Brian Houston found not guilty of covering up father’s child sex abuse

By Jesse T Jackson — Originally published in Church Leaders

Brian Houston, founder and former global senior pastor of Hillsong Church, was found not guilty of covering up his father’s sexual abuse by an Australian magistrate on Thursday (Aug. 17).

The decision comes nearly two years to the date after Houston was charged by New South Wales (NSW) Police Force for allegedly concealing child sex offenses against Brett Sengstock. These child sex offenses, which took place in the 1970s, were perpetrated by Frank Houston, Brian’s father and fellow pastor.

Magistrate Gareth Christofi ruled that Houston was following the wishes of Sengstock and had a reasonable excuse for not reporting his father’s sexual abuse to the authorities after he became aware of it in 1999.

Christofi said that there was “little doubt” Hillsong Church’s former pastor believed Sengstock desired to keep the abuse that Frank Houston inflicted upon him as a minor quiet and “therefore had a reasonable excuse for not bringing the matter to the attention of police.”

Although Frank Houston admitted to the abuse near the end of his life, he was never charged. He died at the age of 82 in 2004.

If convicted, Brian was facing a potential five-year prison sentence.

“I’ve been found not guilty today, but in fact I’ve always been not guilty,” 69-year-old Brian Houston told reporters outside the courthouse.

Brian expressed his grief toward his father’s abuse survivor, saying, “I want to express my sadness to Brett Sengstock, genuine sadness about what my father did to him and all his victims. He was obviously a serial pedophile. We probably will never know the extent of his paedophilia.”

“A lot of people’s lives have been tragically hurt, and for that I’ll always be very sad,” Brian added. “But I am not my father. I did not commit this offense.”

Brian expressed his belief that the charges against him were a targeted attack, saying, “If I wasn’t Brian Houston from Hillsong, this charge would of never had happened.”

“Today I’ve received some recognition of abuse for a 7-year-old child who was brutally abused at the hands of a self-confessed child rapist and coward, Frank Houston,” abuse survivor Sengstock told reporters. “Regardless of today’s outcome, I have received a life sentence. Blaming the victim is as repulsive as the assaults themselves.”

Brian Houston resigned from Hillsong in March 2022 after he was placed on disciplinary sabbatical for substance abuse and inappropriate activity involving women.

Brian Houston’s daughter shares relief

Brian and Bobbie Houston’s daughter, Laura Toganivalu (“Toggs”), shared on Instagram how she sat beside her father in the courtroom and “exhaled with an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude at the magistrate’s decision.”

“However,” she said, “today is still marked by the painful reality that victims of abuse have to live with forever, and for that, my heart will always remain heavy.”

Toganivalu described the day her father sat her down and told her about the abuse her grandfather had committed.

She said, “Roughly 25 years ago, I was barely a teenager. I came home from school one day and my Dad sat me down and told me he had recently learned of evil acts perpetrated by my grandfather toward a child, some 30 years prior and when my Dad was a child himself (55yrs ago!).”

“I will never forget,” Toganivalu continued, “the pain and trembling in his voice as he told me these things and grappled with the reality [that] his father was not the man he knew him to be. From that day onwards, I have watched him with an immense amount of grief, repeatedly share this openly to multitudes. In living rooms, in staff meetings, in church services, at a royal commission, in arenas, in national newspapers and on global tv networks.”

Toganivalu echoed words delivered by the magistrate in his verdict, saying: “This is the opposite of a cover up.”

The journey of the last 25 years has been an “arduous” one, Toganivalu explained. “The accusations against my Dad, the manipulations of truth and the straight up lies have felt like perpetual fiery arrows.”

“I will never forget,” Toganivalu continued, “the pain and trembling in his voice as he told me these things and grappled with the reality [that] his father was not the man he knew him to be. From that day onwards, I have watched him with an immense amount of grief, repeatedly share this openly to multitudes. In living rooms, in staff meetings, in church services, at a royal commission, in arenas, in national newspapers and on global tv networks.”

“Contrary to the constant false narratives spun by reporters and journalists, we DETEST the EVIL that was done at the hands of my grandfather. And we have carried only sorrow for those that he hurt,” Toganivalu said. “I am so deeply sorry to anyone who has suffered abuse in their lifetime, this grieves me deeply and grieves the heart of God.”

“Earlier today, after my dad delivered some words of compassion toward the victims, he said a powerful line to the effect of ‘I am not my father,’ and that is the truth,” Toganivalu said.

“My Dad is a man of integrity and I have watched him, all my life, try his best to do right by people,” Toganivalu went on to say. “Yes, he has residually lived some dark days and as a family, we have watched as this weight almost crushed him. But he is not the victim and has never acted like it either.”

Toganivalu shared how she has “painfully watched” people, including those within the church he founded, abandon her parents.

“I watched as the church was pulled away from them like a rug pulled from beneath their feet. I watched as people acted in self-preservation and doubled-down at their attempts to serve their own interests,” she said, adding, “that has been disappointing and disheartening to say the least, but I believe in forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Brian Houston’s daughter believes that today marks an opportunity to look forward. She concluded the post by thanking Jesus for his grace, mercy, love, kindness, and for being the healer.

Hillsong Church releases statement following verdict

Hillsong Church released a statement expressing hope that Brian Houston and his family will continue to fulfill God’s will and that those affected by Frank Houston’s actions will find peace and healing.

“Our prayer is that those impacted deeply and irrevocably by the actions of Frank Houston will find peace and healing, and that our former senior pastor Brian Houston and his family can look to the future and continue to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives,” Hillsong Church said.

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