5 Shocking New Updates On The Hillsong Church Scandal: Financial Fraud, ACNC Probe, And Brian Houston's New Venture

The Hillsong Church scandal continues to dominate headlines, shifting from sensational pastoral misconduct to serious allegations of financial mismanagement and a massive institutional overhaul. As of December 2025, the global megachurch is under intense scrutiny from regulatory bodies, forcing significant changes to its governance and financial transparency practices.

This article provides a deep dive into the most recent, crucial developments, focusing on the ongoing regulatory pressures, the church's internal reforms, and the latest moves by its former founder, Brian Houston, who was recently acquitted in a high-profile legal case but has since launched a new, controversial online ministry.

The Ongoing Fallout: Brian Houston's Legal Acquittal and New Ministry

The saga of Hillsong's founder, Brian Houston, reached a significant legal milestone, yet his personal and professional life remains a focal point of controversy. His departure from the church in March 2022 followed an internal investigation finding he had breached the church's moral code of conduct, but his legal battles continued to play out in the courts.

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Houston’s Acquittal and New Online Venture

• Legal Victory: Brian Houston was found not guilty of concealing his father's child sex crimes in a high-profile Australian court case.
• New Ministry Launch: Despite his disgraced exit from Hillsong, Houston and his wife, Bobbie Houston, made a comeback in 2024 by launching a new online ministry.
• "Jesus Followers TV": The new venture, called "Jesus Followers TV," is described as a weekly online ministry and church.
• Controversial Funding: The couple is actively asking for money and support for this new online church, a move that has drawn criticism given the financial transparency issues surrounding Hillsong.

This development signals a clear pivot by the former global senior pastor and his wife, moving away from the institutional structure they built to focus on a new, direct-to-audience online community.

Financial Fraud and the ACNC's Enforceable Undertaking

Perhaps the most critical and current development is the intense regulatory pressure on Hillsong's financial operations. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) launched an investigation following explosive allegations tabled in the Australian Parliament.

The allegations, made under parliamentary privilege by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, accused the megachurch of mass money laundering, tax evasion, and fraud.

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The $80 Million Undeclared Funds Claim

The core of the financial scandal revolves around claims that Hillsong Church earned significantly more than it reported. Documents tabled in parliament suggested the church had over $80 million in undeclared income in Australia alone.

These claims prompted the ACNC to investigate Hillsong Church, which publicly stated it was cooperating fully with the regulator.

The investigation's outcome led to a significant, legally binding action against one of the church's key entities.

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Hillsong College and the Enforceable Undertaking (2024)

In a major update, the ACNC accepted an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) from Hillsong College Ltd (also known as Power Ministries International) in December 2024.

An Enforceable Undertaking is a written agreement where a charity commits to taking specific steps to meet its obligations under the ACNC Act and Regulations. It is a legally enforceable action.

The EU mandates significant governance reforms for the college, which is a key component of the Hillsong global network. The college provided a detailed Governance Action Plan to the ACNC in August 2024.

This regulatory action places Hillsong College on probation, forcing it to implement rigorous financial and governance training and reviews, with a reviewed Financial Statement for the 2024 financial year being a key requirement.

The Wider Web of Scandal: Misconduct and Institutional Failure

While the financial and governance issues represent the most recent institutional crisis, the Hillsong name is inextricably linked to a series of high-profile misconduct scandals that led to the current environment of deep skepticism and the need for governance reform.

The Carl Lentz Scandal

The 2020 firing of celebrity pastor Carl Lentz from Hillsong NYC was a watershed moment. Lentz, who was instrumental in attracting a younger, celebrity-focused following, was dismissed due to "moral failures," which were later revealed to be multiple extramarital affairs. This event exposed a culture of celebrity worship and lack of accountability within the church's leadership structure.

Other Leadership Misconduct

The pattern of misconduct extended beyond Lentz. In 2022, Darnell Barrett, a pastor at Hillsong Montclair, New Jersey, stepped down after admitting to a breach of the church's moral code.

These individual cases, combined with the historical revelations of child sexual abuse by Frank Houston (Brian Houston's father), painted a picture of systemic institutional failure and a lack of proper oversight, ultimately leading to the demand for greater financial transparency and accountability.

Hillsong's Path to Reform: A New Era of Transparency

In response to the unprecedented crises, the current Hillsong leadership has committed to a sweeping internal review and reform process. The focus is on rebuilding trust through radical transparency and strict governance.

Global and Australia Board Reviews (2024)

Throughout 2024, Hillsong Church Global and Hillsong Church Australia announced and provided updates on ongoing Global Board Reviews and Australia Board Reviews.

These reviews are focused on strengthening the church's governance structure, improving leadership development, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, particularly those set by the ACNC.

The church has indicated that its goal is to demonstrate that it is a healthy institution, changing lives through Christ, while operating with the highest standards of financial and ethical integrity.

The Future of the Megachurch Model

The Hillsong saga has become a cautionary tale for the global megachurch model. The scandals have highlighted the inherent risks of centralized power, lack of independent oversight, and the potential for a culture of celebrity to overshadow core religious missions.

The enforceable undertaking and the ongoing board reviews represent a forced reckoning. For Hillsong to survive and regain credibility, it must successfully navigate these reforms, fully address the allegations of money laundering and fraud, and demonstrate a sustained commitment to ethical leadership and corporate governance far beyond the immediate regulatory deadlines. The world is watching to see if the institution can truly transform itself.