Australian Denomination Defrocks Megachurch Pastors in Sex Scandal Investigation

Two Australian pastors, Corey Turner and Stacey Hilliar, have been stripped of their ministry credentials for at least two years following a sex scandal, their former denomination announced. The Australian Christian Churches (ACC) confirmed the decision in an email sent to its pastors, detailing the actions taken against the two prominent ministers.

Corey Turner, lead pastor of Neuma Church in Melbourne, and Stacey Hilliar, executive leader of the church’s worship and creative teams, admitted to a relationship that violated their marriage vows. The megachurch, which operates nine locations in Australia and has campuses in Bangkok, Thailand, and San Francisco, saw both pastors resign in early February. The ACC described the situation as a serious breach of its Ministerial Code of Conduct, leading to the loss of their ministry credentials.

Wayne Alcorn, president of the ACC, emphasized the denomination’s “extensive processes” in evaluating the conduct of the pastors and its impact. “It was determined that they should lose their ministry credentials for a minimum of two years,” he wrote. “This is due to serious breaches of the ACC Ministerial Code of Conduct. Consequently, they are required to cease all ministerial duties, including platform ministries.”

The ACC’s code of conduct mandates that all paid or volunteer workers in affiliated churches “shall act with sexual integrity” and “shall not be abusive in any way toward others, spiritually, emotionally, physically or sexually.” Turner and Hilliar’s actions reportedly violated these principles.

In a Feb. 22 statement, Turner acknowledged the “morally inappropriate relationship” in posts to his ministry’s social channels. He described his actions as a result of “a fog of deception that clouded my emotions and judgement,” leading to a compromise of his relationship with God, his marriage, and his ministry. He also cited “fatigue” as a contributing factor to his moral failure.

Three weeks later, Hilliar posted a statement on social media, detailing her poor choices from November 2023 to January 2024. She expressed that she and her husband, Jai, and their family have been part of Neuma Church for 12 years. She noted that her actions are being “soberly processed and worked through in private as our family seeks healing and restoration, looking to the future, united.”

The scandal highlights the importance of accountability and integrity within religious institutions, reflecting the biblical call to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice. Micah 6:8 reminds us that God desires justice, mercy, and humility in leadership.

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