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The Unfolding Saga: 5 Major Hillsong Church Scandals And Where The Key Figures Are Now In Late 2025

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The global megachurch Hillsong has been synonymous with scandal for years, a dramatic fall from grace for the institution that once defined modern Christian worship and celebrity culture. As of late December 2025, the fallout continues to reshape the organization, with new leadership desperately trying to stabilize the brand while its former figureheads are charting new, controversial paths. The once-mighty network has seen a significant decline in its US footprint, a major financial overhaul under regulatory pressure, and the permanent departure of its founder, Brian Houston, whose own legal and moral failings became the epicenter of the crisis.

This article provides the most current, up-to-date look at the key controversies, the legal outcomes, and the current status of the central figures involved in the Hillsong Church saga, offering a fresh perspective on a story that continues to dominate religious headlines in 2025.

Key Figures and Entities in the Hillsong Scandal

The Hillsong saga involves a complex web of individuals, accusations, and organizational bodies. Understanding their roles is crucial to grasping the full scope of the controversy.

  • Brian Houston: Founder and former Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church. Resigned in March 2022 following internal investigations into inappropriate behavior with two women, as well as drug and alcohol use. He was found not guilty in August 2023 of concealing his father's child sexual abuse.
  • Frank Houston: Brian Houston's father and a prominent Assemblies of God pastor. The central figure in historical child sexual abuse allegations that Brian Houston was accused of concealing.
  • Carl Lentz: Former Lead Pastor of Hillsong NYC, the church's celebrity-friendly flagship US campus. Fired in November 2020 due to "moral failures," including infidelity, and "leadership issues".
  • Phil and Lucinda Dooley: Officially appointed as the new Global Senior Pastors of Hillsong Church in February 2023, succeeding Brian Houston. They previously led Hillsong Church Africa.
  • Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC): The government regulatory body that launched an investigation into Hillsong Church and its affiliated charities following allegations of financial misconduct and misuse of funds.
  • Hillsong NYC: The US campus that became the face of the scandal following Carl Lentz's firing, leading to the closure of many US locations.
  • Hillsong College: The church's educational institution, which was placed on probation by the ACNC due to governance concerns.

The Financial Fallout: ACNC Investigations and Enforceable Undertakings

One of the most damaging aspects of the scandal to emerge in recent years centers on allegations of financial misconduct, misuse of funds, and tax evasion within the global megachurch structure.

ACNC Investigation Outcome: The Push for Governance

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) launched a major investigation into Hillsong Church and its associated charities following bombshell allegations that included mass money laundering and the use of church funds for lavish personal expenses. The investigation focused on ensuring the church was operating in line with its charitable purpose and meeting its governance obligations.

In a significant move toward regulatory oversight, the ACNC announced the outcome of its investigation, which involved Hillsong Church and its ministries agreeing to an enforceable undertaking. This undertaking is a formal commitment to resolve the inquiries and implement a range of actions to improve governance, financial transparency, and accountability. The ACNC continues to monitor compliance with this agreement, with an update in February 2025 confirming the acceptance of an enforceable undertaking against Hillsong College as well. This ongoing regulatory pressure marks a new era of scrutiny for the organization.

The allegations included claims that church money was used to pay over $1 million annually in royalties to Hillsong musicians, including Brian Houston's son, and that funds were used for private flights and luxury items. The ACNC’s action underscores a critical shift away from the church’s previous, largely unchecked financial autonomy.

The Leadership Crisis: Brian Houston's Legal Clearance and New Path

The core of the Hillsong crisis stems from the leadership failures of its founder, Brian Houston, whose resignation in March 2022 was the culmination of multiple controversies.

The Frank Houston Cover-Up Trial

Houston faced one of the most serious legal challenges of his career when he was charged with concealing a serious indictable offense—specifically, failing to report the child sexual abuse committed by his father, Frank Houston, in the 1970s. After a high-profile trial, Houston was found not guilty of the charge in August 2023. While legally cleared of the criminal charge, the trial brought to light the internal handling of the abuse allegations, which many critics argued demonstrated a profound failure of moral and ethical leadership. He was also refused an application to have his legal costs covered.

Brian Houston’s New Ministry in 2025

Despite the scandals and his formal separation from Hillsong, Brian Houston is actively pursuing a ministry comeback. As of late 2025, he and his wife, Bobbie Houston, are running a new online ministry and announced plans to launch a new church in 2024. Their website features upcoming events and actively solicits donations and partnerships, indicating a clear, determined effort to return to public ministry, independent of the Hillsong brand he created. This move is highly controversial, with many viewing it as a premature return to a position of spiritual authority following his resignation for moral misconduct.

Carl Lentz and the US Decline: The End of Celebrity Megachurch Culture

The scandal involving Carl Lentz, the charismatic former pastor of Hillsong NYC, served as a catalyst for the church's dramatic decline in the United States.

The Firing and the Aftermath

Lentz was fired in November 2020 for "moral failures," including infidelity, and for "leadership issues". His departure was a shocking moment for the celebrity-driven megachurch, which counted figures like Justin Bieber among its attendees. The scandal exposed a culture of privilege, lack of accountability, and moral hypocrisy at the highest levels of Hillsong's American operations.

Carl Lentz’s Current Status in Late 2025

Five years after his dramatic fall from grace, the status of Carl Lentz remains a topic of intense curiosity. In a very recent update from November 2025, Lentz publicly stated that he has "no ministry aspirations right now," effectively shutting down speculation about a formal return to the pulpit. While he has reportedly re-entered the "church space" in some capacity, his current focus appears to be on personal recovery and family, rather than leading a new congregation. His story remains a stark cautionary tale about the pitfalls of celebrity-pastor culture.

The Future of Hillsong: New Leadership and a Smaller Footprint

The Hillsong Church that exists in late 2025 is a significantly different organization from the one Brian Houston founded. The church is now led by Global Senior Pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley, who assumed the role in February 2023.

The Dooleys face the monumental task of rebuilding trust, overhauling governance, and stabilizing a global network facing intense scrutiny. The US branch, once a symbol of the church's global reach, has plummeted in size, dropping to just five campuses after the closure of 11 locations, including the pivotal Hillsong San Francisco. While the church’s global attendance was once reported at around 150,000, the scandals have undoubtedly impacted its overall size and influence. The new leadership is focused on demonstrating a commitment to "continuous improvement in governance" and moving forward in a new season of faith, but the shadow of the past remains a powerful challenge.

hillsong church scandal
hillsong church scandal

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