One of Australia’s major law firms has run the rule over Hillsong College — the church’s training ground for pastors of the future — and found instances of racism and sexism, as well as favouritism towards wealthy students and students well connected to Hillsong families.
The confidential review has made its way into the Crikey bunker and it paints a decidedly unchristian picture of life for the college’s fee-paying students, many of whom are from overseas.
A key finding goes to the exploitation of students as free labour for other Hillsong activities, such as providing the staff to run conferences. As Crikey has reported before, Hillsong’s business model relies enormously on free labour — some 5790 volunteers staff various businesses and activities such as conferences and services.
Its music productions — which provide the trademark razzamatazz of a Hillsong gathering — are almost entirely run by volunteers, with more than 1800 unpaid workers.
The review, which reported three weeks ago, says “a number of former students” raised concerns about “an expectation to volunteer” over and above their college academic and “practicum” commitments — the practical components of their course work. It said the college should ensure students are reminded that “they are not obliged to participate in volunteering opportunities over and above their course requirements”.
“They want more and more of you,” one former student told Crikey. “It’s sold to you like you are doing the work of the Lord. So many people struggle.
“They tell you that if it’s too easy you’re not really doing God’s work because you have to work hard to keep the devil away. They use Christianised language as a way of indoctrination. It becomes entrenched in your brain.”
The recommendation should be read alongside another finding: that “many students” found their expectation of college life was “vastly different to the reality” — which appears to suggest they were suckered by the church into parting with their money.
Students pay course fees of about $5000 a year (bringing in total fees to the college of $8.8 million in 2020). They also pay for accommodation (bringing in a total of $2.6 million in 2020). On top of that — and their obligatory volunteering — they must also pay a 10% tithe on whatever money they earn.
The review, by national law firm HWL Ebsworth, was commissioned after the Hillsong College Alumni Network Facebook page was bombarded with complaints from students past and present. Crikey understands one post attracted more than 1600 comments.
At the same time a young American student enrolled at the college made a complaint that she had been indecently assaulted by the son of a long-term Hillsong employee and Houston family stalwart. The young woman, Anna Crenshaw, went public about what she alleged was Hillsong’s reluctance to involve police in her complaint. The young man, a Hillsong employee, subsequently pleaded guilty at a magistrate’s court. The case caused widespread concern at the campus which in pre-COVID times has been a magnet for overseas students, enticed to Sydney to share in the Houston dream.
What the report says
- Many students identified that their expectation of college life upon enrolment and entry was vastly different to the reality
- A number of former students raised concerns about an expectation to volunteer over and above their college academic and practicum commitments
- Some former students raised concerns regarding racial and/or sex discrimination, as well as alleged preferential treatment on the basis of students’ wealth, family connections within Hillsong Church and favourable treatment of student groups that represent the “majority” of the student body.
What Hillsong College says it does
The law firm’s findings sit awkwardly with the Christian values which Hillsong professes to advance through its teaching.
The college’s corporate documents lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) say: “The object of the college is to equip disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in their Christian ministries in the areas of academic, professional, leadership, character and technical skills development, through a principal purpose of theological and ministry education.”
Meanwhile, with ACNC approval, the college is exempt from income tax, and donations to its education arm are tax- deductible, with one major area of training being in writing and performing the music that has helped make Hillsong a fortune.
Hillsong’s response
Hillsong has published a media statement. It fails to detail the review’s key findings but promises to do better, using pastor Brian Houston’s oft-used catch-cry: “The best is yet to come.”
You can read more of our reporting on Hillsong here.
Why are these grifters allowed to avoid paying tax?
Because they are recognised as a charity. Charities pay taxes to governments in the form of donations.
Que??
Hmmm. I’m thinking Jennifer may have been misunderstood here. I think what she is saying is that these grifters avoid paying tax because they have convinced governments that they are ‘Christian’ churches, rather than profit-making family franchises. But to avoid any further scrutiny, donations to favoured political parties certainly don’t go astray. I hope I’m right Jenn.
Yes you are right Norm. You spelled it out perfectly. Cheers
How does the Institute of Public Affairs qualify as a “charity”. Ditto the commercial arms of religious organisations.
Churches don’t – though they could get Jobkeeper.
And taxpayers money in the form of grants handed over by Scum Scovid Morri$sinner to Margaret Court and Brian Houston’s tax exempt godfearing homophobic, sexist, bigoted, hatefilled corporate entities
Why are these grifters not in jail?
It is not a church. It is a business. Pay business tax on business activities.
It’s a charity, a NFP under the ACNC.
But it is clearly NOT and NFP entity. Why are you so stout in defending this organization?
I’m not defending them. I answered the question how the Government would.
Personally, I believe they should pay tax in some form. I am sceptical of most NFPs, charities, churches, faith based systems etc. I don’t support any of them.
I think you miss the point of NFP organisations. For example when govts, in their infinite wisdom, privatised the bus services, they realised very quickly that a huge number of people were immediately disenfranchised. So we now have NFP community bus services around the country. Our local one has some 40 buses and SUVs all with wheelchair access. They fill the unprofitable gaps (gaping holes?) left by private bus companies to get people to hospitals, meetings, doctors, dentists, or just shopping, etc. I get why you would be against ‘religious’ NFPs because they are of course all about profit, but all NFPs are not the same…
I know not all NFPs are not the same. While there are a percentage, as you correctly point out, when perusing the ACNC register, many are questionable. Why? For many reasons too numerous to mention here! How many ex Gov members run or have run or sit or have sat on boards that are NFPs that really do sweet f.a.(including business people).
That is my point.
As another pointed out pyramids; they hold secrets even today. And so does our NFP system. It may seem simple but NFPs are a write off for other profit systems. Not all but a percentage!
I work in the disability sector. Some orgs are amazing. And some, well…
Not for profit? You are hilarious!
It’s not me that’s hilarious. The Government/charity/church system is hilarious, not!
Read my answer to Mr Smith.
Please don’t assume my initial responses were in support of these belief based schemes. I don’t give them a cent.
It’s not a business either; it’s a pyramid scheme.
Business activities? Every aspect of the Frank, Brian and Bobby Houston Pentecostal business franchise is a business.
As Crikey has reported before, Hillsong’s business model relies enormously on free labour — some 5790 volunteers staff various businesses and activities such as conferences and services.
Its music productions — which provide the trademark razzamatazz of a Hillsong gathering — are almost entirely run by volunteers, with more than 1800 unpaid workers.
The worship of a false dirty does not bode well for the nation of Australia.
Beware of the unsound principles underlying this pentecostal quasi-religious cult, the money of others is the ultimate goal
of the false deity known as Hillsong, nothing to do with kindness and charity.
Unpaid labor helps to propel profits even higher. Hence the falseness of its proffered deity.
There are 1% of pentecostals in every inner sanctum of every deity I will argue. People don’t really understand this. That is why they currently run the show.
There is a very strong remedy to deal with and heal the rift between the disconnect between religion and social culture. You may not like the idea but it actually works – it’s called Magic Mushrooms or as the South Americans call it – the food of the Gods (teonanacatl). I won’t explain further what it does it is too long but there are many studies on how it reconnects the brain with nature and makes one be more empathetic and open to new ideas. Religious people are anything but empathetic and open to new ideas.
I remember reading a book ” The magic mushroom and the cross” – not unconvincing.
Probably John M Allegro’s “Sacred Mushroom & the Cross” (1970) – he was a biblical scholar of some note with a special interest in the Dead Sea scrolls who finally saw the Light after trying A.Muscaria.
He was fired from his university position after this epiphany because he began to repudiate his previously standard exegesis and dump the eschatology.
Hillsong College Alumni Network Facebook page was bombarded with complaints from students past and present. Crikey understands one post attracted more than 1600 comments.
Lots of unhappy customers
What a ripper business model. No wonder Brian Houston is always showing those glowing teeth. Free student labour, zero tax, job keeper payments and a PM, scotty from sales, doing his marketing best to give them free publicity. What more could Brian want? Oh, more money I suppose.
Charity status is a scandal and a scam. Of course there will never be any enquiry to make churches more accountable- too much power and the word ‘çharity’ is seen in a good light generally. So, Hillsong, the cath C and others continue to do what they like, with little scrutiny. Many Church schools have many millions in assets and as we know got Jobkeeper AND they dont pay council rates!! As I said a scandal!!!!
Do we know the salaries of the leaders of this and other charities? Is that how they can call themselves not for profit?
I worked for NFP in the disability sector and the salaries of the ‘Executives’ were very high – while the service they delivered to the clients was as little as they could ‘manage’ – sickening….
The volunteers are the party faithfull. Don’t volunteer, their salaries will reduce.
Yep.