by Mike Bain-The Daily Examiner.
Destiny Church and its leader Brian Tamaki has faced significant backlash following a series of controversial protests led by his church’s members. The protests, which took place during the Auckland Pride Festival, have sparked widespread criticism and calls for the revocation of the church’s charitable status.
The recent actions of Destiny Church and its leader Brian Tamaki have ignited a firestorm of controversy. As calls for the revocation of the church’s charitable status grow louder, the church’s future remains uncertain. The criticism from domestic violence groups and the allegations of attacks on political offices only add to the complex and contentious situation surrounding Destiny Church.
Whatever way you look at Brian Tamaki and the Destiny Church he leads, it will remain as a trigger point for comment, whether it be positive or negative, dependent upon your own point of view.
Earlier this month, approximately 30 attendees of an Auckland Pride Festival event were barricaded in a room when a group of men wearing ‘Man Up’ t-shirts allegedly stormed the venue.
The same group later protested at the Rainbow Parade in Ponsonby, briefly blocking Ponsonby Road and standing in front of police officers
Condemnation of the events have come from some within the Christian church, community leaders, politicians, and former TV person, Paddy Gower.
One of those at the pride parade was Massey University’s Emeritus Professor in history Peter Lineham. He’s been studying Destiny Church for decades and says he’s noticed a distinct change in the way it operates.
“It’s now reached a point where the intimidation bears quite a striking resemblance to right-wing groups in European history going back a long way. And that’s a very disturbing connection,” he says.
Lineham is referring to the Sturmabteilung or ‘Brown Shirts’, which was Adolf Hilter’s private army in the early days of the Nazi Party. It was made up of unemployed, disillusioned men who would go around attacking Jews and others blamed for the ills of society.
“I fear that unless there’s a fairly stern voice of the law at this point, that could be where it’s going and I just think we need to be cautious,” Lineham says.
In response to these events, Labour MP Phil Twyford has written to the tax department, urging them to revoke Destiny Church’s charitable status. Twyford’s letter cites the church’s actions as grounds for serious wrongdoing under the Charities Act 2005.
He expressed concern over the violent and discriminatory nature of the protests, which he believes are in direct violation of the principles that should govern charitable organizations.
There have also been allegations that members of Destiny Church attacked Phil Twyford’s office following his call for the revocation of the church’s charitable status.
These allegations have further fueled the controversy surrounding the church and its leader.
The ‘Man Up’ programme, run by Destiny Church, has come under scrutiny from domestic violence groups.
Critics argue that the programme promotes ideas of male dominance and ultra-traditional family values, which can exacerbate domestic violence. Women’s Refuge and other agencies have long warned that the programme is dangerous and lacks transparency and oversight.
Brian Tamaki has hit back at the criticism, defending the actions of his church members.
He stated that the protests were a stand against what he described as the “Woke Agenda” and the sexualization of children. Tamaki has also denied allegations that the protests were intended to terrorize or harm the LGBTQ+ community.
During the week he lashed out against the church community on Facebook.
