Destiny Church, New Zealand

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For other uses, see Destiny Church (disambiguation).
Brian Tamaki at a church conference in Auckland (22 October 2006).
Brian Tamaki at a church conference in Auckland (22 October 2006).

Destiny Church is a controversial, politically active, pentecostal, fundamentalist[1] Christian movement, headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. It was founded as Lake City Church in Rotorua by Pastor Brian Tamaki, an outspoken, charismatic orator.

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[edit] Culture

Lake City Church started with a membership of 20 people which within two years had grown to 300, and adopted the name "Destiny Church". Destiny Church now has a network of 19 churches located throughout New Zealand, and in Brisbane, Australia, with a total membership in excess of 10,000. The church provides not only religious guidance but also a range of social services including budget advice, support for drug addicts and provision of food and housing. The church also operates a primary school[2].

The church culture appears Pentecostal, and adheres to a literal application of Biblical practices. Its membership is drawn mainly from lower socio-economic sections of New Zealand society[3] and is multicultural, although predominantly Maori and Polynesian. Brian Tamaki is himself Maori, and the church has been identified as part of the Maori cultural renaissance of recent years[4]. The church also appears to have influences from the Ratana movement and draws from a rich tradition of Christianity in Maoridom.

The church's leadership demand strict obedience to its teachings[5] and its rhetoric has alienated other churches that have different approaches to Christianity. Observers have been concerned by Tamaki's outspoken autocratic style, the church's frequent appeals for tithe contributions, and its insular culture[6] . Some observers have also commented on Tamaki's visible wealth and personal luxury, questioning its consistency with the church's tithing system. In 2004, Tamaki, in what he described as a prophetic utterance, predicted that Destiny would be "ruling the nation" within 5 years.[7]

On his website "New Zealand: A Nation Under Siege" Tamaki has declared the government of New Zealand to be "inherently evil" [8], pointing out that some members of Parliament chose not to swear on the Bible, and one (Ashraf Choudhary) swore on the Qur'an, when being sworn in to government. In a later interview [9], Tamaki said Destiny was ready to wage war on "secular humanism, liberalism, relativism, pluralism", on "a Government gone evil", on the "modern-day witchcraft" of the media, and on the "radical homosexual agenda".

[edit] Enough is Enough rally

Destiny Church has been active in campaigning for a return to what it considers to be "Christian moral values" in New Zealand society, particularly for the "sanctity of marriage between a husband and wife". In August 2004, Destiny members met on Parliament under their "Enough is Enough" rally which drew 5000 protesters against civil unions legislation.

The rally attracted considerable criticism. The black t-shirts and track-pants worn by many of the marchers prompted negative comparisons with Nazi storm-troopers in the New Zealand media.[10][11] A second march occurred in Auckland along with the Christian Life Centre and the City Impact Churches in March 2005.

[edit] Other activities

Richard Lewis, a member of Destiny Church Auckland, formed the Destiny New Zealand political party in 2003, The party first ran candidates in 2005. Candidates from four different churches joined with candidates who came from Destiny Church. Despite Tamaki's prediction that the church would rule New Zealand by 2008, the party gained only 0.6 percent of the vote. This was well short of the five percent threshold required to enter Parliament without an electorate MP but was the best performance of any party that failed to enter Parliament. [12]

Destiny TV, a television ministry, was launched in 2001 and produced 30 minute programmes that ran every weekday morning on New Zealand's national television broadcaster. The programmes were funded by donations from Destiny Church members. The programme ceased to be broadcast by TVNZ in late 2004 just after the Destiny New Zealand political party was formed, but Destiny TV still currently broadcasts on Prime TV and also in the South Pacific and Australia. Programmes and live services are also broadcast world-wide over the internet on www.streamingfaith.com.

Destiny Church has frequently been the subject of Jeremy Wells satirical news show Eating Media Lunch, which has especially focussed on Brian Tamaki.

Following a unanimous agreement by the 19 other pastors of Destiny Churches throughout New Zealand, Tamaki was ordained as a bishop during a ceremony performed by kaumatua Manuel Renata on June 18, 2005. [13]

[edit] Locations

Destiny Churches were established in the following locations:[14]

Auckland - July 1998[15] Whakatane - March 2001 Tauranga - April 2001 [16]
Nelson - June 2001 Thames - June 2001 Kaitaia - February 2002
Hamilton - June 2002 Porirua - November 2002 Hastings - December 2002
Dunedin - February 2003 Christchurch - April 2003 New Plymouth - April 2003
Whangarei - June 2003 Wellington - August 2003 Wanganui - May 2004
Gisborne - November 2004 Brisbane

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chris Barton. "Destiny's children on a mission", New Zealand Herald, 12 February 2005. Retrieved on 2007-10-22. 
  2. ^ Destiny primary school
  3. ^ Professor Peter Lineham explains that religion reflects the complex social and cultural issues of our society MasseyNews
  4. ^ Professor Peter Lineham contextualises Destiny Church as a part of a broader cultural phenomenon in the Listener
  5. ^ "Cultism in religion rings the alarm bells", NZ Herald, 13 August 2004
  6. ^ "Making a pretty penny from heaven", Sunday Star Times, 20 June 2004
  7. ^ Tamaki's "ruling the nation" prophecy, TVNZ, 2004
  8. ^ "A Government gone Evil", on Tamaki's personal website
  9. ^ Destiny declares war on secular creeds, NZ Herald
  10. ^ "March arouses Nazi fears", The Press, 24 August 2004
  11. ^ "Black shirts spark anger" Dominion Post, 24 August 2004
  12. ^ 2005 election results by Party
  13. ^ Bishop fulfils his destiny, New Zealand Herald, June 19 2005
  14. ^ Tamaki, Brian (2006). Bishop Brian Tamaki: more than meets the eye. Tamaki Publications Ltd. ISBN 047-311242-6. 
  15. ^ Destiny Church Auckland was initially named "City Church" but renamed to "Destiny Church" when relocated to Mt Wellington
  16. ^ Destiny Church Tauranga was formerly known as "Harbour City Church"

[edit] External links

[edit] See also