(ChurchLeaders) In a Sydney, Australia, courtroom Tuesday, a lawyer for Brian Houston said his client will plead not guilty to the charge of concealing his father’s alleged child sex abuse. Houston, co-founder of the worldwide evangelical megachurch Hillsong, wasn’t required to appear in person but has professed his innocence. Before dying at age 82 in 2004, Frank … [Read more...] about Hillsong’s Brian Houston Pleads Not Guilty to Covering Up Father’s Abuse
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SBC Executive Committee Says Yes to Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege
(ChurchLeaders) The executive committee (EC) of the Southern Baptist Convention has voted to waive attorney-client privilege (ACP) in the investigation into whether or not the it mishandled allegations of sexual abuse. The SBC Executive Committee approved a motion from Pastor Jared Wellman on Tuesday, Oct. 5. “This is one small step forward, for which I am … [Read more...] about SBC Executive Committee Says Yes to Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege
Annie Offering Tops $66 Million for New Record High
PITTSBURGH (BP) After a pandemic-influenced decline in 2020, Southern Baptists rallied to give $66.5 million to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® (AAEO) in 2021, the highest amount ever given to the offering that supports missions in North America. North American Mission Board (NAMB) president, Kevin Ezell, announced the total during the entity’s fall trustee meeting in … [Read more...] about Annie Offering Tops $66 Million for New Record High
‘COVID Has Been Harder on Us’: Some Black Churches Remain Hesitant To Reopen
by Adelle M. Banks (RNS) The pastor of a New York church that has halted in-person meetings since the coronavirus pandemic hit last year predicts the predominantly Black congregation won’t gather inside its sanctuary until the start of next year. A Pennsylvania minister is counting on warm fall weather to allow some of her congregants to meet for worship outside in … [Read more...] about ‘COVID Has Been Harder on Us’: Some Black Churches Remain Hesitant To Reopen
Lawyer: Hillsong Founder To Deny Concealing Abuse in Court
SYDNEY (AP) Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston will plead not guilty to illegally concealing alleged child abuse by his father, his lawyer told a court on Tuesday. Houston did not appear at Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court when his charge was mentioned before a registrar for the first time. His lawyer told the court Houston would be pleading not guilty to the charge of … [Read more...] about Lawyer: Hillsong Founder To Deny Concealing Abuse in Court