Bumper stickers stating "gays are a cancer" in the Presbyterian Church have been sent to the Presbyterian Assembly's 500 members nationwide as they prepare to vote on a ruling banning homosexual ministers. St Andrew's on The Terrace minister the Rev Margaret Mayman said the stickers had thrown the Church into disrepute. "I just feel embarrassed and ashamed that our Church has been compromised by the people who wrote this." The lesbian minister, who was appointed in 2001, said she also felt concerned for homosexuals outside the Church. "They are really shocking images and shocking sentiments for any community to deal with, but that's particularly so for a Christian community," Dr Mayman said. Presbyterian Assembly executive secretary Kerry Enright said police and the Human Rights Commission had been contacted about the stickers. In a letter to parishes nationwide, Presbyterian Church moderator the Rt Rev Garry Marquand says the mailout "seriously undermines the respect that we have sought to preserve in our discussions on this sensitive issue, and they are also contrary to the accepted processes of the Church." Members vote later this month on a ruling to exclude homosexuals – and anyone in a sexual relationship outside marriage – from becoming ministers or Church elders. The bumper stickers, which were sent out anonymously, say "Gays aren't welcome in our church, help us let New Zealand know" and "Gays are a cancer in our church, let's keep them out of leadership". The Human Rights Commission says the bumper stickers constitute hate speech – but under current laws little can be done. More than 430,000 people identified themselves as Presbyterians in our 2001 census. The Church has 430 parishes, which more than 40,000 people attend each week. Ref: Dominion Post (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 13th September 2006 - 12:00pm