A message of support from the leadership team at the Taranaki Cathedral and West Baptist Community Church New Plymouth
Last week, members of Destiny Church's Man Up program unleashed a verbal and physical attack on the Rainbow community (MVPFAFF+/Takatāpui/LGBTQI+) at Te Atatū Public Library. The assault, coupled with ongoing divisive rhetoric meted out against the Rainbow community, threatens Rainbow whānau throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, including people we know, love, and call friends. The incident broke our hearts, and we believe that what took place runs counter to the way of Jesus, who said, "They will know that you are my disciples by the way you love one another" (John 13:35).
In the wake of these events, we stand in solidarity with the Rainbow community; we condemn violence in all its forms, and we steadfastly commit to working for justice, peace, and reconciliation in our church, community, and nation. We tautoko (support) the letters written by Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa (The Methodist Church of New Zealand) and several Auckland church leaders in support of the Rainbow community, and we cry with them, "Stop! Please, stop. This kind of aggression is doing immeasurable harm."
Archbishop Oscar Romero said, "Let us not tire of preaching love, for this is the force that will overcome the world…Love must win out. It is the only thing that can."
Love is a powerful force—confounding, confronting, and transformative. It is not fluffy or timid; true love banishes fear. We are misguided if our understanding of love is rooted in fear or harm. We invite everyone, including Destiny Church, to embrace a broader understanding of God's boundless love for all humanity, which is open to all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, class, or sexuality.
Today, more than ever, we need the healing and liberating love God graciously extends to all humankind, and we need agents of that love, people committed to fostering unity instead of division.
Kai tau te rangimārie ki a koutou katoa. Peace be with you all.
Rev’d Canon Dan Lander, Precentor, Taranaki Cathedral
Rev'd Andrew Sangster, Pastor, West Baptist Community Church
The Very Rev’d Jay Ruka, Dean, Taranaki Cathedral
The Most Rev’d Archbishop Emeritus Philip Richardson, Bishop of Waikato and Taranaki
Frances Brown, Operations Manager, Taranaki Cathedral