A month prior to resigning as global senior pastor at Hillsong Church, Pastor Brian Houston was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in California, Houston posted on Instagram earlier this week.
Several news reports state that records from the Superior Court of California in Orange County show that Houston was arrested on Feb. 26, 2022. He had been driving with a blood alcohol content of more than .08%. He also failed to display two license plates on the vehicle he was driving.
“In February 2022, and in the lead up to my departure from the role of senior pastor of Hillsong Church, I was unfortunately charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in the USA,” Houston’s Instagram post read. “I made the foolish decision to drive just 2 or 3 hundred metres (yards) to park the car and I am grateful to God no damage or injury occurred.”
Early last year, Houston, 68, stepped down from his position at Hillsong to fight a charge of covering up sex offenses committed by his preacher father, Frank. In August 2021, Brian Houston was charged in Sydney, Australia, with concealing a series of indictable offenses and said in a statement he had already been told to step aside from all Hillsong boards.
“In December during our board meeting, Hillsong’s external legal counsel gave the board advice regarding the current charge I am facing—that it would be the ‘best practice’ for me to step aside completely from church leadership during the court proceedings,” Houston said in the released statement. “We have talked about the effects of the situation with my father, which go back many years up to the current legal case, and the impact this has had on me emotionally.
“The result is that the Hillsong Global Board feels it is in my and the church’s best interest for this to happen, so I have agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year. I need to be fully committed to preparation and engagement with the case and work closely with my lawyers in defending this charge.”
While he said he was under a great deal of pressure personally last February, Houston did not excuse his behavior to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
“At the time, It seemed like all hell had broken loose with Hillsong Church and I was under immense pressure and emotional strain. Clearly, that is not an excuse, and I take full responsibility for my actions.
In Houston’s Instagram post, the former pastor says he has received a great deal of love and support since last March, and that he is ready to move on with his life and ministry.
“Thirteen months have passed since that incident occurred and I am now in a much stronger place within my spirit and my soul. I am grateful for trusted friends who, along with Bobbie (his wife) and our family have offered their constant love and support in a very disruptive season. We are looking forward together to a fruitful season ahead.”
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
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