Hillsong link to club's letter of support

The Redfern-based youth club was one of a number of organisations - including the South Sydney Rugby League Club - which sent letters to the council asking it to approve Hillsong's plans for a 2700-seat church and seven-storey office building in Rosebery.

The youth club letter, written by the manager of the South Sydney club, Caroline Bateson, enthusiastically praised Hillsong's work in the local area and supported the church's development application.

Yesterday it was revealed that Ms Bateson had worked as a volunteer for Hillsong before joining the youth club and remains a member of the congregation.

"Ms Bateson worked as a volunteer for Hillsong prior to taking up her position with us at which point she ceased her work activities for them," the youth club's chief executive, Chris Gardiner, said.

But the council's deputy mayor, Tony Pooley, said that her letter reflected a breach of the youth club's charter. "I have it on very good authority that Ms Bateson had been involved in recruiting young people to join the church [before joining the club]," he said. "In my eight years as a local councillor I have never been lobbied by the PCYC other than on a development which proposes the relocation of one of its clubs."

Ms Bateson refused to comment when contacted by the Herald yesterday.

But Mr Gardiner said her letter was motivated by a desire to support another provider of services in the local area and was similar to letters sent supporting community organisations in the past.

It has also emerged that members of the Hillsong congregation have worked as volunteers at the youth club, raising concerns that the club could become a recruiting ground for the church.

Mr Gardiner said some volunteers had come from Hillsong, but that they no longer worked there.

Photo: Lisa Wiltse - Caroline Bateson, a former Hillsong volunteer, yesterday.