During a sermon last Sunday, posted online by his wife Hannah, Mr Tamaki implied that gay and lesbian clergy are a "contamination".

"To speak of any person as a source of ‘contamination' is unacceptable", says Archbishop Philip Richardson.

"And especially so for someone who seeks to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Richardson says that when the leaders of the worldwide Anglican Church gathered in England last year, they issued a communique, which says, in part:

"The Primates condemned homophobic prejudice and violence and resolved to work together to offer pastoral care and loving service irrespective of sexual orientation. This conviction arises out of our discipleship of Jesus Christ. The Primates reaffirmed their rejection of criminal sanctions against same-sex attracted people.

"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, and that the church should never by its actions give any other impression."

The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, The Rt Rev Ross Bay, has also responded with dismay at the Destiny leader's comments.

"The Anglican Church here values the contribution of gay and lesbian leaders across all aspects of church life, including those who are ordained", Bishop Ross said today.

"It is deeply disturbing that a church leader should regard such people as a contamination.

"Mr Tamaki is, of course, free to prevent LGBTQI people offering ministry in his own church.

"But to refer to them in this way is a denial of human dignity and encourages further stigmatisation and exclusion.

"The Gospel is about the love and reconciliation which we have been offered in Jesus Christ. Church leaders have a responsibility to model and preach this good news in ways that draw people together."

Source

• Nga Taonga
• Image: Stuff

From May 1st the 55-year-old becomes the Archbishop for Tikanga Pakeha and will work alongside the leader of the Maori arm of the church, Archbishop Brown Turei, and Archbishop Winston Halapua who is Bishop of Polynesia.

He will also continue as the Bishop of Taranaki.

Richardson says his top priorities as archbishop will be helping the church to work together for the common good, to advocate for people on the margins, and to help the church to "deepen its discipleship" - in other words, to live out its faith.

"The church," he says, "really does exist for those who are outside itself. We're not a club. We are people who are committed to building communities which are healthy. Lifegiving, just communities where everyone has a place, where every individual has the ability to live full and meaningful lives.

"The church is really committed to that. We are committed to the common good. So a really high priority for me is to work in whatever way I can to enhance our ability to work together as a church to contribute to that common good."

Richardson was born in Devonport on Auckland's North Shore in 1958 and studied at Rangitoto College.

Ordained a priest in 1982, he helped set up a community house and ministry in Glen Innes before being sent in 1984 to Whangarei parish as an assistant priest.

In the 1990's he was appointed warden of Selwyn College at the University of Otago.

During his seven years at Selwyn College he became increasingly involved in serving the Anglican Church at a provincial level and in 1999, aged 40, was elected as Bishop of Taranaki.

He says the real challenge for him now is to translate the work he has built up over 14 years with regional and civic leaders in Taranaki on to the national stage.

He succeeds Archbishop David Moxon, who is moving on to take up a position in Rome as the Anglican Communion's chief ambassador to the Catholic Church.

Source

• NewsTalkZB
• Anglican Taonga
• Image: Anglican Taonga