Hillsong founder Brian Houston steps down as leader of church

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has introduced he's stepping down as chief of the church as he defends felony expenses that allege he lined up his father’s baby sexual abuse.

In a press release made on Sunday, Houston mentioned he made the choice after consulting with the church’s management and authorized counsel.

“The Hillsong International Board really feel it's in my and the church’s finest curiosity for this to occur, so I've agreed to step except for all ministry tasks till the top of the 12 months.

“The courtroom case I'm going through is expounded to circumstances surrounding my father, and I should be totally dedicated to preparation and engagement with the case and work intently with my legal professionals in defending this cost.

“I've mentioned, together with in a previous assertion, that I intend to combat the cost and welcome the chance to set the report straight.”

Houston was charged final October with one rely of concealing the intense indictable offence of one other individual. He had initially stepped apart as Hillsong’s board chairman after being charged.

Within the assertion, the pastor mentioned the fees got here as a “shock” to him, and he intends to “vigorously defend” himself.

He mentioned his resolution to step down was additionally pushed by his emotional wellbeing.

“We have now talked in regards to the results of the state of affairs with my father, which return a few years as much as the present authorized case, and the influence this has had on me emotionally.”

Houston’s father, Frank, died in 2004, and has been accused of the alleged abuse of a younger man within the Nineteen Seventies.

His son is due in courtroom in Sydney in October, and mentioned his newest resolution got here after discussions with the church’s board final December.

“In December, throughout our board assembly, Hillsong’s exterior authorized counsel gave the board recommendation concerning the present cost I'm going through,” he mentioned.

“That it could be ‘finest follow’ for me to step apart utterly from church management throughout the courtroom proceedings.

“The courtroom processes are prone to be drawn out and take up most of 2022 (particularly contemplating the backlog within the courts, exacerbated by the Covid pandemic).”