Hillsong Church’s Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston said his church will review recent allegations of gross financial abuse by pastors.
While defending his denomination’s “record of excellence in financial accountability globally and an unwavering commitment to financial integrity,” I am writing to you today because of several stories circulating online alleging a serious abuse of trust — the misuse of church funds by Hillsong Church employees,” Houston began in a letter sent to members Monday that was also shared with The Christian Post. “We are particularly grieved that, in many cases, inaccurate accounts in these stories have been reported as if they are true. Hillsong Church strongly refutes that our culture casually allows for such gross misuse of church funds. In fact, these stories are especially troubling since Hillsong has a record of excellence in financial accountability globally and an unwavering commitment to financial integrity,” he said. The U.S. arm of Hillsong Church was recently rocked by allegations of financial abuse from former members who said pastors frequently splurged tithe money on lavish expenses. This accusation came on the heels of a sex scandal that erupted at the Hillsong NYC location. Former members of the church, including Hillsong LA Service Pastor Nicole Herman, told the New York Post that many pastors at Hillsong NYC frequently used tithe money loaded on debit-like “PEX” (pre-paid expense) cards on things like expensive restaurant meals, designer clothes and weekly manicures while living in a high-priced building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Herman, who left the church two years ago, told the publication that she personally loaded the funds onto the PEX cards as directed by leaders. “I was instructed to fill them,” Herman, who helped found Hillsong’s California branch in 2013, said. “We had a team count the tithes after every service and they would allocate X amount of money for the PEX cards.” The reloadable cards were given to volunteers to make purchases for the church and pastors, said Herman. Church staff, such as former Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz, who was fired last November over “leadership issues” and moral failures, including being unfaithful to his wife, also received their own Hillsong credit cards.
Houston argued, however, that his church has systems in place to prevent the abuse of tithes and offerings, and even though he’s confident that many of the allegations circulating about the church are “not true,” the church will “closely examine” the claims and take action if necessary.
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Judith is a believer, a lover of Christ and a Gospel freak person. A passionate gospel blogger and press writer. I work with GospelHitsNaija.net Media, no 1 Gospel music platform.
