A former Pentecostal church executive has told a Sydney court information about a child sexual abuse victim's desire not to go to police was not independently verified before being acted upon.
Hillsong founder Brian Houston is currently in court after pleading not guilty to concealing his father's abuse of young boy in the 1970s.
Mr Houston learned of the allegations against his father, Frank Houston, in 1999 and informed the executive committee of the Assemblies of God in December that year.
The umbrella organisation covering hundreds of Pentecostal churches decided to deal with the matter internally and not inform authorities because the victim did not want to be identified or take the matter to police.
Former Assemblies of God secretary Keith Ainge today told the court the information about the victim's intentions came directly from Brian Houston.
Magistrate Gareth Christofi questioned whether the information was verified before being acted upon.
"Did anyone consider having that information verified by someone who wasn't Frank's son?" he said.
"With the benefit of hindsight, it should have been done," Mr Ainge replied.
The court heard Brian Houston was removed from the decision-making process when the organisation dealt with Frank Houston's abuse at the December 1999 meeting, but he remained in the room because he had most of the details.
The defence has argued Brian Houston had a "reasonable excuse" not to go to the police because the victim himself did not want to go to police at the time.
The prosecution has previously argued that Brian Houston was controlling the information flow to the executive committee of the Assemblies of God which led to the decision not to go to police.
The court heard informing law enforcement was discussed at the December 1999 meeting but eventually decided against.
"I felt it was right [at the time] particularly on the basis that we didn't even know the identity of the complainant," Mr Ainge said.
The hearing continues.
