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After Nearly 2 Years of 'Prayerful Discussion', Hillsong Splits from Assemblies of God in Australia to become Its Own Denomination—Here's Why...

Jessilyn Justice : Sep 21, 2018
Charisma News

"I am very grateful to the ACC National Executive who have been both gracious and proactive in working with our church board and drafting a potential structure to redefine our relationship moving forward ... The goal is that we could become an associate church, and that we would continue to lean into the ACC and support, at some level..." -Pastor Brian Houston

[CharismaNews.com] Hillsong Church announced on Wednesday that it has formed its own denomination. (Photo: Brian Houston-Hillsong Church/Facebook)

"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," senior pastor Brian Houston says in a letter. "For this reason, we are now registered by the Australian Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages, as a recognized denomination with the ability to credential pastors in our own right."

Until now, Hillsong was part of the Australian Christian Churches, which was previously called Assemblies of God in Australia.

Houston was elected the national president of the Assemblies of God in Australia in May 1997, and under his leadership, the movement continued to grow and expand its influence. The organization changed to ACC in 2007.

"I love the ACC and have been a part of this denomination since I was a five-year-old in New Zealand, and have held a credential in Australia with the AOG/ACC for virtually forty years," Houston writes. "I also served as NSW State President for six years, and National President for twelve. It is a movement I have devoted many years of my adult life to both serving and leading. I believe wholeheartedly that Pastor Wayne Alcorn is doing a wonderful job in leading the movement, and I want to make it clear that we have no grief or dispute at all with the ACC. Instead, this decision comes after almost two years of prayerful discussion within both our global and Australian church boards."

Alcorn is the ACC national president.

"Despite the changing shape of the relationship between Hillsong and ACC, both parties are committed to working together towards a new effective partnership," Alcorn says. "Discussions to that end are ongoing. I encourage you to be in prayer as ACC and Hillsong finalise discussions; the goal being that God's Kingdom will only increase during this change."

Houston says the move allows Hillsong to grow internationally.

"This recognition alleviates the issues that would occur if, for example, a concern arises that affects the credential of a Hillsong Church youth pastor in one of our campuses in Europe. The Australian ACC cannot be expected to have adequate information to address this issue or even know who the person is, let alone the resources to appropriately deal with the issue on a personal or pastoral level," Houston says.

"I am very grateful to the ACC National Executives who have been both gracious and proactive in working with our church board and drafting a potential structure to redefine our relationship moving forward. Obviously, this would be subject to proper process. The goal is that we could become an associate church, and that we would continue to lean into the ACC and support, at some level, initiatives such as conferences, missions, and Alphacrucis; while foregoing voting and other rights associated with full member churches and ordained ACC pastors," Houston says.

According to the Hillsong fact sheet, the church has more than 130,000 global attendees in the following locations:

Australia: 89 services per weekend in 30 locations across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Bali, Indonesia

Argentina: Buenos Aires

Brazil: São Paulo

Canada: Two locations in Toronto and Ottawa

Denmark: Copenhagen

France: Four locations across Paris, Lyon and Marseille

Germany: Four locations in Konstanz, Düsseldorf, Munich and Berlin

Israel: Tel Aviv

Italy: Milan

Netherlands: Two locations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam

Norway: Nine locations in Oslo, Stavanger, Sandnes, Drammen, Tønsberg, Egersund, Karmøy, Kristiansand and Trondheim

Portugal: Two main locations in Lisbon and Porto, with five other locations across the country

Russia: Moscow

South Africa: Nine locations across Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg

Spain: Two locations in Barcelona and Madrid

Sweden: Four locations in and around Stockholm and Malmö

Switzerland: Two locations in Zurich and Geneva

Ukraine: Two locations in Kiev

United Kingdom: 10 locations.

United States: New York City, New Jersey, Boston, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and three locations in and around Phoenix. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here.