Hillsong’s drama continues
Hillsong is a global brand. Starting in the northern Sydney suburbs it has spread from Sydney to more than 125 sites in 27 countries – including 12 in the UK.
David Robertson, Sydney www.ask.org.au
Its music is probably the most commercially successful in the world – and there will be few churches in the UK which have not sung a Hillsong song. The organisation claims that it has 150,000 attenders worldwide – including over 40,000 in Australia – where it is a key part of one of the fastest growing denominations – the Australian Christian Churches (Assemblies of God). But the brand is in trouble, after several cases of ‘inappropriate’ behaviour – including that of Carl Lentz, its high-profile New York leader. However, it is the case of Brian Houston, its founder and global leader, which has done most harm.