Destiny Church pastors keeping clear of revelations

The pastors of Taranaki's Destiny Church say they do not wish to be drawn into the controversy surrounding claims the church was causing marriage breakups.

The Taranaki Daily News this week reported claims from three former members who said the church had undermined their marriages.

Pastors Lee and Robyn Edmond declined to be quoted in the story and referred the reporter to the church's media officer in Auckland.

The Taranaki Daily yesterday again approached Mrs Edmonds.

"You're playing with people's lives. It's not our place to talk about other people's lives," she said.

Mrs Edmonds was then asked how the response from the public had affected them personally.

"I won't even comment on that. All I'll say is there's two sides to every story."

The church's media spokeswoman Janine Cardno also declined to buy into the debate.

"We are limited in what we can say in response to these allegations.

"Our Taranaki pastors are longstanding and highly-respected members of our movement, their local church and community," she said.

However, the paper received an email from a current Taranaki member who said he is also trying to save his relationship, which involves a child.

"I know that if I left the church our relationship will be beyond repair, it won't work out.

"She has said that she wants me to stay part of the church if we're meant to work.

"The church is telling us to leave the relationship up to God, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be, and that they will help us, but I don't sense any help.

"They refer to us as husband and wife, but we are not together, and it's causing frustrations out of church ... she blames me when it's not even my doing," the man said.

"I honestly don't like the church, but out of love for her and my daughter and out of belief that families are meant to be together I'm still going to church, I don't feel like I have a choice here."

Another former Taranaki member said Mr Edmonds had spent "many, many hours" with the three men to support them in their marriages.

Tania Hoeta-Bevan moved back to Sydney with her husband after three years with Destiny, and had provided sign language at congregation meetings.

"I want to make it quite clear that Pastor Lee Edmonds is a godly Christian man who has a heart for the local people and families and marriages.

"We can speak for first hand experience, and don't appreciate some of the slanderous things said about Pastor Lee Edmonds.

"We personally know him, and know him to be a great pastor and an awesome man of God."

- © Fairfax NZ News