Brian Houston Clarifies Stand on LGBT Issues

At a news conference for the Hillsong Conference in New York City Thursday, Michael Paulson of The New York Times asked Pastor Brian Houston to clarify his church’s position on same-sex marriage, RNS reported. Houston reportedly said it was “an ongoing conversation” among church leaders, and they were “on the journey with it.”

Now, Houston is clarifying those comments.

“I encourage people not to assume a media headline accurately represents what I said at a recent press conference.

“Nowhere in my answer did I diminish biblical truth or suggest that I or Hillsong Church supported gay marriage. I challenge people to read what I actually said, rather than what was reported that I said. My personal view on the subject of homosexuality would line up with most traditionally held Christian views. I believe the writings of Paul are clear on this subject.

“I was asked a question on how the church can stay relevant in the context of gay marriage being legal in the two states of the USA where we have campuses. My answer was simply an admission of reality—no more and no less. I explained that this struggle for relevance was vexing as we did not want to become ostracized by a world that needs Christ.

“I made the point that public statements condemning people will place a barrier between the church and the world (and I note that Jesus came to save and not to condemn), which is why at Hillsong, we don’t want to reduce the real issues in people’s lives to a sound bite.

“This, like many other issues, is a conversation the church needs to have, and we are all on a journey as we grapple with the question of merging biblical truth with a changing world.”