Henry Hildebrandt

Socially conservative pastor and Apostle of the Church of God Restoration. His church has been accused of being controlling and emotionally abusive; it also advocates the use of objects for physical discipline of children as young as one-year-old. Hildebrandt was arrested for holding church services during COVID-19 lockdowns. He got a total of 37 COVID-related tickets between himself and his churches. His church has been said by a former member to have "controlled every aspect of people’s lives.” He holds strong anti-LGBTQ and parents' rights views. Hildebrandt testified in what amounted to a parental rights case in Family and Children's Services of St. Thomas and Elgin v. W.F., [2003] O.J. No. 717. Two of his congregants’ seven children were apprehended after they eventually took one of their children to the hospital for a serious burn. When asked about the bruise beside the burn, one of the parents told a health care worker that the child had been struck when they would not sit still when the parents tried to clean the wound at home with a water and bleach solution at home. The wound did not receive early attention because it is “their belief that God will heal all wounds and that traditional medical attention ought not be sought” (para 34). The Court found that "This congregation numbers some 200 persons and is led by Pastor Henry Hildebrandt. The members of this faith are taught from a very early age not to question the directives and beliefs of their church. Many of the Church members come from communities in Mexico where literacy is not encouraged… The Aylmer community is more progressive [than the conservative Mexican communities], having access to vehicles and computers. Members of this congregation are generally considered to be industrious, hardworking people who value traditional family life with traditional family roles. The pastor is the leader of the community's life and standards. Henry Hildebrant is the self-named pastor of the Church of God of Aylmer. He is a youthful, energetic, dynamic individual, fluent in English. He is articulate and personable. It is obvious that he exerts great control over a community that appears to be limited in its interaction with the greater community surrounding it. He is familiar with lawyers and the court process. He is a licensed real estate agent.” (paras 59-62) “Pastor Hildebrandt also t[old] Ms. West [the social worker] that the church's right to teach and practice physical discipline with its children is so important to the church members that they would rather go to jail or leave the jurisdiction than have their rights interfered with.” In the church, “physical punishment of children with the use of an object is not only encouraged, but directed. It suggests physical discipline for children as young as one year” (para 285). There was a standoff with police; the court found that Hildebrandt directed church congregants to erect barricades to prevent the removal of the children, “orchestrating” a “chaotic” environment. Hildebrandt was also later criminally charged with publicly releasing the name of one of the children – a criminal offense (outcome unknown). In July 2001, Hildebrandt reported that 74 children had been removed from Alymer and taken to the United States in order to protect parent’s rights to use sticks and other objects to discipline their children. Hildebrandt “had colluded” with another family under a supervision order to leave the jurisdiction. The seven children were returned under a negotiated agreement.