and shocked’: Scott Morrison distances himself from Hillsong pastor Brian Houston

Prime minister says Houston’s resignation is ‘entirely appropriate’ after alleged inappropriate behaviour
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
'The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has distanced himself from his friend and mentor, Hillsong pastor Brian Houston, who has resigned from the church over allegedly inappropriate behaviour towards two women.

As recently as last year, Morrison publicly acknowledged the spiritual influence of Houston on his life, and in his maiden speech to parliament credited him with the pastoral work that helped guide his faith at an early age.
...
Morrison attended the opening session of the Hillsong annual conference shortly after the May federal election, where Morrison stood on stage with Houston and called for more love and more prayer to embody “the amazing love of God”.

Morrison’s friendship with Houston shot to prominence after it was revealed that he had asked the Trump administration to invite Houston to a state dinner at the White House as part of his official visit to Washington in 2019.
...'
 
While no fan of Scummo, I don't think it's reasonable or fair to cast aspersions on him due to an association (maybe even a friendship) with Houston. One of your associates might have done some awful things at some point but that doesn't say anything about your character if you are unaware of them.
 
jason_recliner said:
While no fan of Scummo, I don't think it's reasonable or fair to cast aspersions on him due to an association (maybe even a friendship) with Houston. One of your associates might have done some awful things at some point but that doesn't say anything about your character if you are unaware of them.
Click to expand...
Scott Morrison, must have felt both betrayed, embarrassed and angry when finding out about the Pentacostal Church Hillsong Brian Houston and Brian Fastor's father's pedophilea and subsequent cover-up of.

Possibly similar to how Tony Abbott felt regarding the allegations and charges Cardinal Pell (RIP) felt, and reacted.
 
Hillsong congregation, donors and supporters, will be demanding to know how much $ and support Houston is receiving from Hillsong and it's many and affiliate legal entities in Australian and overseas.

It would be ironic if these payments to Houston send Hillsong into administration/bankruptcy.

Screenshot 2023-04-08 at 11.21.53 am.png
 

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Australian senator David Shoebridge, one of those being interviewed in the upcoming Vanity Fair produced "Secrets of Hillsong" series.

www.the-sun.com

Hillsong's disgraced Carl Lentz sells home for $778K and moves family for job

FIRED Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz has sold his humble Florida home for $778k and relocated to Oklahoma with his family for his first job since his cheating scandal. Lentz has landed a job at Transfo…
www.the-sun.com www.the-sun.com

'Lentz's career move comes as he's set to break his silence in his first TV interview, alongside his wife, in a new FX docuseries covering the Hillsong scandals which debuts on May 19.

The Saturday after its network premiere, Secrets of Hillsong will be available via Hulu.'

www.vanityfair.com

Exclusive: Vanity Fair Studios and Scout Productions’ ‘The Secrets of Hillsong’ to Premiere May 19 on FX

The new four-part investigative docuseries advances the magazine’s coverage of the church’s scandals through fresh reporting and exclusive interviews—including Carl and Laura Lentz’s first sit-downs since being ousted from Hillsong.
www.vanityfair.com www.vanityfair.com

'Exclusive: Vanity Fair Studios and Scout Productions’ The Secrets of Hillsong to Premiere May 19 on FX

The new four-part investigative docuseries advances the magazine’s coverage of the church’s scandals through fresh reporting and exclusive interviews—including Carl and Laura Lentz’s first sit-downs since being ousted from Hillsong.'

'...
With the church at an existential crossroads, The Secrets of Hillsong goes beyond the sensational headlines and examines its humble beginnings, meteoric rise, and troubling pattern of covering up misconduct to protect itself. The portrait that emerges—through interviews with former leaders, victims, and experts including ex-worship pastor Geoff Bullock, author Tanya Levin, congregants Ashley and Mary Jones and Janice Lagata, Frank Houston survivor David Cowdrey, onetime Hillsong NYC choir director Josh Canfield, and Australian senator David Shoebridge—shows a cornerstone of global evangelicalism that was often as compromised as it was influential.
...
The May 19 premiere will include the first two episodes, with the final two episodes airing May 26. All episodes will stream the next day on Hulu. The Secrets of Hillsong is produced by Scout Productions and Vanity Fair Studios.'

FX's The Secrets of Hillsong | Stream on Hulu (geo-blocked - VPN set USA/Canada required)
 
BFew said:
The explosive podcast Ep7 (Submit - What Hillsong teaches its young female students about sex.)
we have been waiting for / (or dreading), is now up on the Daily Telegraph website (and will appear on podcast sites in about a weeks time).
Click to expand...
Ep7 is now free to listen too.

 
Ch7's Spotlight Hillsong Special investigation aired tnite will be up on their streaming website sometime this week

Meanwhile, here's 7 reporting on Hillsong's response to this program tnite.

7news.com.au

Hillsong Church statement following 7NEWS Spotlight’s investigation

The global megachurch has issued a statement in response to Sunday night’s program.
7news.com.au 7news.com.au

7plus.com.au

Watch 7NEWS Spotlight Online: Free Streaming & Catch Up TV in Australia

Watch, Stream & Catch Up with your favourite 7NEWS Spotlight episodes on 7plus. 7NEWS Spotlight goes deep on issues of national significance. A series of award-winning investigations, world exclusives, and special news events.
7plus.com.au 7plus.com.au
 
BFew said:
Ch7's Spotlight Hillsong Special investigation aired tnite will be up on their streaming website sometime this week
7plus.com.au

Watch 7NEWS Spotlight Online: Free Streaming & Catch Up TV in Australia

Watch, Stream & Catch Up with your favourite 7NEWS Spotlight episodes on 7plus. 7NEWS Spotlight goes deep on issues of national significance. A series of award-winning investigations, world exclusives, and special news events.
7plus.com.au 7plus.com.au
Click to expand...
It's up now

'Hellsong
An investigation into the megachurch empire built by Brian Houston and his family. Amid allegations of tax evasion and fraud, Spotlight track Houston down in the U.S ...'

And The Daily Tele has this morning published an article on a shocking victim (13yo being groomed) blaming part of it.

'Hillsong youth leader accused of asking Australian girl Piper Cameron for nude photos at age 13​

April 24, 2023 - 10:10AM'

'.... She was asked why her family had to leave the church.

“Because they contacted Hillsong and they refused to take him off the youth leader team. So, if I was to keep going back, he would still be my youth leader,” she said.

Eventually, two of the pastors at her Hillsong campus met with Piper’s mother and her Uncle Dave.

“One of the things that was said in that meeting was that, from reading these messages, it seems like she’s initiated some of this contact,” her uncle said.

“And in my head, I was like, ‘mate, she’s a teenage girl. This guy’s an adult youth leader’. And it was a clear as day moment in my mind where I was like, ‘we are never coming back’.”

Piper said she believed the victim blaming was a way to “handle” the situation.

“That the men in leadership or people in leadership are being protected and they’re not really doing the right thing, but Hillsong would rather protect them, then the people who are actually coming to the church and showing their loyalty,” Piper said.

“That is a pattern of protecting the predator and the leaders and not the people of the church.
...
five women who separately alleged that young, female students at a Hillsong college were taught to physically “submit” to their husbands”'
 
Not sure when the above happened but if it's since the Royal commision into the churches then further legislation needs to be bought in with an independent body handling any complaints against churches. If they refuse to be a part of it the lose their tax free status until they comply or escalating fines (or both)
It staggers me to see that the victim blaming and deflection is still the default reaction.
 
Ballarat Bob said:
Not sure when the above happened but if it's since the Royal commision into the churches then further legislation needs to be bought in with an independent body handling any complaints against churches. If they refuse to be a part of it the lose their tax free status until they comply or escalating fines (or both)
It staggers me to see that the victim blaming and deflection is still the default reaction.
Click to expand...
Looks like it was at least 9-10 years ago.
As the young lady involved was a bartender in 2018 according to her LinkedIn Profile
 
Ballarat Bob said:
the Royal commision into the churches
Click to expand...

Are you referring to the 2012-2017 https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/ which was not just an RC into the Churches
whose scope included 'public and private institutions, including child-care, cultural, educational, religious, sporting and other institutions'?

It looks like the alleged youth leader incident involving the 13yo at Hillsong could have occurred not long before the October 2014 RC hearings involving Hillsong, or possible during it, or not long after it!

'18 September 2014
The Royal Commission is holding a public hearing in Sydney from 7 October 2014 at 10.30am.

The public hearing will inquire into the responses by Australian Christian Churches (a Pentecostal movement in Australia) and two affiliated churches to allegations of child sexual abuse.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing is to inquire into:​

  1. The response of the Sydney Christian Life Centre and Hills Christian Life Centre (now Hillsong Church) and Assemblies of God in Australia (now Australian Christian Churches) to allegations of child sexual abuse made against William Francis “Frank” Houston.
  2. The response of the Northside Christian College and the Northside Christian Centre (now Encompass Church) in Bundoora, Victoria and Assemblies of God in Australia (now Australian Christian Churches) to allegations of child sexual abuse made against former teacher Kenneth Sandilands.
  3. The response of Australian Christian Churches to allegations of child sexual abuse made against Jonathan Baldwin.
  4. The systems, policies, practices and procedures for the reporting of and responding to allegations of child sexual abuse of:
    1. Australian Christian Churches,
    2. Hillsong Church, and
    3. Northside Christian College and Encompass Church.
  5. Any other related matters.'
The RC search function gives 56 results for 'Hillsong'

Including the October 2015 final report (125 pages) into the Australian Pentacostal Churches
 

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rank and file said:
Good follow the money thread.
Prosperity gospel w***ers.
They should be forced to give back Festival Hall so people can have righteous gigs again.

Click to expand...

Thanks for this, as these articles led to the following 2008 Fairfax SMH/The Age (mostly) exposes about Gloria Jeans sponsored Sydney's Hillsong Mercy House (private pseudo-mental health clinic for 16-28yo women and its Mercy Ministries program, and it's subsequent closure in 2009.

www.smh.com.au

They sought help, but got exorcism and the Bible

www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

'They sought help, but got exorcism and the Bible​

By Ruth Pollard​

March 17, 2008 — 11.00am

'A SECRETIVE ministry with direct links to Gloria Jean's Coffees and the Hillsong Church has been deceiving troubled young women into signing over months of their lives to a program that offers scant medical or psychiatric care, instead using Bible studies and exorcisms to treat mental illness.

Government agencies such as Centrelink have also been drawn into the controversy, as residents are required to transfer their benefits to Mercy Ministries. There are also allegations that the group receives a carers payment to look after the young women.

Mercy Ministries says 96 young women have "graduated" from its program since its inception in 2001. But many have been expelled without warning and with no follow up or support.

Three former residents who have felt the full force of Mercy's questionable programs are blowing the whistle on its emotionally cruel and medically unproven techniques, detailing abuse including exorcisms, "separation contracts" between girls who became friends, and harsh discipline for those who broke the rules.

Naomi Johnson, Rhiannon Canham-Wright and Megan Smith (Megan asked to use an assumed name) went into Mercy Ministries independent young women, and came out broken and suicidal, believing, as Mercy staff had told them repeatedly, that they were possessed by demons and that Satan controlled them.

Only careful psychological and psychiatric care over several years brought them back from the edge.

Taking in girls and women aged 16 to 28, Mercy Ministries claims to offer residents support from "psychologists, general practitioners, dietitians, social workers, [and] career counsellers". These claims are made on its website, and the programs are promoted through Gloria Jean's cafes throughout Australia.

But these former residents say no medical or psychological services were provided - just an occasional, monitored trip to a GP, where the consultation takes place in the presence of a Mercy Ministries staff member or volunteer.

Instead, the program is focused on prayer, Christian counselling and expelling demons from in and around the young women, who say they begged Mercy Ministries to let them get medical help for the conditions they were suffering, which included bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and anorexia.

When the Herald asked Mercy Ministries representatives whether they told young women that the symptoms of their mental illness or eating disorders were due to demonic activity and that residents were forced into exorcisms, they offered no denial.

"Mercy Ministries staff address the issues that the residents face from a holistic client-focused approach; physical, mental, emotional. The program is voluntary and all aspects are explained comprehensively to the residents and no force is used," the executive manager of programs, Judy Watson, said in response.

Throughout its website, decorated in hot pink tones with images of happy young women who have been "saved", Mercy claims to offer its residential programs free. Yet the services are not free - young women on unemployment benefits are "asked" to sign them over to Mercy, while others are asked to make a donation for expenses.

Mostly funded by Gloria Jean's Coffee - which said last night it did not plan to change its sponsorship arrangements - and supported by the Hillsong Foundation, Mercy Ministries says it has a 90 per cent success rate, but when asked to provide evidence of the program's outcomes, Ms Watson said that research was under way and not yet available.

Not only does Mercy Ministries appear unconcerned by the allegations, it is mounting an aggressive expansion campaign. Peter Irvine, its former managing director, now director of corporate sponsorship, confirmed it was opening houses in Adelaide, Perth, Townsville, Newcastle, Melbourne and another Sydney house, in the southern suburbs.

Ms Johnson spent nine months in the Mercy Ministries house in Glenhaven before she was expelled. Close to committing suicide and her eating disorder worse than ever, she was admitted to a psychiatric unit and has spent three years trying to recover from her ordeal.

Ms Canham-Wright and Ms Smith tell similar stories from their time in the Sunshine Coast house, and all continue to suffer from the effects of Mercy Ministries' unconventional program.

They are concerned that as more houses are due to open, more women will be put at risk, partly because there is a desperate shortage of affordable services for people with mental illness.

"This could be really dangerous .. Mercy has the potential to be inundated with people … [who will] fall for the advertising and out of desperation reach for Mercy," Ms Johnson said.

"Here in Perth people with eating disorders are very limited when it comes to treatment. When you reach 18 there are no government-funded inpatient treatment options for anorexia, except for a general public psychiatric ward where there is no expertise on these issues."

The federal Minister for Human Services, Joe Ludwig, said the Government would investigate. "I am very concerned about these serious allegations, and I have asked Centrelink to investigate its payment arrangement," he said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission and the Queensland Office of Fair Trading have also indicated they will investigate if they receive complaints from the women.

Allan Fels, dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and former chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, said if Mercy Ministries had made false claims about its services it would be in breach of the law and could face injunctions, damages and fines. "Both the federal Trade Practices Act and the relevant state fair trading acts would seem to apply to the situation since income is being received by Mercy Ministries. Both laws prohibit misleading and deceptive conduct."

www.smh.com.au

Why Mercy Ministries was godsent for Hillsong

www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

'Why Mercy Ministries was godsent for Hillsong​

By Tanya Levin​

March 18, 2008 — 11.00am
...
The founders of Mercy Ministries are fundamentalist Christians who are primarily obsessed with women's bodies and what they choose to do with them. The Bible is used to justify the supposed inferiority and intrinsic sinfulness of women and homosexuals. Hillsong teaches that a woman's purpose, as an afterthought of God, is as a helper and a companion at best, and with Eve as their ultimate matriarch, the cause of the fall of all mankind.

The teaching when I was at Hillsong included the lesson that women are attached to their offspring eternally. All the miscarriages, terminations and stillbirths a woman has during her life time grow up in heaven, waiting for their mother to join them.
But you will never see any of this on Hillsong pamphlets. All you find are photos of shiny, happy people holding hands.
...
It is no surprise that the girls and young women who attended Mercy Ministries did not receive the psychiatric help they were seeking. Fundamentalist Christians are suspicious of psychiatry and psychology, unless prefixed with the word Christian. Psychotic symptoms such as voices are evidence of demons that medication cannot expel. I recall one Hillsong pastor proudly describing his own daughter's employment at Mercy Ministries. He said she could counsel by birthright, aided by her bible college wisdom.
...'

www.smh.com.au

Mercy Ministries admits claims were false

FORMER directors of Mercy Ministries yesterday admitted the evangelical Christian organisation had engaged in false, misleading and deceptive conduct by wrongly claiming their residential care programs were free and included support from psychologists, dietitians, general practitioners and...
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

'Mercy Ministries admits claims were false'​

'December 17, 2009 — 12.00am'

www.smh.com.au

The business of giving Mercy

Complex ties link Mercy Ministries to its supporters, writes Ruth Pollard.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

'The business of giving Mercy​

March 18, 2008 — 11.00am
...
DEEPLY felt ties bind Mercy Ministries, Gloria Jean's and the Hillsong Church, connected through a complicated chain of directors and former directors - as well as donations.
...
"Hillsong do not own or run Mercy Ministries … Hillsong are a financial supporter, as are many churches in Sydney and around the country," said Peter Irvine, who until recently was both the managing director of Gloria Jean's Coffees and a director of Mercy Ministries.
...
Two former directors of Mercy Ministries, Mark and Darlene Zschech, who brought the program to Australia from the US in 2001, have also been associate directors of the Hillsong Church's annual conference.
...
Darlene, described as "one of the key worship leaders at Hillsong Church", and her husband no longer appear to have any connection to Mercy Ministries.

Mercy Ministries' accountant, Stephen Crouch, is married to another organiser of the Hillsong conference, Pastor Donna Crouch.

The Hillsong Foundation, the church's charitable arm, supports Mercy Ministries to deliver the programs.

Gloria Jean's Coffees supports Mercy Ministries through corporate donations and fund-raising activities that include cash donation boxes in stores and an annual fund-raising weekend, "Cappuccino for a Cause", where 50 cents from each cappuccino sold goes to Mercy Ministries, a spokeswoman said.

However, information on how much financial support Gloria Jean's contributes to the ministry, support that has continued since 2003, was unavailable, she said.

And despite the swag of allegations over the Mercy Ministries program - including claims that young women with mental illnesses had been forbidden from gaining access to medical or psychiatric care unsupervised, or from doctors independent of the program, and claims of the use of exorcisms to treat health problems - the spokeswoman said Gloria Jean's would not be reviewing its sponsorship arrangements.

The Catholic Sisters of Mercy, who have long been involved in health care, education and social welfare programs throughout the country, have stressed that they have no connection with Mercy Ministries.
...'

www.theage.com.au

Cult-rescue group 'concerned about' Mercy Ministries

www.theage.com.au www.theage.com.au
'Cult-rescue group 'concerned about' Mercy Ministries

ByBarney Zwartz​

March 19, 2008 — 12.19am
...
Raphael Aron, director of Cult Counselling Australia, said Mercy Ministries was not a traditional guru or disciple cult but its exploitation of vulnerable people put it in the cult spectrum.
...
He said that quite apart from the religious elements, such as exorcisms and speaking in tongues, Mercy Ministries was medically inadequate, lacked medical professionals and was not accredited.
...'

www.smh.com.au

God's cure for gays lost in sin

Former residents say separation contracts, a ban on physical contact and teachings by an 'ex-gay' are part of Mercy Ministry's attempts to stamp out lesbianism in its flock, reports Ruth Pollard.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

'God's cure for gays lost in sin​

March 19, 2008 — 11.00am

'WHEN Mercy Ministries says it helps young women with "life-controlling issues", it means in part that it aims to teach them not to be lesbians.
...
"In particular, there was an ongoing teaching video series by Sy Rogers an 'ex-gay' - now reformed - married Christian," she said.
...
On its application form, Mercy Ministries used to ask young women if they had been involved in lesbianism, next to the question on whether they had been involved in prostitution. They changed that in 2006 to ask "have you ever been involved in any form of same-sex relationships?".
...
Another former resident, who did not wish to be identified, said: "Girls were asked on the application form, as well as in a telephone interview, if they have ever had lesbian or bisexual relationships. They asked if I had

been involved in drug abuse, witchcraft, or lesbianism. They bunched them in together like that."
...
In the house, residents were prevented from having any form of physical contact - no comforting hugs, no shoulder to cry on - and even though there were three young women to each bedroom, they were not allowed to change clothes if another person was in the room, she said.
...
One former member of Hillsong, who held several "leadership positions" in the church, revealed that he was shunned when he disclosed his homosexuality.

"The ostracising that occurred by fellow worshippers was severe," said the man, who asked not to be identified. "As soon as I came out my entire social network decided the best way to deal with the situation was to stop all communication with me.
...
Hillsong Church taught that the devil inspired people to act on homosexual desires, he said.
...
One option presented to the man was to force himself into a heterosexual relationship. In the meantime, he was removed from his leadership role in the church and isolated.

www.smh.com.au

Mercy Ministries home to close

ALLEGATIONS of widespread abuse at Mercy Ministries group homes appear finally to have caught up with the fundamentalist Christian group, which has announced it will close its Sydney home on October 31, citing ''extreme financial challenges and a steady drop in our support base''.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

'Mercy Ministries home to close​

By Ruth Pollard INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR​

'October 28, 2009 — 12.00am
...
At the time, Mercy Ministries' then chief executive, Peter Irvine, was quick to dismiss their claims, implying that the victims of the group's unorthodox and dangerous treatments were not telling the truth.

Since then Mr Irvine has sent an apology to the women featured in the Herald's articles. ''I would like to apologise for the statements that I made to the press in March 2008. I did not accurately reflect the situation and I regret my comments,'' he wrote.

News of the closure was greeted with relief by its former victims, who cautioned that the group was still operating in New Zealand, the US and Britain.'

www.eternitynews.com.au

“God became toxic to me,” says Mercy Ministries graduate

Ten years after graduating from the now-infamous Mercy Ministries programme in Sydney, participant Sarah says her faith in God still hasn’t recovered, and she’s not sure it ever will.
www.eternitynews.com.au www.eternitynews.com.au

'“GOD BECAME TOXIC TO ME,” SAYS MERCY MINISTRIES GRADUATE​

SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2016 04:05 PM
 
Last edited:
Every now and again, Hildebrand hits the nail on the head.

I'd like to rename his article in the Daily Tele today, "Crimes against Christianity".

What's really pissed off a whole lot of people recently, is seeing the Houstons selling lots of their belongings, including clothes, and not giving them away to the needy.

A frequent poster in the Bigfooty Crime forums had a go at me the other day (in a public post) in another thread for my posts on religious fundamentalism, labelling it "religion-bashing".

It's about time that all mainstream religions did a lot more, to publicly call out and facilitate the shutting down, the more extreme forms of their religions, particularly those that have the characteristics of cults, get rich quick programs, and provide them access to the vulnerable to abuse and take advantage of.

Hopefully with the religious cult following/enabling ex Prime Minister of Australia and current not so honourable leech of an MP for the Shire seat of Cook, Scott Morrison, soon to finally be banished from the Australian Parliament forever (as an MP at least), some of our business, organisational, political and religious leaders, and media personalities of influence, will feel more comfortable and be allowed to call a spade a spade like Hildebrand has done today with the likes of Hillsong founder Brian Houston.

As a side not to this post, does anyone know why the closing address for this case is/was scheduled for 6 months after Houston finished giving evidence on Xmas eve 2023? Is this likely just reflective of the backlog of cases in this NSW Court, and the next availability of the Judge?

Bombshells revealed in Hillsong founder Brian Houston’s trial​

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has finished giving evidence in his trial, where he defended his father’s “golden handshake” and called him a “serial paedophile’.

December 24, 2022 - 10:01AM
'Mr Houston will return to court for the closing address in June 2023.'

Screenshot 2023-04-25 at 1.43.38 pm.png

 
Taking a closer look at what made Brian Houston's pedo father (Frank) here's a good place to start.

Even if Houston isn't convicted in Australia this year, why on earth the US Government might grant him the Green Card he is reportedly applying for (sponsored by Casey Treat), is beyond me.

www.themonthly.com.au

Hillsong and the life of Brian

The Hillsong founder lost control, first of his judgement, then of his authority and finally of his church itself – now, on criminal trial, he’s desperate to control his story
www.themonthly.com.au www.themonthly.com.au
'Feb 2023
Hillsong and the death life of Brian and Frank
By Elle Hardy'
...
William Francis Houston was born in 1922 and grew up in a Protestant family in New Zealand whose spirituality largely revolved around hating Catholics.
...
A born preacher, Frank told engaging and heartfelt personal stories, and fabricated many more. After being kicked out of the Salvos for “serious financial inconsistencies”, he had a severe mental health breakdown when Brian was still in nappies. In the course of his recovery, Frank attended a rally conducted by the Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal umbrella organisation that was to move him to speak in tongues and be “born again in the Holy Spirit” – the step in the Pentecostal faith that sets them apart from other evangelicals. Frank took on the gifts of the Spirit with gusto and developed a strong interest in faith healing.

Frank was reportedly a victim of child sexual abuse. Stories of his own sexual predation date back to his twenties. Like the Catholic priests he was raised to despise, he found that the best way of dealing with allegations was to move from town to town.
...
With his customary zeal and charm, he worked his way into the Assemblies leadership in New Zealand, wresting control of the organisation in 1965. It was in this capacity that he began visiting Australia to conduct revivals, put up by pious families, and raping little boys under the cover of darkness and authority.
...
Frank’s children have always denied hearing the sighs of relief that bounced around the Shaky Isles on their father’s sudden departure. Rumours had built about Frank visiting gay bathhouses and molesting young boys – homosexuality and paedophilia were viewed in the church as perversions on par with each other – and several senior figures had confronted him, but Frank managed to assuage them.
...
Like his father (FRANK), Houston (BRIAN) had an innate ability to inspire by withholding praise, leaving people striving to please him.
...
By the time he took over from his father as leader of the Assemblies of God in Australia in 1997, he was already seen in international Christian circles as a revolutionary. In the mirror, he saw a man rewarded with God’s blessing, and it made him feel bulletproof. One of his first acts on becoming Assemblies leader was removing the pastoral ban on drinking.
...
Painkillers and antidepressants were frowned upon, and chaperones to personal appointments were frequently pre-arranged.
...
Practices stemming from the Australian church were supercharged with American ideas, sealed off with the corporate culture of non-disclosure, non-disparagement and non-compete agreements, which remain a part of Hillsong to this day (and are the reason many sources could only speak to The Monthly on an anonymous basis).
...
Senior figures in the church continue to receive “streams of texts” from Houston that speak to a sense of bitterness and betrayal.
...
Recently selling their multimillion-dollar Sydney home, the Houstons are reportedly applying for green cards in the United States, sponsored by mentor and friend Casey Treat. Treat is said to be concerned about Houston’s recent behaviour and state of mind, and is looking out for him – the two are also working on a new church venture.

But Houston is keenly aware that any criminal record would quash his application – not to mention that he is “terrified”, as one former colleague put it, of going to jail. Committed evangelicals, both Houston and Lentz are plotting their public rebirth sooner rather than later – that moment when they can confess their sins, and, more importantly, tell their side of events. Having had his day in court, it’s clear Houston is desperate to testify in a more comfortable setting, taking to Twitter a number of times last year with messages about how “the truth will always win”. But in order for it to do so, both Houston and the church he founded must overcome something that has always been a gospel in Hillsong: that modern faith is about telling a good story.'
 
Coming soon.

How to watch from Australia TBA.



FvBwiVXXoAAdsUP
 

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SBS on demand. Another Hillsong expose.
It's been out for a week now.
Haven't watched it yet.

www.sbs.com.au

Watch The Kingdom

Watch The Kingdom for free with SBS On Demand, your ultimate destination for diverse entertainment. Stream now!
www.sbs.com.au www.sbs.com.au

'The Kingdom​

Documentary, Factual, Culture & Society, Special
1h 13m

Marc Fennell investigates the successful, but scandal-plagued megachurch Hillsong, stepping back into the world of Pentecostalism that he left behind and asking what happens as the Hillsong kingdom crumbles.'

www.sbs.com.au

Burning out to build the church: The life of a former Hillsong member

Dave said there were many times while he was at Hillsong when he stopped and thought the church was ‘super culty and super cooked’ but he continued on for years.
www.sbs.com.au www.sbs.com.au
 
Today was judgement day for Brian Houston.

Not guilty was the magistrates verdict today.

www.9news.com.au

Hillsong founder calls failed case a 'targeted attack'

www.9news.com.au www.9news.com.au
...
Houston argued he never told police about his father's abuse because Sengstock did not want it reported and was by then an adult who could have disclosed it himself if he wished to.
Sengstock said he never told Houston he did not want the abuse reported.
But magistrate Gareth Christofi said the Hillsong leader had knowledge of the abuse survivor's attitude towards an investigation.
He found Houston not guilty because he had a reasonable excuse not to report the abuse to police.
"Victims of sexual abuse ought to feel safe to confide in others without being concerned they are exposing those others to a criminal offence," Christofi said.
...
 
The only area I could see that would sway it in Houston's favour is that the victim was an adult when it was first bought up so could have reported it himself rather than rely on Houston and Hillsong to address this.
Not convinced there was anything specific or written down that places Houston's evidence of saying that the victim didn't want it reported as gospel over the victim ?
Under today's reporting requirements surely this defence wouldn't fly. Would be like Catholic priests refusing to report pedophilia that a parishioner has admitted to in confession.
Wouldn't surprise me if Hillsong Mark Two gets going and Houston and His wife jump on the pentecostal grift again. Not sure if they do get a green card into America that's the best place to start a new church , their names are already mud over there through Hillsongs scandals and they would be competing against the big names of mega churches.
Got no time for him and his wife hope they fade away into obscurity , Hillsong hopefully will slide with them.
 
Houston has accused police prosecutors of not laying any charges in Australia unless the press tell them what charges and against whom they should be.
Hopefully more to come out of this.
 

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