Anglican Bishop of Auckland Dismayed by Brian Tamaki’s Comments
The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, The Right Reverend Ross Bay, has responded with dismay at the Destiny Church leader
Brian Tamaki’s comments against New Zealand gay and lesbian clergy.
‘The Anglican Church here values the contribution of gay and lesbian leaders across all aspects of church life,
including those who are ordained’, Bishop Bay said today. ‘It is deeply disturbing that a church leader should regard
such people as a “contamination”. Mr Tamaki is of course free to prevent LGBTQI people offering ministry in his own
church. But to refer to them in this way is a denial of human dignity, and encourages further stigmatisation and
exclusion. The Gospel is about the love and reconciliation which we have been offered in Jesus Christ. Church leaders
have a responsibility to model and preach this good news in ways that draw people together.’
ENDS