Church bleeds $17m

HILLSONG TAKES HIT

MEGACHURCH Hillsong is bleeding cash, with revenue dropping almost 20 per cent amid a string of controversies.

The church has seen a plunge in receipts, bringing in $17m less in the latest annual figures compared with two years ago.

It comes as former leader and founder Brian Houston is facing a charge of covering up his late father’s alleged sex crimes.

Police have accused Mr Houston of knowing in 1999 about allegations Frank Houston assaulted a male but failed to report it to authorities.

The allegations against Frank Houston were made at the royal commission into child abuse.

Mr Houston has vowed to fight the charges, which were expected to be heard over two weeks in December in a Sydney court. He’s yet to enter a plea but has indicated he will plead not guilty.

The church is also facing claims in the Federal Court, accused in documents of “fraudulent and unethical” behaviour, which the church denies.

The Hillsong Church annual report shows revenue of $76m in 2021, compared with $93m in 2019. Revenue in 2020 was $87m in a consistent downward trend.

The church encourages members to “tithe” – give 10 per cent of their income – making it a cash-rich operation.

However the church, which is also being investigated by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, still has more than $35m in “accumulated funds”.

Hillsong released the figures in its latest annual report, signed off by Ernst and Young partner Anthony Jones, which covers the year ending December 31, 2021.

Dr Stephen Crouch, Hillsong’s chairman, acknowledged the resignation of Mr Houston in the report.

“Phil and Lucinda Dooley stepped in as interim Global Senior Pastors in January 2022,” he wrote.

“Hillsong Church is working through an historic transition. While there is opportunity and new vision there will be change and challenge, so we press forward with God’s grace.”

Phil and Lucinda Dooley, who live in Cape Town, South Africa, wrote in a foreword to the report that it “hasn’t been an easy season”.

“We’re navigating the most significant change in our church’s history – transitioning from the leadership of our founding pastors,” they wrote.

“There has been much to consider and re-evaluate.

“This has been a time of asking some tough but necessary questions in order to be more effective in all we’re called to do and be.”

Mr Houston started Hillsong in Sydney in 1983.

He resigned from Hillsong in March after an investigation.