Hillsong Investigated

Late last year a blog called 'randomness exemplified' reproduced one of the best articles I ever seen on the subject of the Hillsong mega-church. The picture is not a pretty one. Remarkably this good journalism comes from News Limited of all places.

Others have reported that Head Pastor, Brian Houston, while not earning anything directly from the church does earn significant "love gifts" for speaking at the churches of other mega-church pastors (who also earn similar gifts speaking at his and so on). This reporter goes further noting that Houston and wife have sold multiple properties to a Hillsong-related entity that Houston directs in some cases at significant profits. Then the entity involved turned these properties back over to the Houstons to continue to use.

However, most damning are the interviews. Geoff Bullock is almost a household name among evangelical and pentecostal Christians for his highly popular worship songs. He worked for Houston in the early days and was a significant player in building Hillsong's dominance but these days the interview leaves one wondering if he's still a believer or whether his encounter with the Houston machine completely destroyed his faith. Notably when he and Houston first observed the American mega-church model (the commodification and consumerisation of faith) they had polar-opposite reactions with Houston enthused and Bullock aghast.

There's a lot in there but its in closing that the important question is raised: what happens when the mega-church bubble bursts? Australia may be getting set to see its own Jimmy Swaggart or Benny Hinn emerge and what will the Hillsong throngs do when that happens? The steep hierarchy of their organisation seems prone to leaving the grassroots hanging in the wind if the leadership gets caught up in scandal.

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