A Review of MCF’s 2024 Offering Appeal
What Peter Hill Told the Congregation
On 24 March 2024, Peter Hill, Secretary of Melbourne Christian Fellowship (MCF), told members there “may need to be repentance” for failing to give enough money.
He warned that:
- Current general offerings did not cover regular expenses.
- Offerings were “roughly half” of what was needed.
- This shortfall had been “a trend in recent years.”
He called for “corporate repentance,” suggesting the congregation had failed in its duty.
Mr Hill also reassured members:
“There is no crisis. The organisation is viable. We’re not about to close the doors.”
Yet he repeated his main point: offerings were not covering costs, and members needed to “carry the burden together.”
What the Auditor Found
Recently, Samson Rising engaged a Registered Company Auditor to review MCF’s financial statements. The conclusions were stark:
- No Shortfall – In 2024, MCF made a surplus of $1.6M, and in 2023, a surplus of $1.1M.
- No Trend of Deficits – The auditor found ‘no evidence of the shortfalls in recent years’.
Misrepresentation – The auditor concluded:
‘Mr Hill’s statements materially misrepresented the true financial performance of MCF. Without proper clarification, members were likely to believe that offerings needed to double in order to meet all of MCF’s expenses. The use of the term “shortfall” has a specific financial meaning and requires adequate explanation to avoid misleading conclusions.
Mr Hill referred to a figure of $288,000 to support his argument, yet listeners had no way of verifying whether this figure was accurate or whether the term “shortfall” was appropriate in the circumstances.
In my opinion, Mr Hill’s statements were misleading because he failed to explain that while, in his view, offerings were insufficient in one category, other offerings more than compensated for this. When all offerings for the 2024 year are considered, they exceeded MCF’s total costs by approximately $1.6 million, and by $1.1 million in 2023’.
Other evidence indicates that most congregants were not given access to MCF’s financial information and were entirely reliant on Mr Hill’s statements. Congregants trusted what they were told from the pulpit and were taught not to question it.
Why This Matters
Samson Rising holds grave concerns that:
- Congregants may have felt pressured into giving more money under spiritual duress.
- Repentance appeared to be tied to financial giving, creating the risk that members could believe offerings could be linked to salvation.
- Calls for more offerings seem unnecessary when surpluses like $1.6M are more than enough to maintain and progressively upgrade their properties.
- Those calling for increased offerings may not experience the same financial hardship as members with modest means.
The auditor also noted that tax-free fringe benefits — including interest-free loans — were being provided to MCF Committee members as disclosed in the Notes to the financial statements.
Evidence referenced in our other reports suggests that, in the case of Brisbane Christian Fellowship (BCF), interest-free loans to leaders have sometimes been forgiven and not repaid. If that practice were to occur at MCF, and without congregants’ knowledge, it would raise serious accountability questions.
Our Position
- We believe congregants were entitled to a full and truthful explanation of MCF’s finances.
- In our view, issuing a call to repentance while presenting incomplete or potentially misleading financial information is deeply concerning.
- We therefore call for an independent investigation to confirm or dispel our concerns.
References
- Transcript of Peter Hill, 24 March 2024
- MCF Financial Statements 2023–2024 [Click here]
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed here are those of Samson Rising. They are based on legal advice and on evidence gathered in 57 formal complaints lodged on behalf of former members of Brisbane Christian Fellowship and related entities (the CFO).
At this time, no individual has been found to have breached any laws. The presumption of innocence remains paramount. Independent investigations would assist both those making allegations and current CFO members by restoring confidence in leadership.
👉 If you or someone you know has felt pressured to give under similar circumstances, please contact Samson Rising confidentially at sa************@***il.com.
Your story matters.
Anonymous – Samson
Lisa Hunt is a writer, survivor advocate, and former pastor with over three decades of leadership and community work. After leaving a high-control religious system, she dedicated her life to amplifying survivor voices and pursuing accountability for organisations that cause harm.
