There has been much mirth about Brian Tamaki's self-appointment as "bishop" of his own Destiny Church, but what does it really mean? (No, it doesn't mean that Pope Brian I or Emperor Brian is a likely outcome). As Destiny Church noted in its own media release, Tamaki is imitating his 'shepherd,' "Bishop" Eddie Long, at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Atlanta. This suggests Tamaki's utter dependency on Long, his mentor, and source of derivative church structure and political tactics. After all, the forthcoming "Defending the Legacy" is an imitation of Long's "Reigniting the Legacy." This should also put paid to any remaining pretence that Destiny Church is an independent indigenous political and religious movement. It isn't. Destiny Church is an imported model, centred on a charismatic leader (Tamaki) and without any meaningful iwi roots, or encompassing kindred political movement, unlike the Ratana Church and Maori Party. (In this context, "charismatic" means inspirational, and is not a reference to his Pentecostal religious beliefs. Without Tamaki, Destiny would collapse, because charismatic political authority has its drawbacks. According to German nineteenth-century sociologist Max Weber, if charismatic leadership doesn't produce lasting institutional structures, then related religious and political movements do not survive the death or exit of their original leadership.) I suspect Destiny Church would fall apart if Tamaki got a contract with Trinity Broadcasting Network in the United States, and decided to migrate to Atlanta. If his New Zealand-based political ambitions continue to fail to materialise, then this may be the probable outcome. Unfortunately, this keeps happening to New Zealand fundamentalists. Often, people are appointed to organisational positions if they show even rudimentary professional skills or qualifications, even if those positions require particular strategic professional skills. Accordingly, they end up undertaking complex tasks that are beyond their capabilities, and fail to achieve their political objectives. Apart from the euthanasia debate, they suffer recurrent failure due to this shortcomings. For us, it bodes well, because we realised that we needed to develop those strategic skills. For the Christian Right, failure has become habitual. Contrary to what his flock might think, Tamaki isn't a great religious leader. He's not even original, nor does he have deep roots within Maori society. In time, his bloom will fade. Craig Young - 26th February 2005