Keep politics at bay, says new church leader

Church and politics do not mix, says the new Bishop of Aotearoa, Bishop Brown Turei. He told the Herald yesterday he did not think church leaders should be involved in politics.

Bishop Turei has been elected as the new Pihopa o Aotearoa, or leader of the Maori arm of the Anglican Church.

He said he did not believe the church should align itself with political parties nor launch parties, as had Destiny Church.

"There would be conflicts given the nature of church work and politics ... if people require your help, it should not matter what party they belong to."

Bishop Turei said he appreciated the attractiveness of churches like Destiny to youth and Maori, but had no problems with them if they were doing a good job.

He wanted to keep encouraging young people to church, and said young clergy were needed, but "one of the drawbacks is that we don't have the stipends to pay them."

The announcement of his appointment was made yesterday by Archbishop Whakahuihui Vercoe, head of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

Last year Archbishop Vercoe ignited controversy over his view that homosexuality was unnatural, not morally right and that one day society would find it unacceptable.

Bishop Turei said he was happy to minister to both gays and non-gays but he had a problem with the civil union legislation's implication for both.

"I find this hard to get my head around ... I don't know what's behind the civil-union marriage contract ... I'm not convinced what the point of it is for anyone."

Bishop Turei said he expected to be a lot busier in his new role. At age 80, the grandfather of six said he was fortunate to have good health and had always been sporty.

Bishop Turei was elected after a three-day hui of Maori Anglicans and ratified by all the bishops of the three tikanga churches, and by a postal ballot of members of the General Synod, or parliament, of the whole church.

Based in Gisborne, he had been Pihopa ki te Tai Rawhiti since 1992.

Tai Rawhiti is one of five Hui Amorangi (dioceses) in Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa.

Ordained a priest in 1950, Bishop Turei had Ngati Porou and Whanau a Apanui affiliations, and was the first Ngati Porou chosen as Pihopa o Aotearoa.