PM ‘disappointed’ by Houston allegations

The Prime Minister has revealed his shock at the resignation of Brian Houston from Hillsong Church over allegations of misconduct.

Scott Morrison has revealed he was “disappointed” and “shocked” that Hillsong founder Brian Houston has resigned over allegations of misconduct insisting he has not been a member of the church for a decade.

The Prime Minister, who invited Mr Houston to the White House and attended a Hillsong conference in 2019 with his wife Jenny where they prayed for the drought to end with Mr Houston, said the resignation was the right thing to do.

The Prime Minister and his wife, Jenny, attended the Hillsong conference in 2019. Picture: Supplied

Speaking at a press conference today, Mr Morrison said his thoughts were with the victims.

“I think it was entirely appropriate. And I must admit we were very disappointed and shocked to hear the news,’’ he said.

“My first thoughts were with the victims, as they’ve been rightly described. And the actions that have been taken are entirely appropriate.

“And I’m sure they will continue down that path as a church. I mean, I haven’t been at Hillsong now for about 15 years. I go to a local church in my own community, a Pentecostal church.”

In 2019, the Prime Minister and his wife Jenny spoke of the “miracle” of the birth of his daughters after 17 years of infertility as he prayed to God for rain to end Australia’s drought at a Hillsong conference.

At the 2019 Hillsong conference, the Prime Minister and his wife spoke of the miracle birth of his daughters after 17 years of infertility. Picture: Supplied

Declaring “what the nation needs is more prayer and more worship”, the couple told the Hillsong conference in Sydney they had been sustained by the Australians who told them they were praying and fasting during the election.

“Our life have been blessed by miracles. What’s a miracle? A miracle is what the world can’t see but God can see,” the Prime Minister said prompting gasps and applause from worshippers.

“God just walks with us. You just walk the path God gives us. That’s what a miracle is.”

Mr Morrison, who declared in his election victory speech, “I have always believed in miracles”, said “absolutely” when asked by Hillsong founder Brian Houston if he still believed at the 2019 event.

“Yes, I do,” he said. “Our daughter was born on the 7/7/2007, after 17 years of waiting.”

Mrs Morrison had multiple IVF rounds before the birth of the couple’s two daughters.

The Prime Minister received applause and a standing ovation from the 20,000-strong crowd of worshippers in Sydney.

“I am not a pastor, I am a Prime Minister. What my request is, love and have your congregations reach out,” he said.

“It’s not a political agenda. It’s just who we are. It’s who you are. And wherever you are, be who God made you.”

Holding hands with his wife, Mr Morrison asked the congregation to pray for rain to help the farmers battling drought.

“I want to pray for the drought. Let’s pray. Lord, we just pray for rain,” he said.

Two years ago, the Prime Minister finally confirmed that he asked the Trump administration to invite Hillsong pastor Brian Houston to a state dinner at the White House, after refusing for months to answer the question and deriding the story as “gossip”.

PM Scott Morrison asked that the Trump administration invite Hillsong founder, Brian Houston, to a state dinner at the White House. Picture: Supplied

The Prime Minister said he had known the Hillsong leader for “a long time” and had included his name on a list of potential guests that was ultimately decided by the White House.

“On that occasion, we put forward a number of names that included Brian, but not everybody whose names we put forward were invited,” Mr Morrison said.

“I’ve known Brian for a long time and Hillsong church has a very big network of churches all across the United States, and the ministry, when it comes to the music and so many other things have been very big – it’s probably the single largest church organisation that is known in the United States.

In the PM’s opinion, Hillsong is probably ‘the single largest church organisation that is known in the United States’. Picture: Instagram/BobbieHouston

According to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Mr Houston failed to alert the police to allegations his father had sexually assaulted children, and had a conflict of interest when he assumed responsibility for dealing with the accusations.

During an interview in March, 2020 2GB radio host Ben Fordham said it was relevant because Mr Houston was under police investigation over his handling of allegations of sex abuse involving his father, Frank Houston.

“All I know is that they’re a very large and very well-attended and well-supported organisation here in Australia, and, you know, they’re very well known in the United States, so well known that Brian was actually at the White House a few months after I was, so the President obviously didn’t have an issue with it, and that’s what I think that’s where the matter rests,” Mr Morrison said.

“But honestly people chased this round and round for months and what’s important is the relationship we have with the United States and it’s never been better.”

According to the Royal Commission, Mr Houston failed to alert police to allegations his father had sexually assaulted children. Picture: Marcus Ingram/Getty

The request from the Prime Minister’s office for Mr Houston’s attendance was first reported by The Wall Street Journal in September while Mr Morrison was in Washington D.C. for a state visit.

The report said that Mr Morrison had been “determined” to invite Mr Houston, but after several rounds of discussions between Canberra and Washington the idea was vetoed by the White House.

When asked by the travelling Australian media about the report, Mr Morrison refused to answer questions, saying: “I don’t comment on gossip or stories about other stories.”

“I’m not going to get into the habit of just because one journalist somewhere in the world talks to someone who won’t put their name to it, and all of a sudden apparently we’ve got to play 20 questions,” Mr Morrison later told Sky News.

“That’s just not how I’m going to operate. If people have an established source who’s prepared to put their names to things, well that’s a different matter.”

Labor also attempted to question Mr Morrison about the guest list in parliament, prompting him to accuse Labor of casting aspersions on Mr Houston.

“If they are suggesting anything serious, or casting any aspersions on the individual which is the subject of the question, then perhaps I suggest they go and attend that church and they explain their concerns directly to their parishioners,” Mr Morrison said.