Hillsong has officially announced they are a religious and traditional denomination. “We are now registered by the Australian Department of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, as a recognised denomination with the ability to credential pastors in our own right,” Brian Houston wrote. Houston revealed this was in discussion since 2016:
“Instead, this decision comes after almost two years of prayerful discussion within both our global and Australian church boards.”
You can read the full letter here:
PDF: Brian Houston Message to ACC about Hillsong Becoming a Denomination
The ramifications for this move is stunning. Following how Hillsong gave lip service to the Royal Commission, Hillsong can now officially registered as a “cult,” since they are accountable to no one.
Historically, denominations are formed over theological positions. Hillsong didn’t. They want to be a denomination for pragmatic reasons only – which is absurd:
“So with that growing footprint in mind – it has become clear to us that we need to be able to credential our own pastors and restructure our church in a way that enables us to give due diligence to governance, risk, church health, safe church, and many other policies that are crucial to the future progress of Hillsong, globally.”
By what authority or what right does Hillsong have the credibility to credential their own pastors? They will claim they hold to a Pentecostal theology while preaching a theology that vehemently opposes Christian and biblical theology and practice. In the above statement they claim, “we need to be able to credential our own pastors and restructure our church in a way that enables us to give due diligence to governance, risk, church health, safe church, and many other policies that are crucial to the future progress of Hillsong, globally.”
If any government in any country considered this statement made by Brian Houston and researched Hillsong, government officials would realise this statement is 100% misleading.
For decades, Hillsong have publicly lied about where they came from and how they rose to prominence. They also lie to the general public how they claim to be ‘Pentecostal’ and emphatically lie how they scam people financially and how they use their own religion to bolster the lifestyles of Brian and Bobbie Houston.
Most recognised and dangerous cults are founded by sexual deviants and people who have no regard for law and government. For some reason, Houston thinks he is above scrutiny and governing laws by countries around the world. Brian Houston and his Hillsong empire would not exist if his pedophile father ever portrayed himself as an apostle and prophet to Australia and Christianity back in the late 1970s. The proof he thinks he is above the law is the fact he has no regard for a ‘Royal Commission’, Brian Houston having no problem misleading or attacking their integrity when they investigated how he covered up his father’s paedophilia crimes.
Our readers should note that Hillsong will be the only denomination in existence that has not been openly upfront and honest about their theological positions – which means they already are a risk to themselves and their followers.
At the core of Hillsong’s theological roots, Hillsong hold to the cultic theology of the New Apostolic Reformation NAR). Their ‘Seven Spheres’ theology is no different to the NAR ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ theology. This same theology is what essentially landed Kong Hee in jail – that is the idea we are to take dominion over and control all spheres/mountains of society – in this case the sphere/mountain of government and church. Yes, Hillsong believe they are called by God to take over and control government and the church.
So again – how can this movement claim they want to be accountable to anyone when they personally believe they have the authority to control the church and highest authorities across the face of the planet? With the amount of scandals in this movement, governments must monitor the dangers of such false institutions.
Eternity News writes:
Hillsong becomes a denomination
Why the global megachurch is leaving the ACC
Hillsong Church has become an official denomination today, withdrawing from the Australian Christian Churches (ACC).
In a letter addressed to the ACC network, Hillsong Senior Pastor Brian Houston announced the “global nature” of Hillsong Church had prompted the decision.
“… A global church with an Australian base” – Brian Houston
“We are now registered by the Australian Department of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, as a recognised denomination with the ability to credential pastors in our own right,” Houston wrote.
“As Hillsong Church has continued to grow, we no longer see ourselves as an Australian Church with a global footprint, but rather a global church with an Australian base – our global office now resides in the USA.
“Two thirds of the people attending Hillsong Church each weekend live in countries beyond Australia. We have pastoral staff in twenty-four nations around the world, representing 123 campuses and locations, with 263 different church services on any given weekend. We consider it to be “One House, with many rooms”.
“With that growing footprint in mind – it has become clear to us that we need to be able to credential our own pastors and restructure our church in a way that enables us to give due diligence to governance, risk, church health, safe church, and many other policies that are crucial to the future progress of Hillsong, globally.”
Wayne Alcorn, President of the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) has emailed its pastors saying: “Recently Hillsong Church advised its desire for a change in its relationship with the ACC. In a way, this can be likened to a child who has grown up and now has a larger life outside the family home.”
“The relationship between Hillsong Church and ACC is strong.” – Wayne Alcorn
“Hillsong Church now has more constituents and churches outside Australia than within, and as such, has announced its intention of establishing its own international denomination to credential their pastors, whilst remaining in Kingdom partnership with the ACC going forward.
“May I emphasise that the relationship between Hillsong Church and ACC is strong. The change in relationship has been facilitated by Hillsong’s global growth, rather than any disagreement.”
There are a few key factors that likely contributed to the change, however it is unlikely that Hillsong’s declaration of independence is due to doctrinal differences with the ACC. Hillsong has happily lived with the Australian Christian Churches statement of faith since its foundation, and its current Statements of Belief is very similar to the Australian ACC’s. As far as Eternity is aware there has been no major doctrinal issues raised by Hillsong within the ACC structure. Both ACC and Hillsong are orthodox, evangelical (in a broad sense) churches with a traditional Pentecostal doctrinal base.
Hillsong’s ‘Australian-ness’ has given it a great springboard to the world.
Other factors which might have contributed to the Hillsong announcement could be its approach, style and “Australian-ness”. Hillsong evolves quickly and has always maintained a fast-moving culture of growth and experimentation that is similar to a ‘start up’. Hillsong tries new things, is responsive and focusses on what grows churches and the kingdom of God.
The ACC, on the other hand, as a voluntary cooperation of autonomous churches, needs to consult widely and can not move as fast. This means there are observable cultural differences between Hillsong and other ACC churches.
Hillsong bears the marks of the land of its birth. Hillsong is pragmatic, flexible, concerned to experiment and grow. It has learned to connect with the wider community through its music. Its Australian-ness has given it a great springboard to the world.
Also, Hillsong is less “Pentecostal” than some other ACC churches. Pentecostal distinctives are less upfront in Hillsong than some other churches. This is not to say that Hillsong is anything other than a Pentecostal church; it still is. But Hillsong’s annual conference is an example of a movement that wants to serve the whole Christian church.
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Categories: Hillsong