Gold-plated Hillsong pension for Brian and Bobbie Houston
Hillsong agreed to give Brian and Bobbie Houston a retirement package worth more than eight times the aged pension, documents show.
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Hillsong had agreed to pay Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie $350,000 a year in retirement, church board minutes show.
The pastors’ gold-plated package was more than eight times the $41,704 Centrelink pays Australian couples on the age pension.
Details about the Houstons’ deal have emerged as the Christian megachurch has been under siege following damaging revelations about its lavish spending.
Mr Houston had the generous package signed off when he was still global senior pastor.
That figure was to be indexed to match inflation, which would have increased the lucrative package every year.
“It was agreed to offer BCH and RLH a combined retirement salary of $200,000 per year, which will be split between Brian and Bobbie,” minutes from a meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in George Street, Sydney, show.
“In addition, a vehicle allowance each of $50,000 pa and a travel allowance of $100,000 to travel to churches internationally that includes airfares and accommodation.”
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The agreement, made at a board meeting in 2010, also covers the Houstons’ health care.
“Medical/health cover needs to be added as a provision if they are living outside of Australia. These amounts are in Australian Dollars,” the minutes state.
“It was noted that the offer will need to be indexed as it may be quite some time before they retire. PR advised that AON Hewitt, who are remuneration specialists, are providing a recommendation on appropriate salary levels both now and in retirement.”
Mr Houston, 69, was at the peak of his power in Hillsong when the agreement was made but his world has since fallen apart.
He quit the church in March last year just weeks after he was arrested for drink driving in Newport Beach, California.
Mr Houston has confirmed his “foolish decision” in an Instagram post last week, an hour after his lawyer was contacted by the Faith On Trial podcast, produced by News Corp.
The church founder said the alleged offence happened at a time when “all hell had broken loose” inside Hillsong and he was under “immense pressure”.
Mr Houston did not attend his arraignment hearing in the Orange County Superior Court on Wednesday morning Australian time.
He has been charged with drink driving after blowing 0.23, with his case adjourned until June 13 for a further hearing.
Hillsong did not respond when asked if Mr Houston’s retirement package changed when he quit the church.
Originally published as Gold-plated Hillsong pension for Brian and Bobbie Houston
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