(OPINION) Protesia – A BBC documentary that is making a splash after one of the pastors explained during the photoshoot that he has the ‘Hillsong Starter Pack’: Fedora, Leather, Boots, Skinny Jeans, and Hot Wife’ has been repudiated by Brian Houston and Hillsong in a press release, claiming that the film is ‘grossly out of context” and has been “grossly exaggerated” in order to emphasize the scandals.

Houston explained that they were under the impression that when they gave the documentary crew access to film, it would be with the understanding that it would be a favorable and “uplifting” story about the church. He expressed his frustration that “unbeknownst to us, he also interviewed several critics of our church” and that that the whole film, being not 100% positive, was ‘misrepresented from the start.” He vents:

“Much of the footage has been taken grossly out of context and sewn together to create storylines that simply do not reflect reality. Numerous other elements are either grossly exaggerated or intentionally skewed.

Most of the footage that demonstrated the positive impacts of our church were relegated to the cutting room floor and erased from the final cut of the documentary. We strongly refute the many aspects of the film that fail to meet a basic level of journalistic integrity and a commitment to the truth.”

In an act of both retconning and revisionism, Hillsong is insufferably offended that anyone would dare suggest that they’ve mismanaged funds, as suggested in the film, by releasing links to their *current* practices and declaring:

Hillsong Church has a record of excellence in fiscal accountability globally and an unwavering commitment to financial integrity, with numerous structures and auditing procedures in place to protect against misuse.

No Hillsong staff member has unrestricted access to church funds. Period. Credit card statements are reconciled and reviewed on a monthly basis as part of our internal controls. Personal expenditures are not permitted to be charged to church credit cards. If this occurs, it is addressed with the staff member, and the church is fully reimbursed for such expenditure in a timely manner. Maybe now then do, but not then, and not when this film was shot. READ MORE