Brian Houston, founder of Pentecostal megachurch Hillsong, said on Sunday he is stepping down from all ministry responsibilities to prepare to “vigorously defend” Australian police charges that he concealed sex abuse of a young man in the 1970s.
In August, the 67-year-old Houston was charged with concealing child sex abuse by his late father, Frank Houston, an allegation he strenuously denied.
These allegations came as a shock to me, and it is my intention to vigorously defend them.
— Brian Houston, founder Hillsong
“These allegations came as a shock to me, and it is my intention to vigorously defend them,” Houston said on Hillsong’s website.
He added that as the result of the situation with his father and the impact it had on him emotionally, Hillsong’s board felt it was in the church’s best interest for him step down.
“So, I have agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year,” Houston said, adding that court processes were likely to take up most of 2022. “I intend to fight the charge and welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”
The police said last year that Houston had information relating to the abuse of the young man and failed to bring it to the attention of police.
Hillsong’s website said Houston founded the church with his wife, Bobbie, in Sydney in 1983. It now has churches in 30 countries, with a global weekly attendance of 150,000.
— Reuters
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