The head of the Anglican Church in New Zealand has issued an official statement rejecting comments made by Destiny Church's self-declared bishop Brian Tamaki that gay and lesbian people shouldn't be clergy.
Mr Tamaki caused controversy after a video of him speaking to his congregation on Sunday, in which he referred to gay and lesbian clergy as "contamination", was posted online by his wife Hannah Tamaki.
Responding to the video in the statement, Anglican Archbishop Philip Richardson said "to speak of any person as a source of 'contamination' is unacceptable... especially so for someone who seeks to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ".
The archbishop also citied an official statement from a meeting of international Anglican Church leaders in England last year which said:
"The Primates [senior bishops in the Anglican Church] condemned homophobic prejudice and violence and resolved to work together to offer pastoral care and loving service irrespective of sexual orientation.
Brian Tamaki is given a fair chance to respond to the request over his 'sin' causing earthquakes comments. (Source: Other)
"The Primates recognise that the Christian church and within it the Anglican Communion have often acted in a way towards people on the basis of their sexual orientation that has caused deep hurt. Where this has happened they express their profound sorrow and affirm again that God's love for every human being is the same, regardless of their sexuality."
In Mr Tamaki's video released Sunday he says to the Destiny Church congregation: "There's been such a breakdown and contamination in churches and in denominations it's gone beyond a joke."
"Churches are so unguarded and [have] so lost their way that now you can have lesbian ministers… and gay… You might be saying 'yay' and clapping, but I’m not clapping with you - and neither is God."
Mr Tamaki has a history of controversial comments about homosexuality.
In November 2016, Mr Tamaki caused outrage when he suggested "certain human sin" including gay priests, were responsible for the deadly Canterbury earthquakes which killed 185 people.
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