Inspire Church head John McMartin in indecent assault case
John McMartin has stepped down as the head of Liverpool’s 5000-member Inspire Church over the allegations, which are understood to relate to an incident eight years ago. He has pleaded not guilty
NSW
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A high-profile TV pastor questioned over his handling of child sex allegations against Hillsong founder Brian Houston’s father has been charged with the indecent assault of a young woman.
John McMartin, 66, has stepped down as head of 5000-member Inspire Church, headquartered in southwest Sydney, after his case was mentioned at Liverpool Local Court on December 16.
NSW police confirmed: “Following an investigation by detectives from Liverpool City PAC, a 66-year-old man was arrested at Liverpool Police Station on 26 November, 2020, and charged with assault with act of indecency.”
The Daily Telegraph understands the allegations relate to an incident eight years ago allegedly involving an 18-year-old female.
The senior Pentecostal clergyman and former NSW president of Australian Christian Churches was not required to appear in court but entered a plea of not guilty. He was granted bail on condition he does not assault or threaten the alleged victim, stalk, harass or intimidate and intentionally, or recklessly, destroy or damage any property that belongs to her.
The case is next listed for mention on January 27.
Married father-of-three McMartin, hosts Inspire Church with John McMartin, a half-hour weekly TV program on Australian Christian Channel. He and wife Carol began the Christian Life Centre, an Assemblies of God church, in the 1980s.
McMartin was quizzed by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse about the response to allegations against Frank Houston in 1999.
The commission found McMartin, then a member of the watchdog NSW Assemblies of God executive, did not attempt to start the church’s formal complaints’ process after the allegations because he did not have a written complaint from Frank Houston’s accuser, as was required under the Assemblies of God administration manual.
McMartin’s case is listed for mention on January 27.
McMartin did not return Daily Telegraph calls for comment.
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