Allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards two women against Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston and his subsequent resignation have left Scott Morrison “disappointed and shocked”.
Mr Houston resigned from the church on Wednesday less than a week after it revealed and apologised for his alleged behaviour.
“I must admit we were very disappointed and shocked to hear the news,” the prime minister told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
“My first thoughts were with the victims, as they’ve been rightly described, and so very concerned and the actions that have been taken are entirely appropriate.”
Mr Morrison, who is a Pentecostal Christian but attends another church, said he had not been to Hillsong for about 15 years.
As well as the mistreatment allegations, Mr Houston is due back in a NSW court in December for a three-week hearing over allegations he hid his father’s child sexual abuse.
Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie founded Hillsong in 1983 in Sydney’s western suburbs, with churches now in 30 countries and an average global attendance of 150,000 weekly, according to its website.
His resignation follows an apology issued by the church on Friday over allegations of his alleged conduct towards two women.
About 10 years ago, Mr Houston allegedly sent inappropriate text messages to a staff member, while under the influence of sleeping tablets that he had become dependent on, and ended with the employee resigning, according to the board.
The second incident was received by the church in 2019.
According to the board, Mr Houston became disoriented following a Hillsong Conference and had consumed too much anti-anxiety medication mixed with alcohol when he knocked on the hotel room door and spent time with the female occupant.
An investigation launched by the global board found Mr Houston had breached the Hillsong Pastor’s Code of Conduct and on Friday said, “This person did not deserve to be placed in the situation she found herself in”.
The woman was refunded money she had donated to the church.
Following that investigation, Mr Houston stepped down from Hillsong leadership. But according to the board, he did not do all the agreed upon steps – that have not been detailed by the church – and he remained suspended, until Wednesday’s resignation.
AAP
