Hillsong Church

John Mays, the church’s head of people and development, recommended in the letter dated 19 March that Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie, should be permanently sacked from Hillsong, saying Brian Houston “considered himself beyond disciplinary boundaries” and defied them “without further recourse from those responsible for his discipline”.

“Unfortunately, I believe this typifies the leadership that is foundational to many unhealthy people practices employed within our Church based on my observations over many years,” Mays wrote.

Hillsong’s founding pastor, Brian Houston, has resigned from the megachurch he founded in Sydney two decades ago after internal investigations found he had engaged in inappropriate conduct of “serious concern” with two women.

Houston stood down last Friday, but following another emergency staff meeting on Wednesday the Sydney-based church issued a brief statement announcing his resignation.

The acting head of the church, Pastor Phil Dooley, made the announcement at an emergency all-staff meeting today and said Hillsong will launch an "independent review" of its governance structure.

Pastor Dooley read a statement by the Hillsong global and Australian boards which said: "We would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as global senior pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation."

He said it was time for a "humble reflection" for the church and thanked Mr Houston and his wife Bobbie for their service.

The award was granted for the song 'What A Beautiful Name,' which she wrote for Hillsong Church.

She has performed with her husband as part of the church's Los Angeles core leadership team under the name Brooke Ligertwood since 2008.

Fraser is best known in New Zealand for her hits 'Something In The Water' and 'Deciphering Me'.

This is Fraser's first Grammy Award.

'What A Beautiful Name' has had 112 million views on YouTube.

The song won out over competing tracks from Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, and MercyMe.

The 21-year-old pop star, who has been making a concerted effort to undo years of bad press, has arrived in Sydney to attend the five-day Hillsong church conference.

The church confirmed the 21-year-old pop star is in Sydney, saying he was a “delegate” of the Pentecostal mega-church for its week-long conference at the Allphones Arena from Monday. The church was founded in Sydney and now has several international offshoots.