Home Christian News Brian Houston Trial for Sex Abuse Coverup Charge Is Underway

Brian Houston Trial for Sex Abuse Coverup Charge Is Underway

When the money was not paid to him, Sengstock ended up in contact with Brian Houston, who allegedly blamed Sengstock for his own abuse, saying that Sengstock had “tempted” Frank Houston. 

Following the exchange, which took place in 1999, Sengstock received a check for the agreed upon sum, something Sengstock characterized as payment for his “silence.”

Houston, who founded Hillsong Church four decades ago, saw his leadership role at the church increasingly diminish in the run-up to this trial. He was asked to take a year-long leave of absence in January so that he could focus on his defense, with his eventual resignation from the church coming in March. 

Houston’s resignation came after it was publicly revealed that his leave of absence was not merely to give him space to prepare for his criminal defense, but also because of other incidents requiring discipline, including substance abuse and inappropriate behavior toward women who weren’t his wife. 

In a recent video, Houston denied the claim that he resigned for these moral reasons, saying, “I want to be clear: the media and others incorrectly say I resigned because I breached the Hillsong code of conduct, but that’s just not true. I didn’t resign because of my mistakes. I resigned because of the announcements and statements that have been made, which Bobbie and I felt made my position untenable.”

Houston further alleged that his resignation was the end result of a “progression” whereby he was “squeezed out” by the Hillsong Church board.

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The court hearing is expected to last multiple weeks.