Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says homosexuals are welcome in his church - but don't expect him to forgive them, the Roturua Daily Post reports. The self-appointed bishop has previously been an open critic of homosexuality, and entered the political fray after the introduction of the Civil Union Bill. He has previously described the Government as having "gone evil", and has attacked a "radical homosexual agenda". He told the newspaper that a move to create a kingdom - with three Destiny Church centres based in three cities - was not politically linked.If the Government had not entertained the Civil Union Bill, Destiny would not have taken the political stance it did, he said. "I never had any aspirations of getting into politics but this was about family values. "Gay people are welcome in my church. I don't judge because the church is full of sinners but if they ask me to affirm their relationship - I can't. Sin is sin in God's eyes," he said. Under Mr Tamaki's kingdom master plan, Destiny Church, which has its origins in Rotorua, will build major centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The centres will include schools, shops, a hospital, a marae, a retirement village, a university, sports fields, gymnasiums and health centres. A major feature will be a church or "sanctuary" with an entrance dominated by huge golden angel wings. A professor of religion has expressed concern the plan has cultist or sectarian overtones. However, Mr Tamaki says the plan will preserve the church's DNA and help create a "model community people will want to live in - a Kingdom lifestyle". Ref: Rotorua Daily Post (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd November 2006 - 12:00pm