Church Leaders' Statements

The National Church leaders

The following letter was sent to all sitting Members of Parliament from the National Church Leaders, who are the senior leaders of most of the Christian church denominations in New Zealand. They represent the Christian body from right across the denominational spectrum and were gathered together within sight of Parliament.

The National Church Leaders were eager to communicate to every Member of Parliament about the church's deep and heartfelt concern about the third reading of the Abortion Law Reform Bill. They wrote urging them to read the letter and to give genuine consideration to what many Christian have to say to leaders in this nation.

To every MP, from the undersigned National Church Leaders gathered today in Wellington

Tēnā koutou. Today, 17 March 2020, the national leaders of most New Zealand church denominations gathered together in Wellington, within sight of Parliament. We want to say to every MP: we urge you to look deep into your own moral conscience, and to vote against the Abortion Law “Reform” Bill at its final reading.

We acknowledge that a decision to seek an abortion is often a lonely and agonising choice for a woman, and that the aim of this Bill is to streamline access to abortion and reduce its stigma. We recognise there are complexities in the abortion issue. We do, however, see any abortion as a tragedy for all concerned.

The profound and pervasive flaw of this Bill is that it erases all consideration for the human worth of the unborn child, and (unlike the current legislation) makes no attempt to balance the needs of mother and child and to give at least some protection to the unborn. The Bill defies the obvious, scientifically incontestable reality that the unborn are living, beating-heart, human babies. Societies which practice great oppression often first dehumanise those they mistreat, asserting they are not really human, so killing them is therefore acceptable. Unwittingly, the Bill echoes that same chilling pattern: it assumes that unwanted unborn are neither human nor valuable and that their death is therefore of no consequence; their death is minimalised as just a “health” procedure for the mother, in which the real victim is determinedly overlooked.

The intent of the Bill may well be to advance women’s autonomy or health. But we believe its primary effect will be to further normalise unspeakable abuse and death against society’s most innocent, vulnerable and voiceless members, the unborn. We believe all human life is a sacred taonga, a priceless gift from God. Justice and compassion requires that we should allow the unborn to be safely born and to live the life they have been given. Those in great authority have a God-given responsibility to help protect everyone, especially those most vulnerable; to legislate instead to facilitate their death is culpably wrong.

And so, in the name of God, and of justice and compassion, and for the sake of future generations, we the undersigned national church leaders join with a vast number of other caring New Zealanders and implore you to exercise true conscience and to vote against this highly unbalanced and unjust Bill.

Signed…

Rev Charles Hewlett

Acting Chair

Bishop Mark Whitford

Secretary

On behalf of the following National Church Leaders…

Pastor Adam White, Leader, New Life Churches
Pastor Boyd Ratnajara, National Leader, Elim Church of New Zealand
Pastor Peter Mortlock, Senior Pastor, City Impact Church
Rev Setaita Taumoepeau Veikune, President, Methodist Church of New Zealand
Pastor Steve Burgess, Regional Overseer / Senior Leader, C3 Churches
Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, Roman Catholic Church
Rev Andrew Marshall, National Director, Alliance Churches of New Zealand
Brent Liebezeit, President, Christian Churches New Zealand
Right Rev Fakaofo Kaio, Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (personal support)
Pastor David Macgregor, National Director, Vineyard Churches
Bishop Jay Behan, Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa New Zealand
Charles Hewlett, National Leader, Baptist Churches of New Zealand
Rev Tale Hakeagaiki, Chairman, Congregational Union of New Zealand
Pastor Eddie Tupa’i, President, New Zealand Pacific Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church
Pastor Iliafi Esera, Senior Pastor, Assemblies of God New Zealand
Rev Brett Jones, National Superintendent, Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand
Rev Dr Stuart Lange, National Director, New Zealand Christian Network
Rev Dr Jaron Graham, National Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene
Bishop Mark Whitfield, Lutheran Church of New Zealand

Elim Church of New Zealand to the Prime Minister

The following statement about Labour's Abortion Bill has been sent to the Prime Minister by the Elim Church of NZ...

"The Elim Church of New Zealand, representing some 20,000 citizens and residents of New Zealand, wish to strongly state their opposition to the proposed Abortion Law Reform Bill, in that these proposals completely ignore any and all human rights of an unborn child.

This bill defies common sense and natural law.

We believe in the sanctity of human life. We believe that the baby born today, has the same exact human value as the unborn baby today that would be born tomorrow.

Any other position is inconsistent and non-rational, as every parent instinctively knows.

We are for every human being’s God-given right to life, but not to take life.

We are for every human being’s God-given right to choose, but not to choose for another who cannot choose for themselves.

We are for a caring society that responds to complex individual situations with complex individualised solutions.

The existing bill provides this.

We are for wise, consistently rational, and collectively compassionate law.

This bill is none of these, and from the Elim Church of New Zealand, we implore you to reject it."

New Zealand Catholic Bishops

The following media release about Labour's abortion Bill was issued by the NZ Catholic Bishops on 19 February, 2020...

"New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are concerned that unborn babies will lose their existing tenuous legal rights if Parliament passes the Abortion Legislation Bill in the form proposed by a select committee.

Speaking on behalf of the bishops, Catholic lecturer Ms Cynthia Piper says an unborn child is entitled to a place in the human family, along with all the rights that go with that.

“In the womb, the child already has its own unique genetic identity and whakapapa. Our abortion laws must reflect this reality,” says Ms Piper. “It is a major failing of the proposed new law that there will no longer be any statutory requirement to consider the rights of the unborn child. That is totally unacceptable to the bishops and many New Zealanders.”

Parliament’s Abortion Legislation Select Committee – set up to hear public submissions on a bill to replace New Zealand’s existing abortion laws – has recommended enacting a new law based on the Law Commission’s “Model C”, one of three alternatives the commission suggested in a 2018 report to the Government.

Model C as adopted by the select committee removes the need for any statutory tests for an abortion up to 20 weeks gestation, effectively introducing abortion on demand, says Ms Piper, a lecturer with the Church’s Te Kupenga - Catholic Leadership Institute.

For pregnancies of more than 20 weeks gestation, a health practitioner would need to reasonably believe that the abortion is appropriate in the circumstances having regard to the woman’s physical and mental health and well-being.

But Ms Piper says the criteria referred to for that are undefined and ultimately subjective and broad.

Additionally, the bishops fear the proposed changes will harm the well-being of many women. Ms Piper says she has worked with many women who have had abortions and experienced long-lasting negative effects, especially when they felt pressured into having an abortion.

“The coercive reality of societal, familial and economic pressures that arise when a woman suddenly finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy is well documented. The select committee itself acknowledges that they heard from several submitters, particularly young women, who believed they might not have chosen abortion if they had received more support. But what is being proposed will not help women in this situation make different decisions.”

Footnote: The select committee received 25,718 written submissions on the proposed law change, of which more than 90 per cent were opposed. Approximately 2800 submitters asked to make an oral submission with the committee hearing from 139."

New Life Churches Of New Zealand

The following public statement has been sent to all NZ MPs today by the New Life Churches of NZ...

"As the Executive team of New Life Churches, representing 76 Churches and approximately 13,000 people throughout our great nation, we want to clearly and strongly state our complete opposition to the proposed Abortion Legislation Bill.

We consider it to be an extreme and radical departure from our nation’s historic position on the sanctity and value of all human life, which includes the most vulnerable of them all, the unborn baby.

We appeal to science and to reason, to ethics and to good conscience, that Members of Parliament who have previously voted ‘yes’ to this bill, would reconsider their position and vote NO at the third and final reading.

On 1st June 2015, a new law came into effect stopping farmers from inducing cows and killing the calf who wouldn’t survive being born too early. This practice was considered “inhumane and cruel” by the MP’s promoting the change. Unborn calves are now protected from this.

How is it that we see this practice as horrendous and pass laws to protect the unborn calves and yet do not want to extend the same to unborn children?

We ask this on behalf of those whose voices you may never allow to be heard. This is much more than a political issue; this is certainly not a health issue. It is about preserving our humanity and preserving the lives of precious unborn children.

Yours faithfully,

Pastor Adam White

National Leader,

New Life Churches New Zealand"

Auckland Church Leaders

The Auckland Church Leaders group has sent the following correspondence to the Prime Minister about Labour's abortion Bill...

"Dear Prime Minister,

The Christian Churches listed below wish to strongly state our opposition to the proposed Abortion Legislation Bill, in that these radical and extreme proposals completely ignore any and all human rights of the unborn child.

We urge you as our Prime Minister, and other members of Parliament, to reconsider your stand regarding this piece of legislation and vote NO at the upcoming 3rd and final reading.

Ps Tak Bhana, Senior Pastor, Church Unlimited
Ps Paul de Jong, Senior Pastor, LIFE
Ps Jonathan Dove, Chair for Auckland Church Leaders, & Senior Pastor, Greenlane Christian Centre
Most Rev Patrick Dunn, Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Catholic Diocese of Auckland
Ps Steve Green, Elim Churches of NZ
Ps Brian Kelly, Calvary Chapel
Rev Dr Stuart Lange, National Director, New Zealand Christian Network
Rev Andrew Marshall, Alliance churches
Ps Sam Monk, National Leader Acts Churches New Zealand & Senior Pastor Equippers Church
Ps Lui Ponifasio, CCCNZ Churches Auckland & LifeChurch NZ
Ps Dean Rush, C3 Auckland
Ps Jim Shaw, New Life Churches
Ps Kok Soon Lee, Chinese Churches NZ
Rev David Waldron, Rev John Haverland, Pieter van der Wel and John van Dyk (The Synodical Interim Committee) of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand
Ps Jason Winslade, Redemption Church

On behalf of Auckland Church Leaders,

Ps Jonathan Dove

Chairperson

Auckland Church Leaders"

Assemblies of God Churches In New Zealand

The Assemblies of God Churches in NZ have issued the following public statement about Labour's Abortion Bill...

- Tuesday 10 March 2020 -

We the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand, representing 229 churches and approximately 20,000 constituents throughout our great country, wish to emphatically state our opposition to the proposed Abortion Legislation Bill.

We consider it to be a radical departure from our nation’s historic position on the sanctity and value of all human life, which includes the most vulnerable of them all, the unborn child.

We appeal to reason, to science, to ethics and to good conscience, that Members of Parliament who have previously voted ‘yes’ to this bill, would reconsider their position at the third and final reading.

We ask this on behalf of those whose voices you may never allow to be heard. This is much more than a political issue, this we believe, is about preserving our humanity and preserving the lives of precious children.

In Christ,

Pastor Iliafi Esera

General Superintendent,

Assemblies of God in NZ

Christian Churches Of Canterbury

13 March 2020

A letter to the Prime Minister & Members of Parliament from the Christian Churches of Canterbury

Dear Prime Minister & Members of Parliament,

The Christian Churches of Canterbury which are listed below, who represent 21,236 people within our great nation, wish to strongly state their opposition to the proposed Abortion Legislation Bill which is currently being considered.

Both science and reason point to the fact that those within the womb are no less human than those outside of the womb, only differing in terms of their size, level of development, environment, and degree of dependency.

As the current elected government, you have been entrusted with the weighty responsibility of protecting the human rights of every living New Zealander, especially those who are the most defenceless and vulnerable.

In the attempt to uphold the rights of some New Zealanders, this Abortion Legislation Bill fatally terminates the rights of others, which is why we urge you to reconsider your support of this Bill, and vote NO at the 3rd and final reading.

In this final hour, we pray that you will have the courage to make the right decision, standing up for the rights of those kiwis who are without a voice."

On behalf of the following Christian Churches in Canterbury:

Ps Jason Winslade, Redemption Church
Ps Joe Fleener, Rolleston Baptist Church
Ps Nick Clevely, Covenant Grace Baptist Church
Ps Rob Harrod, Grace Baptist Church
Ps Mark Pavelka & Ps Wendy Gerrling, Gleniti Baptist Church
Rev Dave Clancey, Trinity South Christchurch
Rev James de Costobadie, Latimer Church
Rev Andrew Allan-Johns, Anchor Charismatic Anglican
Ps Tony Blackie, Beckenham Baptist Church
Ps Andrew de Vries, Reformed Church of Bishopdale Ps
Andre Powell, Cornerstone Church Rolleston
Ps Jon Hales, Riverside Community Church
Rev Toby Behan, Anglican Life Rangiora
Ps Max Palmer, Life Church International
Ps David Waldron, Reformed Church of Christchurch
Ps Elijah Wong, Christchurch Chinese Abundant Life Church
Rev Dr Stephen McNabb, Christ Church Roimata
Ps Warren Gouman, C3 Church Christchurch
Rev Andy Carley, All Saints Anglican Church
Ps Pat Lamborn, Connect Church Christchurch
Ps Murray Woodfield, Calvary Chapel Christchurch
Ps Ben & Amy Kendrew, Arise Church Christchurch
Ps Albert Couperus, Reformed Church of Rangiora
Rev Dr Clint Ussher, The Well Church
Ps Gideon Hoekend, Harmony Church
Ps Lincoln Rout, Rutland Street Church
Ps David MacGregor, Grace Vineyard Church
Ps Bruce Fraser, Rechurch
Ps Kathleen Macdonald, Restoration Ministries
Ps Hamish Gallowy, Hope Presbyterian Network
Ps Kerry Brewerton, Rangiora Baptist Church
Ps Jared van Berkel, Thrive Church
Ps Gavin Topp, Oikos Ministries International
Rev Jay Behan, St Stephen's (Church of Confessing Anglicans)
Ps Ken Shelley, King's Church
Ps Nigel Ripley, Burwood Christian Centre
Rev Peter Hurricks, Anglican Parish of Halswell & Prebbleton
Ps Bill Avenell, Ashburton Baptist Church
Ps William Lopez, Jesus Is Lord Church
Rev Dr Peter Carrell, Anglican Bishop of Christchurch
Rev John Fox, Christian Disability Trust
Ps Daniel Wu, Canterbury Chinese Christian Church Ps
Bernhard Wewege, Every Nation Church
Ps Andy van Ameyde, Reformed Church of Dovedale

City Impact Church

City Impact Church has just issued this public statement - which has also been sent to the Prime Minister and all Members of Parliament...

"As one of the larger churches in New Zealand representing thousands of people, we appeal to every Member of Parliament to vote NO on the abortion bill currently before the house.

We have all witnessed the irreparable damage that abortion has done to women over the years, let alone the thousands of innocent lives that have been destroyed.

Abortion should not be an option for birth control. Every mother to be has experienced the sheer joy of seeing their baby on an ultra-scan, knowing that this is a life, not an inconvenient foetus.

I fear for this country in taking a step like this in the completely wrong direction, for the blood of the innocent will cry out against us.

This is not about women’s rights, it is about the unborn rights who cannot speak for themselves.

But we are all here today because someone did not conveniently abort us. What a responsibility we all have to speak up for the innocent and count all life as precious.

If a pregnant woman is punched the perpetrator is rightly charged with murder - as we all know a life has been taken - bottom line abortion is just that, as extreme as it sounds, but a life is taken, innocent blood is spilled.

Vote NO, for as every Member of Parliament who votes for this bill will try like Pilate to wash their hands of it, but they won’t be able to for blood sticks.

That may sound heavy and extreme, but it is the truth and it needs to be told.

Peter and Bev Mortlock

Senior Pastor

City Impact Church

This statement has gone out to the prime minister and every member of parliament."

Arise Church

Yesterday afternoon the Arise Church of NZ issued the following press release about the abortion Bill...

"Statement By ARISE Church - Re: Abortion Legislation Bill

Thursday, 12 March 2020, 2:11 pm

Press Release: ARISE Church

The leadership of ARISE Church urges the prime minister and every member of parliament to vote NO to the proposed Abortion Law Reform Bill. We represent over 10,000 New Zealanders across nine locations who are a part of our church.

We are deeply concerned by the direction of the proposed law and state our total opposition to the legislation. We choose to speak on behalf of those who can not speak for themselves.

Every human life is valuable, including the most vulnerable in our society. The unborn child deserves protection and consideration, alongside their parents. The proposed changes are unnecessary, extreme and ignore the human rights of the unborn.

We stand for a society that cherishes life at every age and stage. Let the legacy of our generation be one of a nation that honoured all of its members.

Please consider your vote in its third and final reading."

Published on Scoop here: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2003/S00130/statement-by-arise-church-re-abortion-legislation-bill.htm?fbclid=IwAR1LyohDlTUAKBdTubK7b4rIXTJUPO03iRJJr-wYYprOkRkh6zMAjVT3gic

Baptist Union of New Zealand

Baptist Union of New Zealand statement on abortion law reform.

We welcome all moves towards a more humane and compassionate society. Every human life matters.

We are saddened and distressed by current moves in parliament that will effectively permit abortion up until the time of birth.

Life has been emerging in the womb from the time of conception. This life is capable of survival outside the womb many weeks prior to reaching full term.

We regret the ignoring of this central point in the legal and social changes that have been taking place.

We reaffirm – every human life matters. And that includes the unborn.

Charles Hewlett – National Leader