Hillsong Church settles lawsuit with female parishioner over indecent assault

Hillsong Church has reached an 11th hour agreement to settle its lawsuit with a female parishioner over her indecent assault at the hands of a church employee.

The five-day trial was set to get underway in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday after Anna Crenshaw sued the Australian arm of the megachurch.

The civil case related to Ms Crenshaw’s indecent assault by a church staffer, Jason Mays, when she was 18-years-old.

Hillsong, in its defence filed with the court, had denied that it acted negligently towards Ms Crenshaw and was set to defend the case.

In a statement of claim, Ms Crenshaw said she was “sexually assaulted by (Mays) whilst (Mays) was an employee of (Hillsong) and in his capacity as a worship leader.”

In the Penrith Local Court in January 2020, Mays pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault.

He was sentenced to a two-year conditional release order and no conviction was recorded.

Mays, who was also a defendant, denied in his statement of defence that the indecent assault amounted to “sexual assault”.

Ms Crenshaw had alleged that as a result of negligence and breach of contract she suffered harm, injury and loss.

She sued claiming damages, aggravated damages and exemplary damages.

The court heard on Monday afternoon that the two parties had settled.

The terms of the settlement was not disclosed to the court.

“I’m able to inform the court in principle that the matter has resolved,” Mr Crenshaw’s barrister Kelvin Andrews told the court on Monday after an adjournment which lasted several hours.

Ms Crenshaw came to Australia to study a Bachelor of Theology at Hillsong College and began attending Hillsong Church services.

According to court documents, the indecent assault occurred in April or May, 2016, at the house of another Hillsong member, where she was present with Mays and other students.

In her statement of claim, Ms Crenshaw said Mays “put his right hand on the inside” of her left thigh.

And when she stood to leave, she said that he wrapped his arms around her upper leg and began kissing her exposed stomach.

In the court documents she said Mays left “his hand between her inner thigh and fondling her bottom and vagina.”

She said he repeatedly said “no, don’t go”.

Mays, in his defence, denied “the allegation that he fondled (Ms Crenshaw’s) bottom and vagina”.

Hillsong, in its defence, denied Mays “was acting in any capacity relating to his paid employment or volunteer duties with Hillsong” at the house.

Ms Crenshaw said she made a complaint to Hillsong in December 2018 and reported the assault to police in May 2019.

After reporting the assault to Hillsong, Ms Crenshaw said May was placed on paid leave and was later allowed to return to employment as Creative Director of the church’s music publishing arm.

She said that after making a complaint, she was assigned to work in a team with May’s wife.

She alleges the church: “had no proper or adequate policy or procedure in place for the proper or adequate handling of complaints of sexual assault.”

Ms Crenshaw further accused the church of “failing to take precautions” to protect her “from the general risk of sexual assault by its members”.

She also claimed the church “concealed” and “attempted to conceal the sexual assault” - an allegation denied by Hillsong.

Hillsong, in its defence, denied it was negligent or in breach of contract.

Ms Crenshaw did not comment as she exited court on Monday.

The matter will return to court on Thursday.