Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston breaks silence following new allegations, resignation

Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston has broken his silence following his resignation in light of allegations from two different women.

Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston has spoken out after he sensationally resigned from the church following allegations raised by two women.

His resignation was announced at an emergency staff meeting at the mega-church’s head office in Sydney’s Baulkham Hills last Wednesday.

It came after allegations were brought forward against Mr Houston, with two women accusing him of committing “indiscretions” towards them.

In a statement emailed to members of the church on Wednesday afternoon, the senior Hillsong pastor revealed he was “so deeply sorry”.

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has spoken out following his resignation and the recent allegations against him. Picture: Marcus Ingram/Getty Images

In the email from Mr Houston, titled “A message from my heart”, he apologised to those directly impacted by his actions, saying he was “sorry for the pain” he had caused.

He also apologised to his family, particularly his wife Bobbie.

“To my wonderful, forgiving and gracious family who I love more than anything, I hate hurting you. Bobbie, in my eyes you are the most Christ-like, beautiful, loyal and faithful person alive today,” Mr Houston said.

“It crushes me to see your heart breaking as we navigate this season, letting go of so much that is precious to you. I love my family and it pains me deeply to see you navigating these waters.”

He also apologised to all members of the Hillsong Church, telling them that the word “sorry” would never be enough to express his sorrow at how he had let them down.

“As hollow as it may sound, I believe I am the person and pastor you believed me to be. Imperfect and flawed, but genuinely passionate about God, people, calling and life. I am determined that my mistakes will not define me,” he said.

“This is not the way I imagined it to end.”

Brian Houston with his wife Bobbie. Picture: Instagram

The Hillsong Church called a crisis meeting earlier this month to inform the church’s 800 staff of the allegations against Mr Houston, which occurred in 2013 and 2019.

Pastor Phil Dooley, who took over the role as the head of the evangelical church after Houston stepped down earlier this year, detailed two incidents investigated by senior church staff.

The first alleged incident involved a female church member who quit after making a complaint about an “inappropriate” text message about a decade ago.

“It was along the line of ‘if I was with you, I‘d like to kiss and cuddle you’, words of that nature,” Pastor Dooley told the meeting.

The woman left her job after complaining about the incident to Hillsong general manager George Aghajanian, with Mr Houston reported to have paid out the woman several months’ salary a compensation for the incident.

The second incident allegedly occurred at a Sydney hotel during the church’s annual conference at Qudos Bank Arena at Homebush in 2019.

Signage is seen at the Hillsong Church building in Waterloo, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The senior pastor spent 40 minutes inside of a woman’s room after claiming to have been locked out of his own.

The woman was not a member of Hillsong staff but did complain to the Church of the incident.

“The truth is we don’t know what happened next,” Pastor Dooley said, though Mr Houston denies that he engaged in any sexual activity.

In his statement, Mr Houston said he believes the future is “still bright” for Hillsong.

He also thanked his “Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ” for his “amazing grace and forgiveness”, before detailing his own struggles in recent years.

“Over many years of constant pressure, opposition, challenges, and attacks, accompanied by my personal turmoil over my father’s evil, many people have asked – ‘How do you continue to get up, cope, and keep going?’ And now we know the answer. I haven’t coped very well at all,” he said.

“I openly admit that alcohol has been no friend and I am determined to relegate it to my past.

“Please be assured, I accept full responsibility for my actions and I have no one to blame but myself for the position I find myself in.”

Mr Houston is also fighting against allegations he concealed his father’s child sex abuse. Picture: Damian Shaw

Mr Houston said he and his wife were living “day by day right now” as he continues to “prepare to fight for my innocence in the legal proceedings ahead”.

The Hillsong founder is currently defending allegations he concealed his father’s child sexual abuse.

He stepped down from his senior position in the church in January as a result.

Police allege Mr Houston knew from September 1999 that his father Frank Houston had indecently assaulted a male in 1970.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of concealing a serious indictable offence and is due in court in November.

Mr Houston ended his statement by revealing he had no intention of retiring and thanking everyone who had reached out in recent days.

“Thank you for the immense honour of pastoring Hillsong Church these past 39 years. What a journey. What wonderful memories and joy. What powerful testimonies and stories of Christ’s transformation and grace,” he said.

“I still believe ‘the best is yet to come’ … and our prayer for your health, wellbeing and God’s perfect Will in your life continues.”

– with NCA NewsWire