Hillsong Church shall be led by husband and spouse pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley, whereas its founder steps apart to concentrate on combating a cost of illegally concealing little one sexual abuse by his late father.
Brian Houston, the church's chief, stated he had requested the Dooleys to tackle the position of interim international senior pastors till the tip of the yr whereas he prepares to "vigorously defend" himself in opposition to the cost.
The couple "are well-loved by many in our church, having efficiently served as our youth pastors in Australia for a few years," Houston stated in an announcement posted on Hillsong's web site on Sunday.
"During the last 13 years they, with their household, have resided in South Africa and have raised up an exceptional multi-campus Hillsong Church."
Houston stated he and spouse Bobbie "wholeheartedly help" the Dooleys.
"We need to thank them and their household for entering into this position and committing to spend a substantial period of time in Australia for this season," he added.
The Dooleys are lead pastors of Hillsong Church South Africa and have three youngsters, in line with the Hillsong web site.
"They moved to South Africa in 2008 and their coronary heart is to construct a church that builds this nation," the web site provides. "A dynamic duo, they're gifted communicators and empowering leaders who're all about seeing individuals discover Jesus and fulfil their God-given destinies."
The couple have been contacted for remark.
Houston based Hillsong along with his spouse Bobbie in Sydney in 1983. It has since change into a worldwide megachurch that has areas in 30 nations on six continents, and 150,000 individuals attend its providers each week, the church says.
It has change into widespread with younger individuals in recent times and attracted a number of celebrities—together with Justin Bieber, Chris Pratt and Bono—however has additionally been rocked by scandals.
Houston had already stepped down from the board of Hillsong since being charged final yr. However he stated on Sunday that he had agreed with the church's board and exterior authorized counsel that he ought to "step apart utterly from church management throughout the courtroom proceedings."
In his assertion, he stated his spouse "intends to stay totally engaged in church life."
Houston was charged in August final yr with concealing a critical indictable offense of one other particular person.
Police allege he knew about his father Frank Houston's abuse of a younger male within the Seventies and did not report it to police.
An Australian authorities inquiry into institutional responses to allegations of kid intercourse abuse stated Brian Houston grew to become conscious of allegations in opposition to his father in 1999, however allowed him to retire fairly than report him to police.
Frank Houston died in 2004 on the age of 82. He had been accused of abusing 9 boys whereas he was a Pentecostal preacher, in line with the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
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