While some churches are preparing for civil unions, others are scoffing, and opponents of the bill observing preparations say its proof that civil unions are gay marriage in all but name. Wellington Presbyterian minister Margaret Mayman says she wants to be “first in line” to register as a civil union celebrant if the legislation passes. Rev Fraser Paterson of Khandallah Presbyterian Church, also in Wellington, is looking at developing a “covenant service” for same-sex couples. United Future leader Peter Dunne is mortified that same-sex couples might considered themselves married if the legislation passes. “I think it really does reinforce my concern that what we're doing is setting up something that purports not to be equivalent to a marriage situation but in effect will be treated and seen as such,” he says. The Catholic Church says there is “no way” same-sex couples will be sanctified in any of their churches, putting them in line with fundamentalist fringe party Destiny New Zealand, alleged in a recent Sunday newspaper profile to be a puppet for homohating Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. “The Bible position is clear in terms of homosexuality; it's a dysfunction,” says Destiny leader Richard Lewis. “For a minister of religion to compromise that position by facilitating same-sex marriages, I think the Christian community in general would find that highly offensive."