http://www.gardencity.org.au/
The notice may not be there by the time you click on the link, however a lttle sidebar on the front page of Garden City Christian Church's website annouces the result:
"Extraordinary General Meeting - Sunday 26th April, 2009
It was decided at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the registered church members of Garden City Christian Church, today Sunday 26th April 2009, that Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston be invited to accept the position of Senior Pastors of the church. The vote was carried with an overwhelming majority."
Oh no.
This looks to be the worst case of 'franchised church' that I've ever seen in my life. Some may suggest that this is simply an extension of the pentecostal ACC denomination - however if that were the case, why do they need senior pastors based in Sydney? If you've got the same leadership, then this is simply a branch of the same organisation. Ouch.
There's been a lot of gnashing of teeth over this, and lots of suggestion that the whole move was done quite subversively (see The Thinking Theologian and some of the comments on articles and the forum for details). I agree with one commenter who has asked how often are they gonna see the Senior Leadership (and I'll add who is going to pay for the flights so that you DO see them)??!! How long before coming to Church at Garden City has you sitting down to see the service streamed live from Hillsong in Sydney, with little or no local/live interaction for ministry?
Surely, this cannot be a good thing for anyone except those who stand to profit from it in the long run - the Hillsong Executive team. I'll offer in 6 months you won't recognise the Garden City compared to what it was last week. In 18 months on that, it'll just be a cookie cutter replica of Hillsong Sydney. Bleh.
Other ACC churches in Australia - BE WARNED! If Hillsong can do it to one of the largest churches in Brisbane, how long before they do it to you/yours?
"I'll have my faith to go, with a serve of pente-music, and... some low-cal-theology, thanks."
"Would you like some accountability with that?"
"No thanks, it'd spoil my meal..."