Hillsong Church Scandal: What Happened at the Megachurch?

Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.

Hillsong Church became a widely discussed topic when several celebrities attended the church’s services. However, the megachurch has found itself at the center of several scandals, making people suspicious of its activities. In November 2020, former pastor Carl Lentz was fired from his position for moral failures. Later, reports indicated that Lentz had an extramarital affair with a woman and had been unfaithful in his marriage. Apart from that, the Hillsong megachurch has faced several controversies, including allegations of sexual abuse.

In 2019, one of the former members accused the Hillsong church of homophobia. According to Business Insider, the former member noted that she came out as bisexual to one of the church’s pastors. Even though the megachurch promoted inclusivity, the pastor told her that her sexual orientation would be “a problem.” Her mental health declined after that, and she even considered suicide.

In November 2020, founder Brian Houston fired Carl Lentz for “moral failures.” Lentz also admitted that he had been “unfaithful” in his marriage and had an affair with a woman. Meanwhile, Page Six reported that the former pastor had more than one affair during his time at the church. Lentz’s former nanny accused him of sexual abuse.

She posted an essay on Medium and mentioned she suffered bullying and abuse. Per People Magazine, the accuser wrote, “During the years I spent serving them, I was subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse. Having told almost no one before this, I am just now able to share what I experienced in their home as the result of intense therapy.”

However, he and his wife, Laura, have denied all the allegations. In the following years, the church and some of its senior members were accused of several things, including racial discrimination and inappropriate behavior.

What happened at the Hillsong Church & what was the scandal?

After Hillsong megachurch fired Carl Lentz, he posted on social media that his time with the institution had ended. The post also mentioned that he cheated on his wife, Laura Lentz, and remained unfaithful. According to ABC News, Laura wanted to leave Lentz after the cheating scandal, but when she heard about her husband’s troubled childhood, she chose to stay. She stayed with Lentz throughout the cheating scandal and even denied all the abuse allegations leveled against the pastor.

Apart from that, eight men accused Brian Houston’s father, Frank Houston, of sexual abuse. Although Frank died before getting punishment for his crimes, Australian authorities charged Brian Houston for covering the child sexual abuse. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and resigned from his position, reported People Magazine.

The trial of Brian Houston, which began in December 2022, concluded with Houston being not guilty. During the trial, Brian alleged that his father was a pedophile and didn’t know the extent of his father’s abuse. However, he also revealed that he never reported abuse because the victim told him not to report the crime.

Meanwhile, the prosecution noted that Brian Houston did not report the crime to save his family and the church’s reputation, per The Guardian. However, the magistrate denied the allegation and said, “There is little doubt in my mind that the accused [Brian Houston] knew Mr Sengstock did not want the matter reported to police. He therefore had a reasonable excuse for not bringing the matter to the attention of police.” As a result, the court found him not guilty. On the other hand, in March 2022, two women reportedly accused founder Brian Houston of inappropriate behavior.

Documentaries such as The Secrets of Hillsong and Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed explore the Hillsong scandals in detail.