Emergency talks have been held between the leaders of virtually all the Christian denominations following their defeat over the Civil Union Bill. Democracy is not enough for the churches, who have vowed to take their fight to the polls next year. The Herald on Sunday reports unprecedented political discussions have been under way in Auckland this month between the leaders of evangelical and Pentecostal churches and most Protestant denominations via the Vision Network, a collective of church leaders. Vision has even been in discussions with the Catholic Church about a united way forward. Christian party United Future – which vigourously opposed the Civil Union Bill with a taxpayer-funded ad campaign against it – is copping the flak from fundies who don't think they've been hardline enough. "Many Christians got behind Future New Zealand but that won't happen this time," said Luke Brough, pastor of Howick's 2000-strong Elim Church. "There is a lot of disappointment and a lot of anger that United Future has propped up this Government while it's passed through a lot of legislation that's anti-New Zealand.” The talks will continue at a congress of churches this coming May. They will consider whether to endorse a particular political party like Christian Heritage or Destiny, start a new movement, or form a powerful lobby group to pressure existing parties. Evangelical churches have proved they're more than capable of raising cash quickly for their causes. The City Impact Church on Auckland's North Shore, the Church of fasting United Future MP Paul Adams, raised $1.5m over three Sundays in November to build a new church seating 1600 people.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 27th December 2004 - 12:00pm