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Hillsong founder resigns amid ‘inappropriate’ behavior toward two women
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Hillsong founder Brian Houston has resigned amid allegations of “inappropriate conduct” he allegedly exhibited towards two girls, the church introduced.
Performing senior pastor Phil Dooley of Hillsong Church, a world-renowned megachurch based mostly in Australia, introduced the allegations following an emergency employees assembly on Wednesday, the Day by day Mail reported.
“We wish to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as world senior pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation,” Dooley stated in a press release to the outlet.
“We perceive there shall be a lot emotion at this information and all of us share these emotions,” he added, based on the report. “We ask that you just proceed to wish for them and the whole Houston household throughout this difficult time.’”
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The Hillsong International Board investigated the pair of accusations, one from greater than a decade in the past and the opposite stemming from an occasion in 2019, and stated it handled them “extraordinarily significantly,” the Day by day Mail reported.
Brian Houston is the brand new Senior Pastor at Hillsong Church in Brisbane, Might 23, 2009.
(Picture by Paul Harris/The Sydney Morning Herald through Getty Photos)
Within the first allegation, from greater than ten years in the past, a church worker claimed to have acquired “inappropriate” texts from Houston, one thing the church attributed to Houston being underneath the affect of sleeping drugs, the Day by day Mail reported.
“The primary subject was roughly a decade in the past and concerned inappropriate textual content messages from Pastor Brian to a member of employees, which subsequently resulted within the employees member resigning,” the church board stated, claiming Houston was “underneath the affect of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence” earlier than sending the texts, based on the report.
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The board added: “To this former employees member, we once more apologize and would welcome the chance to supply additional help if that is wanted.”
Brian Houston is the brand new Senior Pastor at Hillsong Church in Brisbane, Might 23, 2009. (Picture by Paul Harris/The Sydney Morning Herald through Getty Photos)
The second incident concerned Houston strolling into the resort room of a lady following the 2019 Hillsong Convention, the Day by day Mail reported.
Whereas the lady has not made an accusation of sexual misconduct, the church board stated the motion violated the Hillsong Pastor’s Code of Conduct, the board stated. The incident was additionally attributed to using treatment.
“An in-depth investigation discovered that Pastor Brian grew to become disoriented… following the consumption of anti-anxiety treatment past the prescribed dose, blended with alcohol,” the board stated.
Hillsong stated Pastor Houston was “extraordinarily remorseful” for his actions and the church apologized for his conduct, the Day by day Mail reported.
(AUSTRALIA OUT) The Panetshakers assembly at Hillsong Church, 7 January 2005. SMH Image by DALLAS KILPONEN
(Picture by Fairfax Media through Getty Photos/Fairfax Media through Getty Photos through Getty Photos)
“We apologize unreservedly to the individuals affected by Pastor Brian’s actions and decide to being out there for any additional help we are able to present,” it stated, based on the report.