Callers tell of Destiny Church pressure

More former Destiny Church members have come forward claiming the church put pressure on marriages.

Since yesterday's story of the three Taranaki men who spoke out, the Taranaki Daily News has received several phone calls and emails in their support.

These alleged pressure on couples to spilt when one wished to leave the church, and heavy- handed tactics in congregations to keep out dissenters. However, Destiny Church spokeswoman Janine Cardno said it was inappropriate to comment as it would breach the privacy of both current and former church members.

Hamilton's Cindy Johnston, 35, said she went through the same experience a year ago, as her husband walked out on her after the Labour Day conference. "My husband had the church or marriage, he chose the church."

After 6 1/2 years with Destiny, during which members of her family were involved in leadership, Mrs Johnston said they became concerned with the "pressure" to provide constant money tithings and offerings.

Since leaving, her family had been badmouthed by the Hamilton congregation, and her husband would leave to have meetings with them. "We had a few arguments leading up, a couple of months.

"He was very cold, wouldn't talk about anything to do with the church."

She alleged Hamilton Pastor John Ferris told her husband she had stopped paying, despite saying publicly he was not involved in the financial matters.

"That's their main concern, they're still going to get their money."

Another Taranaki couple, who asked to remain anonymous, said intimidation did happen.

The husband walked out of Destiny after two years, and said he was told by security it was "dangerous" for him to come to another meeting with his wife, and they were isolated on their church pew.

"I asked, `how is this dangerous for me to be here'.

"I know their intimidation tactics."

His wife backed up the claims.

"I don't want to run anybody down, but what [my husband] said is what happened,"she said.

The man said it was " a year of hell" trying to convince his wife to leave the church, and the Taranaki pastors tried to drive a wedge so they could still retain a tithing paying member.

"If Lee and Robyn Edmonds were Christians, they should be advising the wives to stay with their husbands.

"He [Lee] did not do anything he said."

Both Mrs Johnston and the couple mentioned heavy-handed security at group meetings.

Mrs Cardno denied any of the intimidation tactics raised by the three Taranaki men yesterday.

"They're talking bodyguards. Every church has security to some degree, but not bodyguards and things like that," the media spokeswoman said.

- © Fairfax NZ News