Hillsong GM did not report abuse allegation because it was not imminent danger

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The chief executive of Hillsong, the Australia-based charismatic global megachurch, told a court last week why he failed to report allegations of child abuse by Frank Houston, father of Hillsong founder Brian Houston, in 1999. Hillsong chief executive George Aghajanian told the court he didn’t believe the abuse presented imminent danger, so he didn’t think he should report it to the police.

Aghajanian made the comments under oath during a special hearing last week in Australia into allegations that Brian Houston covered up the sexual abuse of his late father Franks, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. (ABC).

George Aghajanian, CEO of Hillsong (Source: Hillsong)

Brett Sengstock, now 60, claims Frank Houston sexually assaulted him when he was just 7 years old. Brian Houston and others, including Aghajanian, allegedly testified that they learned of Sengstocks’ allegations in 1999, when Brian Houston was National President of the Australian Assemblies of God (AOG).

Authorities accuse Houston of not reporting her father’s abuse until after her father died in 2004. Houston has pleaded not guilty.

Aghajanian told the court on Thursday that he informed Brian Houston in October 1999 of the allegations against his father. Aghajanian reportedly testified that Brian Houston looked shocked when he told her.

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A pastor who testified that he spoke to Brian Houston about the allegations in November 1999 also said Houston seemed shocked, the Australian Associated Press reported.

The National AOG reportedly ripped out Frank Houston’s preaching credentials in November 1999 when Houston informed denominational leaders of the charges against his father. But the AOG reportedly decided not to publicly disclose the allegations among its churches or report them to the police.

Brian Houston’s attorney previously said Brian Houston didn’t report the abuse because he didn’t believe Sengstock wanted the police involved. Sengstock reportedly denied saying that to Houston.

The Roys report sought comment from the AOG in Australia, but received no response. We also contacted Hillsong and its US branch, but did not immediately receive a response.

Frank Houston, who had led AOG in New Zealand, remained employed by the Sydney Christian Life Center church he founded and where his son was then senior pastor for another year after AOG leaders told him not to preach. Then he and his wife would have received retirement allowances.

Aghajanian reportedly told the court he thought Frank Houston’s retirement payout was appropriate. He added that he did not believe the church should report the allegations because the matter was related to a prior incident at our church. . . and the victim was an adult, he reportedly said.

He understood the requirements to mean he should have reported something that could be of potentially imminent danger, the Australian Associated Press reported, Aghajanian told the court.

A former AOG leader testified that it was not AOG policy to make public announcements on serious issues such as child sexual abuse. But the organization has prepared a statement to release if it hears any rumors about Frank Houston, News Corp Australia reported.

Testimony last week indicated that the AOG sent a letter in December 2001 informing its ordained ministers of serious allegations against Frank Houston. The letter was reportedly marked as extremely confidential.

Sydney Christian Life Center and Hills Christian Life Center became Hillsong Church in 2001. Hillsong has spread across the world, now reporting that some 150,000 people attend services in 30 countries.

Brian Houston became Hillsongs Global Senior Pastor. He resigned from the post earlier this year after an internal investigation found he had acted inappropriately towards a former Hillsong staff member and another church-linked woman.

Houston denied resigning over the alleged misconduct, instead saying he felt supported in an untenable position by statements from Hillsong’s board of directors.

The lawsuit comes amid scrutiny of Hillsongs culture as a whole.

One of its most prominent pastors, Carl Lentz, was fired for moral failures in 2020. Other scandals, including criminal allegations against Houston, surfaced the following year.

The Hillsongs Global Board of Directors announced this month that it is working to overhaul the way it accredits pastors. The overhaul includes moving from a discipline and restoration for pastors to a survey of a pastor’s suitability. The changes also include the formation of a new body to deal with allegations of misconduct against Hillsong pastors, according to the board’s latest quarterly report.

Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas.

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