STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT - childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au · STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT Name John Hunt...

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STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT Name John Hunt Address REDACTED Occupation Minister of Religion Date 29 September 2014 1. I was born on 26 October 1962 2. The Royal Commission has requested that I prepare a statement addressing certain matters. My response to this is set out below. 3. I am the Senior Pastor at Centro Church located ln Ipswich, Queensland. I have been the Senior Pastor from November 1994 to date. Centro Church has two campuses in Ipswich and Collingwood Park. 4. I am currently the elected State President of the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) in Queensland overseeing 302 churches. 5. Australian Christian Churches was formerly known as Assemblies of God in Australia (AOGA). The name change in practice occurred In April 2007 and the Constitution was changed by vote at the National Conference in April 2013. 6. I have served in the role of ACC Queensland/Northern Territory President from 9 October 2010 to present date. 7. The Royal Commission has requested that I prepare a statement addressing lhe certain matters. Where direct speech is referred to in th!s statement, 1t is provided in words or words to the effect of those, which to the best of my recollection, were used at the time. My response to the Royal Commission's query is set out below. The delineation of responsibilities between the Qld State Conference of ACC and the National Conference of ACC concerning the ACC's role, If any, In: the Investigation of allegations of child sexual abuse by ministers and/or members of Pentecostal churchos afflllated with the ACC; 8. By way of background, the National Conference is the supreme body which governs the Movement, which is an association of Australian Pentecostal churches in voluntary cooperation with each other on terms of equalily, uniting for evangelfsm, fellowship, order, discipline and other purposes. 9. The ACC Queensland State Conference is a group of ACC affiliated, yet individual self-governing churches located in Queensland, who are committed to working together with other like-minded churches for mutual support and the spread of the gospel in Queensland and in the world. 10. The ACC National Movement established the Queensland State Executive (as Is the case with all other State Executives) and how the Queensland State Executive is run is determined by the United Constitution and State By-Laws of the Movement. The current Constitution and State By- STAT.0357.001.0001_R

Transcript of STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT - childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au · STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT Name John Hunt...

Page 1: STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT - childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au · STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT Name John Hunt Address REDACTED Occupation Minister of Religion Date 29 September 2014 1. I was

STAiEMENT OF JOHN HUNT

Name John Hunt

Address REDACTED

Occupation Minister of Religion

Date 29 September 2014

1. I was born on 26 October 1962

2. The Royal Commission has requested that I prepare a statement addressing certain matters. My response to this is set out below.

3. I am the Senior Pastor at Centro Church located ln Ipswich, Queensland. I have been the Senior Pastor from November 1994 to date. Centro Church has two campuses in Ipswich and Collingwood Park.

4. I am currently the elected State President of the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) in Queensland overseeing 302 churches.

5. Australian Christian Churches was formerly known as Assemblies of God in Australia (AOGA). The name change in practice occurred In April 2007 and the Constitution was changed by vote at the National Conference in April 2013.

6. I have served in the role of ACC Queensland/Northern Territory President from 9 October 2010 to present date.

7. The Royal Commission has requested that I prepare a statement addressing lhe certain matters. Where direct speech is referred to in th!s statement, 1t is provided in words or words to the effect of those, which to the best of my recollection, were used at the time. My response to the Royal Commission's query is set out below.

The delineation of responsibilities between the Qld State Conference of ACC and the National

Conference of ACC concerning the ACC's role, If any, In:

the Investigation of allegations of child sexual abuse by ministers and/or members of Pentecostal churchos afflllated with the ACC;

8. By way of background, the National Conference is the supreme body which governs the Movement, which is an association of Australian Pentecostal churches in voluntary cooperation with each other on terms of equalily, uniting for evangelfsm, fellowship, order, discipline and other purposes.

9. The ACC Queensland State Conference is a group of ACC affiliated, yet individual self-governing churches located in Queensland, who are committed to working together with other like-minded churches for mutual support and the spread of the gospel in Queensland and in the world.

10. The ACC National Movement established the Queensland State Executive (as Is the case with all other State Executives) and how the Queensland State Executive is run is determined by the United Constitution and State By-Laws of the Movement. The current Constitution and State By-

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Laws were amended in April 2013. Any amendments required are considered at the biennial National Conference as has been the case throughout the history of the Movement.

11. ACC Queensland has its own conference, state executive and executive officers.

12. The United Constitution contains an article 11. 7.2. This allows the National Executive to establish any procedures It thinks are necessary and just to investigate any complaint against a credential or certificate holder before the National Officers give due consideration to such a complaint.

13. One such complaint that may arise Is a complaint of child sexual abuse made against a credential or certificate holder. Accordingly, the National Executive may establish procedures of investigation ln relation to this.

14. If complaints are made by members of a particular church within a particular State, it would be impractical for the National Executive to Investigate matters which had occurred in at a State level. Accordingly, powers of investigation have been delegated to the State Executive and the State Executive is required to handle complaints made within their own state.

15. Accordingly, the State Executive has produced a number of policies and procedures which are intended to govern issues such as a complaint regarding child sexual abuse. These policies are still generally compliant with the standards of the National Executive as outlined in the Grievance Procedure (which is to be used by all State Executives).

16. The most recently implemented policies and procedures relating to the ACC Queensland are:

a. Induction and Training Manual - Children and Young Persons (2007)

b. Resources for Children's Workers - Children and Young Persons (2008)

c. ACC (Qld) Policies and Key Procedural Elements Document - Ministry to Children and Young People (2013)

17. The Resources for Children's Workers - Children and Young Persons (2008) ('RCW') provides that at a first step, a person has a legal obligation to report suspicions of child abuse to appropriate authoritles (section 3 RWC and Policy: Handling Disclosures and Suspicions of Harm on page 18 of the ACC (Qld) Policies and Key Procedural Elements Documents ('PKPED')). The appropriate authorise.ct institutions to report such incidents are the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and the Queensland Police Service.

18. The RCW specifically states that while clergy (as a specified category) are currently exempt from mandatory reporting requirements, the Queensland State Executive still require full compliance with mandatory reporting, by reporting suspected child abuse within the church to the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services or the Queensland Police Service. Further to this, a report of the allegation must also be made to the leadership of the local church and to the State Headquarters (section 4 of the RCW and Appendix 2 on page 24 of the Pl<PED).

19. Before an Investigation is conducted, if criminal proceedings are pending, the State Executive will not commence its own investigation until the crhnlnal proceedings are finalised. The exception for the State Executive to still conduct an investigation whilst criminal proceedings are pending is If the credentialed minister consents to the Investigation being conducted as outlined in the Grievance Procedure (Step Four - Consider whether a full investigation should be delayed pending criminal proceedings). The purpose of delaying the State Executive Investigations Is to prevent any prejudice to the criminal proceedings. Guidance is also sought from the Police in this regard.

20. Whichever executive Is conducting the Investigation, whether it is the State Executive or the National Executive, may choose to truncate the investigation process, where necessary. This may

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occur for example, where the allegations have clearly proved from the outcome of criminal proceedings.

21. In the case of a child under the age of 18 making a disclosure, prompt reporling is imperalive. Seclion 6(b) of the RCW and Appendix 2 on page 24 of the Pl<PED contains a step-by-step process of how a worker, volunteer or pastor is to respond lo an allegation of child sexual abuse by a child.

22. Jn the case of an alleged victim who is now over the age of 18 years, counselling should be provided, to allow !he person to see t11e wisdom in reporting such an event to the police. Reports

cannot be made without the person's consent. However, If !here Is an apparent continued risk from the alleged perpetrator, reporting to the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability services or !he Queensland Police must take place as soon as possible (section 6 (d) RCW and Appendix 2, page 23 of !he PKPED).

23. In relation to credentialed ministers as well as workers or volunteers, the person must also be stood down as soon as possible from all child-related ministries pending investigation. This means

that a certificate holders credential is to be suspended (section 6(g) RCW and Appendix 2 on page 23 of the PKPED). Where !he alleged perpetrator is a pastor or a person holding a credential, the Stale Executive must be informed of the allegalions and it is usual for !he State President to make tlie decision to suspend the credential after consultation with the National President as provided for

in the Grievance Procedure (Grievance Procedure Step three - Suspension). The effect of the suspension is that the person can not continue his or her pastoral services or ministry within any ACC affiliated church lncluding.chlld-related ministries, whilst investigation is underway.

24. The RCW and the PKPED outlines what a church is required to do initially in response to a disclosure or suspicion of harm (that ls, mandatory reporting) however in relation to the actual investigations against credential holders, this is ordinarily carried out by the State Executive

(Grievance Procedure, Step Five - Investigation by the State Executive) and the process to be followed is set 0L1t in the Grievance Procedure. In some Instances, the National Executive may elect themselves to carry out investigations if ii is more appropriate, tor instance, where the

credentialed minister or certificate holder has a prominent national ministry (Step One - Receipt of complaint, refer to note).

granting, suspending or removing ministers' credentials in relation to Pentecostal churches affiliated with ACC; and

25. The United Conslitution and in particular article 11. 7.1 grants the National Executive the power to Issue all credenllals and certificates. Therefore, should a person wish to apply for credentials, the

application Is to be made to the National Execulive following the National Executive's processes.

26. This Is a matter quite regularly dealt with by the National Executive given that a registered church must generally have a Senior Pastor who· has a ministry credential. The exception to when a church does not have a fully credentialed Pastor, is when the Senior Pastor has a Provisional

Minister's Credential (PMC), the Executive will allow the Senior Pastor to serve his church until the PMC lapses in 2 years. The Senior Pastor will then be invited to apply for his/her Ordained Minister Credential (OMC) in order to fulfil credential requirements. This situation is likely to occur

in smaller churches, where accredited Senior Pastors move on.

27. In terms of suspension or withdrawal of credentials, the National Executive may also do so, under article 11.7.3 of the United Constitution. Improper conduct including child sexual abuse is one such action taken by a credentialed minister that justifies suspension or withdrawal of credentials and

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certificates. This decision is made by the National Executive, but can be upon the recommendation of the State Executive. However, the final decision rests with the National Executive.

the discipline of ministers and/or members of Pentecostal churches affiliated with ACC;

28. The Grievance Procedure has rules in place regarding the current process for the discipline of ministers and/or members of the churches associated with ACC.

29. If after investigations have been conducted by the State Executive the complaint or complaints are substantiated or criminal proceedings have been finalised which demonstrate that the minister is guilty of an offence, the State Executive will make a recommendation and provide this to the

National Executive (Grievance Procedure Step Nine - Recommendation through the State Executive to the National Officers).

30. Following this, the National Executive will determine what form of discipline is appropriate in the circumstances. A particular policy has been implemented in relation to discipline and restoration

known as the "Program for the Restoration and Reinstatement of Disciplined Ministers". Restoration and reinstatement is not always available to a credential minister. For instance, where

a child sexual abuse allegation has been substantiated, the minister's credential will be revoked and the policy indicates that no restoration is available for them.

31. A disciplined minister may appeal this decision through the National Executive as opposed lo the State Executive (article 11.8 grants a disciplined minister this right of appeal). This Includes a right to a hearing and the final decision will be made by the National Executive.

32. The National Executive may require that a disciplined minister be removed from ministry but it cannot forcibly remove the minister. If a particular affiliated church does refuse to remove the disciplined minister, the church can withdraw Its affiliation from the National Movement, or the National Executive can have the churches affiliation cancelled.

the delineation of responsibilities between the Queensland State Conference of ACC and the lndlvldual afflliated churches concerning:

the Investigation of allegations of child sexual abuse by ministers and/or members of Pentecostal churches affiliated with ACC;

33. The Queensland State Executive's policies which address child sexual abuse have been distributed to local Queensland affiliated churches for consideration and implementation. The individual affiliated churches may wish to tailor the policies to suit their own churches depending on their needs. However, as a minimum, the National Movement strongly recommends that the relevant Queensland State Policy be implemented.

34. As stated above, the State President Is to be notified of child sexual abuse allegations made against credential holders. This requirement to report primarily rests with credential holders (unless the credential holder is the person against whom the allegation Is made), as communication between ACC and local churches primarlly occurs through the credential holder (Appendix 2 on page 24 of the PKPED).

35. The State Executive will then follow the process referred lo above in answer to question 2 to investigate the allegations.

36. The individual affiliated church will not Itself play a significant role in this Investigation process (apart from providing information If necessary). They may, however, choose to carry out their own separate investigation.

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37. Complaints involving members or volunteers of local churches are dealt with by the local church.

granting, suspending or removing ministers' credentials In relation to Pentecostal churches affiliated with ACC; and

38. The affiliated churches of Queensland do not have a role in the granting, suspending or removing of ministers' creden!ials. ACC is the body responsible for credentialing ministers.

the discipline of ministers and/or members of Pentecostal churches affiliated with ACC;

39. See answer above.

the current pollcles, procedures and practices of ACC for the prevention, detection, Investigation and reporting of allegations of child sexual abuse in respect of ACC and Its affiliated churches;

40. The list below show the current policies, procedures and practices of ACC (both at a national and at Queensland state level) for the prevention, detection and investigation and reporting of allegations of child sexual abuse.

41. The ACC at a national level produced the following current documents:

a. Ministerial code of conduct for credentialed ministers in the AOG (2013); b. AOG Credential Review Form (2014); c. AOG Credential Application Form (2013); d. AOG Credential Reactivation Form (2013); e. Program for the Restoration and Reinstatement of Disciplined Ministers (201 O); and f. Grievance Procedure for Certificate Holders (2010).

42. As previously stated the ACC Queensland branch produced the following current documents: a. Induction and Training Manual - Children and Young Persons (2007)

b. Resources for Children's Workers - Children and Young Persons (2008)

c. ACC (Qld) Policies and Key Procedural Elements Document - Ministry to Chlldren and Young People (2013)

43. The documents listed above have been disclosed to the Royal Commission in response to Summons S-NSW-235 previously issued.

the nature of any investigations, communications, enquiries or decisions made by the Qld State Conference of ACC and the National Conference of ACC In relation to allegations of child sexual abuse made against Jonathan Thomas Baldwin, Including but not limited to:

a. when and how the ACC became aware of the allegations and/or conviction against Jonathan Baldwin;

44. In response to how the Qlcl State Executive became aware of the allegations against Jonathan Baldwin, we were advised by Pastor Ashley Goode ('Pastor Goode') of Harvest Church at the time Jonathan Baldwin had been charged by the Police and was awaiting his matter to proceed to Court.

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45. The first that the Jonathan Baldwin matter was minuted at a State Executive Meeting was on 6 December 2007. At that time, it was decided that Jonathan Baldwin's credential would be

suspended and that there would be no re-issuance of Jonathan Baldwin's credential, unless there was complete exoneration from his pending criminal matter. The suspension was effective Immediately, but the actual handing in of the credential was obtained later.

46. Jonathan Baldwin's matter remained on the Stale Executive agenda until June 2008, when it was noted that Jonathan Batdwin had no credenl!al, due to the handing in of his credential; this matter was then removed from the State Executive agenda.

47. Unfortunately, because of the removal of Jonathan Baldwin's matter from the State Executive meeting minutes, there was no follow up on the Jonathan Baldwin matter. We were unaware of when Jonathan Baldwin was convicted and sentenced.

48. We were also not advised of the Court outcome b the Church, thelSunshine Coast lcnow the !Sunshine Coast ~· even though Sunshine Coast Is an ACC aftlllated member church. The victim's parents still attended the clime an 1 was e same church that Jonathan Baldwln was a youth pastor prior to the criminal matter.

b. the response by the ACC to Jonathan Baldwin's allegations and/or conviction;

49. The ACC initial response to the Jonathan Baldwin's allegations was to rmmediately suspend his

provisional minister's credential.

50.

51.

62.

53.

54.

55.

56.

No further action was taken regarding his conviction, as the State Executive were unaware of this

conviction until we received an email in October 2011, from the victim's father, Mr FLD I

The email was sent to a large number of email addresses; however none of the State Executives were recipients of the email.

We were forwarded a copy of this email from Gary Swenson and we did reply to the email enquiring about the email, however there was no response to our emall.

c. the response by the ACC to Jonathan Baldwin's victim and victim's famlly; and

The State Executive then received correspondence from the victim's mother, Mrs ~f_L_C ___ ~ who emailed Wayne Alcorn (the ACC National President) directly.

MrslALClmade It known in her email that the victim and his family felt that there was no support given-ro-ulem from the ACC through the criminal process {except from their local church). She wrote that as a family they were still hurling and though going through a process of mediation with the Insurers, they wanted to have some form of support.

Due to this communication from Mrs IALClthe State Executive in consultation with the National Executive decided that Gary Swenso~ Ministries Director, should visit the ~family to offer pastoral support.

Gary Swenson visited the jALA jfamily on 19 August 2012 and tabled a report on their progress. It was noted in the report that at the end of Gary Swenson's visit, the victim and his family were appreciative of the visit and given some form of closure and comfort as a family. I understand that Gary Swenson discussed the pollc!es and procedures in place lo respond to similar types of

complaints and the~s were assured in this conversation.

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57. I understand mediation with the Church's insurer took place and there was a resolution on ~V\_L_A __ ~ IALAl> compensation claim. As this was a claim against the local church, the State Executive was !10rlnVolved in the mediation or settlement.

58. I have since been advised that the victim was paid $550,000 in compensation.

d. any evaluation by the ACC of its response to the allegations and/or conviction against

Jonathan Baldwin, including any proposed changes, or changes made to ACC's policies, procedures and practices in responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.

59. Gary Swenson's report highlighted the unusual circumstances surrounding this matter, coupled with the automatic approach to suspending credentials and removal of this matter from the State Executive agenda, and unfortunately did allow for a failure to provide adequate care and support.

60. Gary Swenson made specific recommendation that allegations of similar nature remain on the State Executive agenda untH such matter has concluded.

61. Gary Swenson's report was then tabled at the National Executive meeting on 4 September 2012. am advised that as a result further discussions were held with Australian Christian Service on future counselling and support to victims; and presentations were to be done to Executives regarding best practices for churches In cases of abuse.

62. At State level, there have been no further allegations made against credentialed pastors in Queensland since Jonathan Batdwin, hence the recommendations by Gary Swenson remain to date untested .

. 1.y.(.0f.¢: .................. .. . Date

~~y.111.~ .... :··· ·············

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