Faith on Trial podcast: Hillsong denies it ‘scammed’ church members at crisis meeting

Hillsong members have revealed what happened at a crisis meeting where they were warned not to speak out, as the church denies it “scammed” church members. Listen to the podcast.

Hillsong has denied it “scammed” church members by spending $6,350 on a Cartier bracelet as a gift for founder Bobbie Houston.

The under siege Christian megachurch held a crisis meeting on Thursday night, with Hillsong members told to come in person and warned to “keep what’s said in this room”.

But within hours, details of the meeting had been leaked to the Faith On Trial podcast, produced by News Corp.

The meeting was called after tens of thousands of Hillsong’s financial documents were tabled in Federal Parliament by Independent MP Andrew Wilkie earlier this month.

Phil Dooley, the church’s new senior pastor, wanted to keep the discussion behind closed doors.

Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley. Picture: Facebook

”If we broadcast anything, you know, it’s just going to undermine what we’re trying to do in speaking frankly tonight. So I just want to be mindful of that,” Mr Dooley said.

Mr Dooley told the audience that he had been startled by a television news crew as he entered the building on Thursday night.

“Had a camera in my face asking me all kinds of questions, which I wasn’t ready for. So if you see the footage and I looked startled, I was.”

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Mr Wilkie told Parliament the tabled documents revealed the church used “private jets like Ubers” and went on “shopping sprees that would embarrass a Kardashian”.

Church funds were used to buy $6350 of Cartier jewellery for Mrs Houston, wife of the church’s founder Brian Houston, along with a luxury resort stay in Cancun Mexico while Sydney was in lockdown.

According to sources, a church official read out a lengthy justification for the spending, including more than $15,000 spent on custom skateboards.

The official said $6350 been spent on a Cartier bracelet in March 2021 and not a watch as originally stated.

Bobbie Houston, wife of Hillsong founder Brian Houston.

To the applause of the crowd the woman said the gift was approved by the church’s budgetary team to “to thank Bobbie for her service to a global women’s movement over a period of 25 years.”

The woman stressed that the gift was a “one-off” that was publicly given in honour and appreciation for her service.

“Now, while these purchases were not some private benefit or made with the intention of scamming the church members, we recognise that there are issues and risks associated with the gifts and honorariums.”

The church has now set limits for gifts for pastors.

Hillsong’s disclosure of the Cartier gift for Mrs Houston is at odds with denials from Hillsong founder Brian Houston.

Mr Houston said on Twitter that his wife “bought, owned, or worn a Cartier watch in the past 25 years” after Mr Wilkie made the statement in parliament.

“It’s just another lie … just another falsehood,” he wrote.

It comes as Mr Houston revealed this week he had been charged with drink driving in California after his lawyer was contacted by the Faith On Trial podcast.

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Originally published as Faith on Trial podcast: Hillsong denies it ‘scammed’ church members at crisis meeting