Seth Udinski, FISM News
Hillsong megachurch pastor and founder Brian Houston is pleading not guilty to an alleged sexual abuse church cover-up from the 1970s.
FISM News previously reported that Houston had stepped down from his position on the church’s board (not from his role as lead pastor) after rumors of a sexual abuse coverup surfaced in late summer. Houston is charged with covering up an abuse incident perpetrated by his father, Frank Houston. According to reports, the elder Houston sexually assaulted a boy in 1970, and his son, only a very young man at the time, purposefully concealed that information from authorities. Houston is scheduled to appear in a court in Australia on Nov. 23.
Hillsong has had its fair share of controversy over certain theological practices and the recent adultery case of former New York campus pastor Carl Lentz. Millions of evangelical Christian sing praise songs written by Hillsong artists every Sunday, and the church holds 150,000 members in 30 different countries.
Houston has maintained his innocence, saying he will jump at the “opportunity to set the record straight.”
Hillsong is standing by its founder as well. The church said in a statement from the summer,
Upon being told of his father’s actions, Brian Houston confronted his father, reported the matter to the National Executive Assemblies of God in Australia, relayed the matter to the governing board of Sydney Christian Life Centre, and subsequently made a public announcement to the church. Brian sought to honor the victim’s multiple requests not to inform the police….We are disappointed that Pastor Brian has been charged, and ask that he be afforded the presumption of innocence and due process as is his right. He has advised us that he will defend this and looks forward to clearing his name.
FISM News will follow this case as it proceeds in court in November.