Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston resigns after scandals, internal probe

Hillsong Church said Brian Houston breached worshippers' trust, and they have 'been dealing with two complaints made against Pastor Brian over the last 10 years.'

The founder of Australia’s largest Evangelical organization, Hillsong Church, has resigned from his position as Global Senior Pastor after he allegedly behaved inappropriately toward two women on separate occasions.

In a statement from Hillsong, released Wednesday, the church announced their internal board has accepted founder Brian Houston’s resignation.

The news comes after Hillsong released an earlier statement last week claiming the church has “been dealing with two complaints made against Pastor Brian over the last 10 years.”

Hillsong also wrote that Houston had breached worshippers’ trust.

The church explained in vague detail that Houston, 68, had sent “inappropriate text messages” to a staff member a decade ago. Hillsong claims at the time of the incident, Houston was “under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence.”

Hillsong wrote Houston “immediately apologized” to the staff member and received “professional help to eliminate his dependency on this medication, and this was achieved successfully.”

The second incident, which involved a complaint from 2019, allegedly occurred when the married pastor knocked on the door of a hotel room “that was not his.” He is accused of entering the room and spending time with a “female occupant.”

Hillsong wrote this incident occurred after Houston became “disoriented” because he consumed “anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol.”