Hillsong

[Ozlsn]

2 hours ago, Howl said:

A crisis management crew on scene is evidence of issues raging out of control, i.e. threatening access to a) money and b) power. 

There's a new article on that (again paywalled), dot point summary in spoiler.

Spoiler

* they've engaged international law firm Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan to conduct an independent review of how they handled the case.

*this was after a petition from Hillsong College students about how the case was handled. Hillsong responded with an email in April saying they were launching the investigation

*Mays got a 24 month good behaviour bond and was re-employed about 12 months into that

*Also in April The Christian Post published an article (not paywalled) about the assault. Houston then published - and later deleted - the following tweet:

 “A number of things in the article are factually wrong, but abuse is NEVER OK. My understanding is Anna was originally abused in her father’s church in Pennsylvania. That makes it sadder. Whether abuse happens in Pennsylvania or Australia, it’s tragic.”

Crenshaw's father saved and republished it, Houston apologised for including information about the prior abuse. I have no idea if that information was in the public domain before that or not.

*Hillsong has made no apology to Crenshaw about how the matter was handled.

I think at least part of it is now flat out personal in that Brian Houston feels attacked by Ed Crenshaw, and part of that comes down to this statement in The Christian Post article:

Her father, Pastor Crenshaw, contends that the focus on the East Coast scandals under Lentz has taken the spotlight off what he sees as a broader problem in how the denomination, in general, has handled abuse.

“They’ve developed a habit of self-protection. And, I think, when it comes to dealing with somebody like my daughter who had an accusation against the son of Hillsong’s top HR guy, and she reports it to the wife of Hillsong’s chairman of the board … that they tend to slip into self-protection mode, and I think they are still in that,” the Pennsylvania pastor said.

“Even with their comments about HR changes and how they dropped the ball … It gives too much blame to Carl Lentz and doesn’t take responsibility for how, in their own situation, they have failed victims, even going back to the victims of Frank Houston,” Crenshaw told CP.

That tweet response was lashing back at Ed Crenshaw, and (why am I not surprised?) using his daughter to do it.

The Christian Post article is quite interesting, and goes into more detail. Again, dot point summaries in spoiler:

Spoiler

*May's wife wasn't present at the time, and didn't find out about the allegations until quite late in the piece, ie after the charges were filed. Three months after Crenshaw had made the complaint to Hillsong, and apparently before they had spoken to Mays (and before the police charges were filed), they moved his wife to a position where she was leading the volunteer team Crenshaw was with. That there is a total dick move, I'm sorry. 

*Crenshaw dropped down to one volunteering session per month at the church. After his wife went to a service she was volunteering at Mays called the police to report that she was harassing his family.  Crenshaw raised it with the pastoral care team and was basically told "how do you think Jason and his wife feel?"

*At a recent Hillsong Church staff meeting, a clip of which has been reviewed by CP, Houston explained that Mays was kept on staff because “the Lord has forgiven Jason,” and he is just not a “sexual predator.”

I had to quote that bit because... wow.

*apparently this is because Mays diligently adhered to the conditions of his good behaviour bond, and served a 12 month suspension from any role at Hillsong. The good behaviour bond hasn't finished yet I think.

*Crenshaw doesn't feel that he has expressed any remorse, not least due to him challenging her story (about an incident he allegedly can't remember). Hillsong did talk to other people who were present, and apparently their stories matched hers.

This feels like it could get messy.

[Howl]

9 hours ago, Ozlsn said:

*At a recent Hillsong Church staff meeting, a clip of which has been reviewed by CP, Houston explained that Mays was kept on staff because “the Lord has forgiven Jason,” and he is just not a “sexual predator.”

I had to quote that bit because... wow.

@Ozlsn, thanks for this summary. These people are horrible.  Hillsong is just a cesspool of evil. 

This "Jesus forgives him" BS is the get-out-of-jail-free card (literally, for this guy) for so so many white Xtian male abusers/predators. 

 

 

[Ozlsn]

I'd be fine with the Jesus forgives him part if he actually had showed remorse through his actions. He apparently hasn't apologised to Crenshaw (my husband pointed out that this would leave him open to civil liability, which is true - but even so), he hasn't been open about it in the church - the whole thing feels like it was treated as a "Oh he was drunk, not his fault, boys will be boys" incident, which it shouldn't have been. (I'm curious if she could have sued Hillsong College over providing an unsafe environment actually given it appears to have been an official event). 

[Antipatriarch]

Another church/ministry/denomination retaining a law firm for a so-called "independent" investigation. That's not independent. If you want independent, you get an organization like GRACE that has experience with abuse, and then you promise to make the results public come what may. Retaining a law firm to do it ensures you can control the dissemination of the results, the PR spin they're given, etc. It's an act that says you're looking out for the organization, not the victims (past and potential-future).

Edited June 7, 2021 by Antipatriarch
clearer wording

[Bluebirdbluebell]

This is off topic, but it concerns Hillsong church.

Stephen Harmon, 34, was against being vaccinated for Corona virus. He tweeted about not deliberately not getting the vaccine. He got COVID and he died. Here is an article about him.

From the article:

Quote

Harmon was a graduate of Hillson College and attended Hillsong Church in Los Angeles. In an Instagram post, Hillsong founder Brian Houston called Harmon one of the most generous people.

In a written statement provided to CBS Los Angeles, Houston said:

Quote

“The death of Stephen Harmon was a sad day for those who knew him and called him a friend. Any loss of life is a moment to mourn and offer support to those who are suffering and so our heartfelt prayers are with his family and those who loved him. As a church, our focus is on the spiritual well-being of the people in each of our local communities. On any medical issue, we strongly encourage those in our church to follow the guidance of their doctors. While many of our staff, leadership and congregation have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, we recognize this is a personal decision for each individual to make with the counsel of medical professionals.”

 

 

[Howl]

A healthy anti-vaxx congregant got COVID and died.  He probably infected others before crossing the rainbow bridge.  

St. George at the pearly gates: "What the actual f**k, Stephen."

The Hillsong statement was obviously crafted by corporate (lawyers + PR = damage control)

Using creative editing to convey a common sense message: 

"As a church, our focus is on the spiritual well-being of the people in each of our local communities. On any medical issue, We strongly encourage those in our church to follow the guidance of their doctors. to get vaccinated.  While Many of our staff, leadership and congregation have already received the COVID-19 vaccine. Going forward,  only those who have been vaccinated may attend in person services and other activities and events sponsored by the church.  we recognize this is a personal decision for each individual to make with the counsel of medical professionals.”

This was a missed opportunity by Hillsong, based on this twitter thread.  The poster uses sociology research to explain how respected leaders can influence their followers, to, for instance, get vaccinated. 

Unroll of this thread: As news stories drop about COVID+ pandemic deniers & anti-vaxxers ranting defiantly from ICU beds, let's review what fraud research suggests abt the responsibility we should attribute to them for their condition & the ms they send.

Edited July 24, 2021 by Howl

[gustava]

Even after young parishioner dies of covid, Hillsong supports choice for vax and dying dude rejects idea of vax 'cuz.....Biden.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/24/us/hillsong-church-stephen-harmon-covid-vaccine/index.html

[Antipatriarch]

On the same note, this one came across my Twitter feed the other day. It's so sad, and so senseless! I know we are politically hyper-polarized in this country, but I can't believe masks and vaccinations became a tribal marker.

 

[Ozlsn]

22 hours ago, gustava said:

Even after young parishioner dies of covid, Hillsong supports choice for vax and dying dude rejects idea of vax 'cuz.....Biden.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/24/us/hillsong-church-stephen-harmon-covid-vaccine/index.html

I really wonder if it's different in Sydney and other non-US churches because frankly Biden and Trump don't have the political influence here, and our PM - who is a member of Hillsong Sydney - is encouraging people to get vaccinated. Brian Houston, as nominal leader, and the other leaders need to pull their heads out and risk a split by actually leading. Getting vaccinated, loudly and publicly. Encouraging their congregation to protect the vulnerable (which is everyone, but it might help some of the Hillsong BroDudes if they can frame it as them protecting the weak, rather than being protected.) I really liked the thread linked above, because it showed a way forward that might help to get past this ridiculous politicization.

Also I put up the screenshots of Harmon's tweets  in the Covidiot thread in Quiverful of Coronavirus - they are both frustrating and very sad. Why does Hillsong attract and promote these BroDudes?

Edited July 25, 2021 by Ozlsn

[Ozlsn]

Brian and Bobbie Houston preached in Mexico and the USA.

Normally I wouldn't care. But at at time when you need to get a permit to leave Australia, and a permit to return I am wondering why "preaching" is considered an essential enough reason. And the answer is of course because they're managing a business. You can preach remotely, but checking the books is easier in person.

Given that we still have roughly 34,000 Australians and permanent residents who are trying to get flights and spaces in the quarantine system to return home I am fine with them going to the end of the queue, and waiting 2-3 years to return.

Except you can bet they'll be home next month, and that is really annoying me.

[haras1972]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-05/hillsong-founder-brian-houston-charged/100353834

 

finally, charges filed for historical coverup of his fathers abuse. Will he return to Australia?? 

[Howl]

4 hours ago, haras1972 said:

finally, charges filed for historical coverup of his fathers abuse. Will he return to Australia?? 

Australia can extradite from the US...does Brian Houston have dual Australian/US citizenship?

 

[Ozlsn]

11 minutes ago, Howl said:

Australia can extradite from the US...does Brian Houston have dual Australian/US citizenship?

Not sure if he has dual nationality - quite possibly not US/Australian, but something else. Certainly might explain some of the activity around Hillsong recently, I'll be interested to know what comes next. 

Also seriously - I am so glad charges were filed. Even if they don't get to court - and they may well not, depending on what happens - they are a clear precedent.

[Ozlsn]

Brian Houston quits Hillsong boards, will remain "global pastor".

He's due to face court in Sydney on October 5th over allegations of failing to inform police when he became aware of historical child sexual abuse allegations against his father, Frank Houston. 

"Records show Mr Houston, 67, stepped down as company director on August 17. A fortnight later, Stephen Crouch, an existing board member and husband of pastor Donna Crouch, was appointed director, according to records lodged with ASIC one week ago.

The Corporations Act forbids anyone from being a company director if they are convicted of a crime involving dishonesty that carries a jail term longer than three months. Under the NSW Crimes Act, the maximum penalty for concealment is five years’ imprisonment."

Interesting. Wonder whether that will change the direction of the church at all.

[Katzchen24]

Something I didn't know until about half an hour ago and just thought I'd mention........

I'm currently dog (and house)-sitting for someone who has Foxtel. I haven't seen Foxtel since forever (it's a ludicrously overpriced streaming service available in Australia and I suspect the homeowners have it for the Sports channels). Anyway, turns out Hillsong has a channel that is available in the Foxtel Plus package. I think Plus is the entry level package, which means everyone who gets Foxtel will get it. I do wonder what is going on behind the scenes to make this a thing. 

[Katzchen24]

Unsurprisingly, Brian Houston is pleading 'not guilty' to the charges against him. He didn't appear in court.

LInk to Guardian article.

Court listing details below spoiler.

Spoiler

 

 

 

[stylites]

Good thought short article over at the Guardian by what seems to be a specialist religious reporter, she points out that a lot of what has made Hillsong numerically successful is the formula of finding charismatic younger leaders and then giving them a mostly free rein with the results we are now seeing.

She's fairly pessimistic about the future: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/03/in-reckoning-with-its-demons-hillsong-will-be-forced-to-move-away-from-what-made-it-powerful

Quote

A more bureaucratic Hillsong makes it ripe for disruption from competitors – after all, it plants churches in large cosmopolitan cities and is competing against a host of other churches, both in person and online.

Alternatively, Hillsong may turn away from reform and oversight. Houston’s church is all about the good vibes, but at the same time it lives in an evangelical media ecosystem which feeds on conspiracy and feels increasingly under attack by secular forces around it.

 

[Ozlsn]

Brian Houston has stepped down totally from Hillsong leadership.

He's basically stepped away due to the charges being heard this year, which he claims will probably take up a lot of 2022 (hey Brian, just a hint - it'll go more quickly if you plead guilty.) 

[Giraffe]

I’m only disappointed it took so long. Nothing will change though. 

[Katzchen24]

I don't think anything will change either. These evangelicals have far fewer scruples and morals than their profession of Christianity would lead you to believe.

I meant to post about this as well. The music industry has been wrecked in Australia because of attendance limits, restrictions on singing and dancing and the closure of venues. Somehow, despite this, Hillsong managed to hold a youth camp outside Newcastle with what looked suspiciously like a rock concert around 14th January. No fine or penalty levied because why???

[Ozlsn]

4 hours ago, Katzchen24 said:

Hillsong managed to hold a youth camp outside Newcastle with what looked suspiciously like a rock concert around 14th January. No fine or penalty levied because why???

It's not a rock concert because Jesus! Also, and this is something I would really like to know, where did they get the RATs to test their attendees? You couldn't get them anywhere - no chemists or supermarkets had them, so where did they get them? And is it related to the alleged federal government redistributing private orders on arrival into the country?

[Ozlsn]

On 11/5/2020 at 3:22 PM, closetcagebaby said:

Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz has been fired for “moral failures,” and my schadenfreude is off the charts. 

 

You'll be saddened I'm sure to note that he's looking "sad and dishevelled" according to The Sun. 

Spoiler

His alleged mistress, fashion designer Ranin Karim, exclusively told The Sun sordid details of their affair, but his wife Laura chose to stand by him throughout the ordeal.

Exclusive photographs obtained by The Sun confirm the family has now settled in Florida after a disastrous few years which saw many in the Hillsong community abandon them.

In one snap, Justin Bieber's ex-spiritual advisor looks almost unrecognizable with a thinner frame and messy mid-length curls, as his wife dropped him at the airport ahead of a solo trip.

He was seen without his trademark large glasses and opted for a black tee-shirt, light blue jeans, and black cowboy boots as he was seen stepping out of Laura's car.

Also - there's a documentary coming! How did I miss this news?

Their move to Florida comes ahead of a scathing three-part docuseries, Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, which drops on Discovery+ on March 24 and is set to open old wounds.

A new trailer for the series shows Ranin discussing her five-month steamy affair with Carl on camera.

I really hope it's showing here, as Houston  said through his lawyers that he couldn't be in court for the hearing due to the current flood situation and some more media focus on this case would be nice.

Also, on the disturbing side, Tanya Levin (author of "People in Glass Houses") was arrested for taking photos in the courtroom. This is disturbing because this would normally not warrant an arrest - more likely a summons - and certainly the "deciding whether to give bail" for this level of offence is unusual to say the least. This tweet sums it up well:

Spoiler

 

 

[Ozlsn]

Ok I was not expecting the revelations at today's Hillsong staff meeting.

Brian apparently stepped down partly because of allegations of inappropriate behaviour from two women. Which occurred while he was under the combined effect of medication and alcohol.

Spoiler

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Investigation / Religion

Drunk and on anxiety medication: revelations of Brian Houston’s behaviour threaten his hold on Hillsong

A number of major disclosures came during a highly emotional all-staff meeting this morning.

DAVID HARDAKER

 

MAR 18, 2022

 

8

(IMAGE: PRIVATE MEDIA)

Earlier today Crikey reported that an all-staff meeting was set to take place within the Hillsong megachurch to address rumours of moral transgressions involving its former “global pastor” Brian Houston. Now we can report on what was said…

Brian Houston’s hold on the Hillsong church which he built over more than two decades into a national and international phenomenon is now, incredibly, under question following an extraordinary all-staff meeting which was hastily called today after rumours grew of moral transgressions involving the church’s most senior figure.

A number of major disclosures came during the highly emotional meeting. Senior Hillsong pastor Phil Dooley told the meeting of two incidents involving Houston and his behaviour towards women. Dooley also pointed to alcohol and Houston’s prescription drugs for anxiety as playing a role. 

Dooley, who was appointed the church’s global pastor after Houston stepped down earlier this year, is understood to have been crying when he began today’s meeting. 

In a recording obtained by Crikey, Dooley outlined an incident which apparently took place in 2019 at a hotel where a group of Hillsong figures was drinking, including a woman who was not on Hillsong’s staff. Dooley said Houston had been on anxiety tablets at the time.

“Later that evening he went to go to his room. Didn’t have his room key and ended up knocking on the door of this woman’s room and she opened the door and he went into her room,” he said.

“The truth is we don’t know exactly what happened next. This woman has not said if there was any sexual activity. Brian has said there was no sexual activity. But he was in the woman’s room for 40 minutes. He doesn’t have much of a recollection because of the mixture of the anxiety tablets and the alcohol.

“This woman had also been drinking so her recollection is not completely coherent.”

Dooley said the woman went through “a lot of conflicting emotions” and spoke to someone on staff. The incident ultimately came to the attention of Hillsong’s global board which appointed a four-person “integrity” unit, composed of long-serving Hillsong figures, to investigate. Two “outside” pastors had been brought in. All were men.

“It was decided Brian should take three months off from ministry but unfortunately he didn’t abide by that. He did conduct some ministry and he did consume some alcohol,” Dooley said.

The incident then came to the attention of the elders at the end of 2021. The board then decided Houston should take more time off. At the same time the board “discussed with Brian” his use of alcohol.

As a footnote, the woman involved in the 2019 incident had asked for her conference fee and a “kingdom builder” donation to the church to be paid back. Houston agreed that he would pick up the tab.

The 2019 incident followed an earlier incident “around 10 years ago” when Houston exchanged texts with a female staff member. The text messages had ended with what Dooley called an “inappropriate text message”, with Houston texting “along the lines of ‘If I was with you I would like to give you a kiss and a cuddle or a hug’, words of that nature”.

Dooley said the staff member was “upset by that”, felt awkward and went to long-serving Hillsong head George Aghajanian and said she wanted to resign.

The issue was handled by two senior Hillsong men. Others, including Dooley, had not been aware until the end of 2021. The staff member had been unable to find another job and she was paid “a couple of months’ salary” as compensation.

Dooley also raised the question of when do you publicly discuss someone’s sins?

“In light of the evidence before the global board, the decision was made to offer what I would call ‘grace’: not to cover up and not to expose,” Dooley said. “The idea was that Brian would use the time to get healthy.”

Dooley said some of Hillsong’s elders were unhappy with the situation and began to raise the issue publicly with congregants.

“There are victims here and we are deeply sorry for those victims,” he said.

In terms of governance and trust, Dooley said perhaps it was time to look at issues of accountability and who takes responsibility.

“We’re not about exposing people,” he said. “I look at the example of Jesus, at what does the Bible say about these situations.

“We acknowledge that Pastor Brian has made significant mistakes here and no one at a senior level wants to cover any of that up, but to come to a place of healing that involves honesty, that involves transparency, that involves repentance and an acknowledgment that mistakes have been made and a desire to make it right.

“We also want to pray for Pastor Brian and for Bobbie and the family. Sin is messy and it brings all kinds of pain.”

Also in the meeting today, Aghajanian took aim at members of the “eldership” for spreading rumours. He claimed they had acted beyond their authority. He also cautioned that some information being spread was false.

The crisis which has enveloped Hillsong and led to today’s extraordinary events has exposed deep splits between the management team and board on one hand and the group of 10 “elders” on the other.

Crikey understands that Houston’s long-term executive assistant Megan Ivory has also resigned.

The crisis certainly represents the most serious schism to hit Hillsong over its more than two decades as the dominant force in Australian Pentecostalism.

Wow... I thought Houston was a creep, but more in a covering up allegations against his father kind of way.

[Katzchen24]

18 hours ago, Ozlsn said:

Ok I was not expecting the revelations at today's Hillsong staff meeting.

It's an unsurprising surprise. 

Scratch any one of these big church creeps and you'll find some kind of abusive behaviour in there.

[Ozlsn]

46 minutes ago, Katzchen24 said:

It's an unsurprising surprise. 

Scratch any one of these big church creeps and you'll find some kind of abusive behaviour in there.

The one that got me this morning was reading that the carer agency linked to the death of Ann Marie Smith is under the Hillsong umbrella. I haven't confirmed that but I'm now wondering how many charity linked organisations are, and why it's not more apparent.