SYDNEY - Brian Houston, the founder of Australian-based megachurch Hillsong, has resigned following an internal investigation by his board that he violated the church's code of conduct by treating two people inappropriately at least twice in the past decade.
Houston's resignation was announced by Hillsong Church in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.
"We understand there will be a lot of emotion in this news, and we all share these sentiments," Hillsong said in part.
It added, “We recognize that change is needed. We have committed to an independent review of our governance structure and processes, recognizing that this is a time for humble reflection and we are committed to ensuring that God be honored, and our eyes fixed on Jesus."
The global church, which has in the past attracted celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Chris Pratt, was founded in 1983 by Houston and his wife Bobby in Sydney. Now with churches in 30 different countries, the church has dealt with a series of controversies in recent years.
Houston had previously resigned from ministry duties in January, amid allegations of concealment of child sex offenses related to allegations that her preacher father, Frank Houston, had abused a boy over several years in the 1970s.
"These allegations have come as a shock to me because of how transparent I've always been in this matter," Houston said when the allegations were made in August. "I firmly claim my innocence and will defend these allegations, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight."
Then, in a recent internal investigation, the church revealed last week that it was dealing with "two complaints made against Pastor Brian over the past 10 years."
"The first issue was about a decade ago and involved inappropriate text messages from Pastor Brian to a member of staff that resulted in the staff member resigning," the church said on March 18.
Hillsong said an investigation showed Houston was under the influence of sleeping pills at the time, "on which he developed a dependence."
The second complaint was received in 2019, Hillsong said.
"After a thorough investigation, it was found that after a session at the Hillsong conference, Pastor Brian became disoriented after the consumption of an anti-anxiety drug mixed with alcohol in excess of the prescribed dosage," the statement said. "The result was that he knocked on the door of a hotel room that did not belong to him, entered this room and spent time with the female occupant."
Hillsong said an investigation found that "significant elements of the complaint were sustained and the conduct was a matter of serious concern. Ultimately, the board found that Brian had violated the Hillsong clergy's code of conduct."
"We also acknowledge that whatever the circumstances at this time, this person was not fit to be placed in the position in which he found himself by Pastor Brian," the church said.
The megachurch also made headlines here in the US Carl Lentz, another former Hillsong church pastor in New York City who gained celebrity from his past relationship with Bieber, was fired in late 2020, which its leadership called a "moral failure". " said.
"I was unfaithful to my marriage," Lentz wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.
At the time of Lentz's firing, Houston said the decision to participate was made following "ongoing discussions regarding leadership issues and breaches of trust, as well as the recent revelation of ethical failures", but did not mention specifics. .