Hillsong Ignored Own Rules on Pedophile Founder: Inquiry

SBS
October 9, 2014

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/10/09/hillsong-ignored-own-rules-pedophile-founder-inquiry

Rules were set aside by the executive of the Pentecostal movement when it came to dealing with allegations against confessed pedophile Frank Houston, the father of Hillsong senior pastor Brian Houston.

And the executive left it to Brian Houston to make decisions about his father, a national inquiry into child sexual abuse has been told.

Keith Ainge, former national secretary of the Assemblies of God, an umbrella body for the Pentecostal churches, said on Thursday that Brian Houston was the only conduit for information to the executive about allegations against his father.

The church elder told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that the first the national executive heard of allegations against Frank Houston was when his son Brian Houston called a special meeting of the executive on December 22, 1999.

Brian Houston was national president of the AoG. He had already suspended his father when he called the meeting.

Pastor Ainge on Thursday said that under AoG rules Frank Houston should have had his credentials withdrawn for abusing a child. Instead the meeting on December 22 suspended them for two years and recommended that Frank Houston enter a restorative program.

In reply to questions from counsel assisting the commission Simeon Beckett, Pastor Ainge said he truthfully could not answer why the policy was not followed "except to say that it was a new policy and not fully understood and the fact there was no formal complaint and the complainant did not give his name".

Mr Beckett: "according to Brian Houston?"

When asked about Brian Houston's conflict of interest and the executive's dependence on him to investigate his father and take action Pastor Ainge: "Yes, we agree it was a difficult situation from that perspective ..."

Mr Beckett: You were relying on what Brian Houston said about the complainant not wanting it to go to the police; is that correct?

Pastor Ainge: "Correct".

Mr Beckett: And you had not had an independent person deal with the complainant?

Pastor Ainge: That's correct.

The hearing is ongoing.