Destiny assault charge

Brian Tamaki. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The son of a Destiny Church pastor has been charged with indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl, who was placed in the care of a churchgoer by an organisation run by his mother.

The allegations have sparked a Child, Youth and Family investigation into the close links between the Open Home Foundation and Destiny in Taranaki.

Joshua Edmonds, 29, of New Plymouth, is facing one count of indecently assaulting the teenager while she was in the foster care of a Destiny Church family.

He is due to appear in the New Plymouth District Court in May.

His mother, Destiny pastor Robyn Edmonds, is also in charge of the Taranaki branch of the Open Home Foundation, which finds foster homes for children.

She had contracted congregation members to look after the 13-year-old.

The incident has raised questions about whether she can continue as a pastor and remain in control of placing foster children.

Edmonds was also put in charge of creating a "safety plan" to ensure her son had no contact with the alleged victim or other children in the foundation's care.

When approached for comment, Edmonds said her son would plead not guilty. She also denied the child was in the care of the Open Home Foundation at the time of the alleged incident.

Child Youth and Family head Ray Smith disputed her version of events, stating that the 13-year-old was in foundation care - and had been living in a Destiny Church foster home.

He said the incident had led to a review of "all the current caregiver arrangements" between the Open Home Foundation in Taranaki and Destiny Church members.

He said the reason for the review was "to ensure the children and young people are safe and well-cared for".

Smith also said he was "pleased" the foundation would be talking to Edmonds about "boundary issues ... in relation to her involvement in the church".

The Herald on Sunday revealed last week the links between the Taranaki branch of the Open Home Foundation and Destiny Church.

At the time, CYF said there were "no concerns ... in relation to Open Home Foundation or Destiny Church".

The foundation received $9 million in taxpayer funding last year, and more than 600 children across the country spent time in the care of the Open Home Foundation.

Smith said: "The Open Home Foundation has an obligation to ensure quality and safe caregiving and has a good record.

"We want to work with them to ensure this record is not being undermined."

He said CYF staff in Taranaki had moved the 13-year-old into "safe care" as soon as they heard of the allegation.

The girl was no longer living in the area.

Questions had been raised about "whether appropriate steps to keep the young person safe" had been taken, he said.

Destiny Church-linked families look after more than a quarter of the 21 foster kids cared for by the Open Home Foundation in Taranaki.

Foundation chief executive Russell Martin said Edmonds remained in charge of the "safety plan" that she had drawn up to ensure her son had no contact with children in the foundation's care. "The safety plan remains in place."

Martin said a senior staff member had raised concerns on several occasions about her dual responsibilities within the foundation and Destiny Church.

"Mrs Edmonds has been open about these issues and has worked with OHF to see if these can be addressed satisfactorily.

"[The foundation] will need to revisit the measures put in place to see whether it is possible to keep clear boundaries on an ongoing basis."

Detective Sue Ashton said the alleged incident did not happen at the foundation house at which the 13-year-old was being fostered.