Hillsong NYC has created a culture of hierarchy where pastoral leaders are treated as superior and volunteers are more highly valued than parishioners, making it difficult for victims of sexual misconduct to come forward and seek justice. This has resulted in cases of sexual misconduct being handled internally and not being reported to the proper authorities.
Ex-members of Hillsong NYC claim that the church encourages a culture of hierarchy and shames victims who report instances of misconduct. The structure of the church is alleged to put vulnerable people in a position where they are taken advantage of, despite giving their time and resources freely.
Hillsong Church has come under fire for their handling of alleged sexual abuse by one of their members, with critics stating that the punishment given was insufficient and that the church did not promptly report the incident to the police.
The Church should implement a reporting system to address sexual harassment complaints among its members, regardless of religious beliefs. It is important to acknowledge that concealing problems can hinder progress and prevent people from speaking out.