Editing Destiny Church (New Zealand) (section)

===Cult allegations===
Following members taking a voluntary covenant pledge to Bishop Brian and the cause of Destiny Church, the church was labelled as a [[cult]] by several New Zealand media outlets<ref name="NZ_Herald_10605962">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10605962 |title=Tamaki's church becoming a cult |author=George, Garth |date=29 October 2009 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archive-date=28 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328225259/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10605962 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ODT_79898">{{cite web |url=http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/opinion/79898/not-brian039s-destiny-be-humble-meek |title=Not Brian's destiny to be humble, meek |date=29 October 2009 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archive-date=9 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609031740/http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/opinion/79898/not-brian039s-destiny-be-humble-meek |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=covenant_slammed>{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/destiny-s-controversial-covenant-slammed-3101294 |title=Destiny's controversial covenant slammed |date=29 October 2009 |work=[[Television New Zealand]] |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archive-date=6 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006054546/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/destiny-s-controversial-covenant-slammed-3101294 |url-status=live }}</ref> and other observers.<ref>[http://www.cults.co.nz/d.php#destiny NZ Cults & Religious Groups List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206200733/http://cults.co.nz/d.php#destiny |date=6 February 2006 }}, Cults.co.nz</ref> In an interview with [[TVNZ]],<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_3012558">{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3012558/Destinys-Brian-Tamaki-answers-cult-accusations |title=Destiny's Brian Tamaki answers 'cult' accusations |date=29 October 2009 |agency=[[NZPA]] |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archive-date=12 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012143255/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3012558/Destinys-Brian-Tamaki-answers-cult-accusations |url-status=live }}</ref> Mark Vrankovich of Cultwatch criticised the covenant, saying Mr Tamaki was "taking a kingship position", and
{{blockquote|Within this document we see here the very mechanism by which cults go askew, In his opinion, other New Zealand christians were sick of being identified with Mr Tamaki and the Destiny Church. Mr Vrankovich shares his opinion in this quote: "I mean here you have a man who thinks he is a biblical character, in this case King David, and he's building himself an army of mighty men who will do want he wants. I have grave concerns for that, grave concerns.}}

In the same interview<ref name=covenant_slammed/> following the reports of October 2009, Bishop Tamaki and Richard Lewis defended the pledge on the basis that it was taken willingly, and simply attempted to set standards and codify established practice within the church. Lewis denied the "cult" claims, noting that church services are open to the public. Tamaki denied the existence of a "[[cult of personality]]", saying that he was simply setting a visible example for men to follow; and that the church helps a lot of people from difficult backgrounds. ''[[Campbell Live]]'', a current affairs program,<ref name="Secret-video"/> made use of a covert camera and an unidentified witness to critique church practices and the Momentum conference. The church later issued a response,<ref>"[http://www.destinychurch.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107:response-to-tv3-campbell-live-item&catid=28:media-releases&Itemid=75 Response to TV3 Campbell Live item] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513061410/http://destinychurch.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107:response-to-tv3-campbell-live-item&catid=28:media-releases&Itemid=75 |date=13 May 2010 }}". destinychurch.org.nz, retrieved 1 November 2009.</ref> stating that "a number of comments made by the individual were grossly inaccurate", that the source was not credible, and the report reflected "poor practice". In a separate report<ref name="TVNZ_3101249">{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/destiny-s-controversial-covenant-slammed-3101294/video?vid=3101249 |title=Destiny's controversial covenant slammed |date=29 October 2009 |work=[[Television New Zealand]] |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archive-date=4 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204043254/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/destiny-s-controversial-covenant-slammed-3101294/video?vid=3101249 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Lineham, associate professor at Massey University, expressed similar concerns but stopped short of using the word 'cult':
{{blockquote|I don't feel very comfortable about this word cult, because we use 'cult' as a sort of slang word to mean something really over the top. The fact is, there is no precise point at which you move to a total rejection of other connections.}}

Cult allegations resurfaced in 2010, when Cultwatch accused Tamaki of denying the bodily [[resurrection of Jesus]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cultwatch.com/briantamaki.html|title=Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church is Now a Cult – CULTWATCH|access-date=16 February 2011|archive-date=24 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224042337/http://www.cultwatch.com/BrianTamaki.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the claims and Tamaki's denial of the cult status generated substantial media coverage.<ref name="nzherald.co.nz">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10706749 |title=Garth George: Destiny must be treated as a cult |author=George, Garth |date=17 February 2011 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archive-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320143809/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10706749 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NZ_Herald_10706840">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10706840 |title=Destiny, cult-watchers in clash over Christ |date=17 February 2011 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archive-date=23 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123203601/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10706840 |url-status=live }}</ref>