Megachurch Pastor Steps Down Ahead Of Coverup Trial

Religion News Service reports:

Brian Houston, co-founder of the Hillsong megachurch and media empire, announced that he is stepping aside as global senior pastor, telling worshipers via a pre-recorded video that he would be taking a leave of absence from the church until the end of this year.

Citing a decision by the Hillsong board and external legal counsel, Houston, standing with his wife and co-founder, Bobbie, said “best practice” dictates that he absent himself completely from church leadership as he faces trial for allegedly failing to report sexual abuse.

Houston, 67, was charged in August with concealing a serious indictable offense of another person. Police say his late father, Frank Houston, also a preacher, indecently assaulted a young male in 1970. Court documents allege Houston knew of his father’s abuse as early as 1999.

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Houston announced an extended leave of absence during court proceedings. Houston is charged with concealing evidence of his father’s alleged abuse of a young man: https://t.co/tgt6amQ3e5

— Religion News Service (@RNS) January 30, 2022