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Church Under Fire For Silencing Allegations

Hillsong Church refuted accusations of attempting to silence former member Anna Crenshaw, denying any coercion related to a settlement offer in her lawsuit against the megachurch. In response to recent developments, the global megachurch headquartered in Australia released a statement clarifying its stance on the ongoing legal proceedings. The church asserted its readiness to proceed with the trial and rejected claims of obstructing Crenshaw’s access to justice or employing intimidation tactics.

Crenshaw, a former Hillsong College student, alleged that she was pressured to withdraw from a settlement agreement due to demands to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and provide false statements. Specifically, she expressed dismay over being asked to falsely assert that Hillsong promptly reported her assault to authorities, despite delays in doing so.

Despite initial reports of an undisclosed settlement agreement, the rejection of the proposed settlement emerged amidst allegations of Hillsong’s attempt to alter the terms at the last minute, prompting Crenshaw to speak out against what she perceived as intimidation tactics. She emphasized her commitment to seeking justice and accountability rather than monetary gain.

Hillsong Church maintained that the legal proceedings primarily concern its liability for the assault and its response to Crenshaw’s report, highlighting that the incident occurred outside official church settings and without the church’s knowledge or involvement.

Crenshaw’s allegations stem from an incident in 2016, where she claims to have been sexually assaulted by Jason Mays, then a Hillsong staff administrator. Despite her efforts to report the assault, Crenshaw felt marginalized by the church’s response and questioned its commitment to providing a safe environment for victims.

Crenshaw criticized Hillsong’s handling of her case, accusing the church of prioritizing confidentiality over accountability and failing to address systemic issues within its organization. She called for genuine accountability and a commitment to preventing similar mishandlings of future reports of assault, expressing concern over the church’s continued defense of its actions.