Tv Screening Opposed (Press, 5 November 1984)
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Summary: Tv Screening Opposed (Press, 5 November 1984)
On 5 November 1984, the Baptist Church in Hamilton, New Zealand, announced plans to formally request that TVNZ refrain from broadcasting the documentary titled “Jesus — the Evidence” if it suggests that Jesus Christ may have been a homosexual. The motion was presented by Rev. Mark Jackson during the Baptist Union annual assembly. He expressed strong disapproval of the documentary, arguing that it could lead to harmful implications about Christianity and sexuality. Rev. Jackson emphasised the importance of addressing such controversial issues rather than remaining passive, stating, "The gauntlet has been thrown down and it is up to us to pick it up." In his speech, Rev. Jackson reiterated that Jesus Christ did not require defence, but asserted the necessity for Christians to affirm their beliefs and declare what he termed "the truth." He articulated concerns regarding the questions that young individuals were asking about the compatibility of being Christian and homosexual, stating, "We need to know that young people are asking, 'Is it okay to be a Christian and a homosexual too?' We need to spell it out that homosexuality is wrong." Rev. Jackson's motion was in line with the assembly's broader agenda, which included a resolution to urge the New Zealand Government not to ratify the United Nations Convention on Discrimination against Women. Some delegates characterised the convention's report as "humanist"-based, claiming it undermined traditional values related to home and family. This collection of actions reflects a significant moment of contention within various sectors of society regarding issues of sexuality, faith, and the role of governmental decisions on individual rights and moral beliefs in the early 1980s in New Zealand.
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