Westcity Bible Baptist pastor admits praying for suicide of gay author Jim Marjoram

Author Jim Marjoram said the email was shocking but he wasn't too fazed about it. Photo / Supplied

A pastor has admitted sending an abusive email to a prominent gay author in which he prayed for the author's death.

Logan Robertson told Auckland writer Jim Marjoram: "I pray that you will commit suicide, you filthy fag."

Mr Robertson, from Westcity Bible Baptist Church, was replying to a message Marjoram sent to Auckland churches about his new autobiography, It's Life Jim, and support group Silent Gays.

The exchange, which was shared on Reddit and Facebook, has sparked outrage on social media. Mr Robertson told NZME. News Service he "hadn't really had a look" at the reaction to his email and denied he had done anything wrong.

He added: "I didn't tell him to go and commit suicide. I said I prayed that he would.

"All I did was write what I wrote, and then I prayed about it that he would, and that's it. There's nothing more to say."

Marjoram's book details his struggle with his sexuality and his life as a fundamentalist Christian for over 40 years.

In his email to Marjoram, Mr Robertson quoted and referred to parts of the Bible.

"We are not interested in your filthy lifestyle or book. The Bible says you are vile, strange (queer), reprobate, filth, sodomite, natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed.

"I pray that you will commit suicide, you filthy fag."

According to its website, the Westcity Bible Baptist Church is a "family-oriented independent Bible-believing Baptist church".

Mr Robertson was born and raised in New Zealand. He is married and the couple have three young children, the website said.

Marjoram, who is originally from Sydney and was previously involved in Christian ex-gay groups, said the email was shocking but he wasn't too fazed about it.

"I guess he just sort of epitomises what a lot of fundamentalists and that type of really heavy religious people [have as] attitudes," he said.

"I realised it's exactly the sort of reason why I created my support group, because of people like him and those attitudes that...creep through the church."

Since Mr Robertson's email he had received messages of support from New Zealand and around the world.

"The internet's going crazy. I'm getting swamped from people all over the world saying they've posted on different LGBT [lesbian gay bisexual trans] sites and Christian sites in England, Canada, USA, Australia."

Marjoram said he had no plans to lay a formal complaint.

He said several congregations in Auckland, including St Matthew in the City and Ponsonby Baptist, had supported his book and support group.

The Human Rights Commission has condemned the email.

"New Zealanders who preach hate and violence are fundamentalists, they are extremists and they are the problem," said Human Rights Commissioner Richard Tankersley.

"Hatemongers who attack gay Kiwis need to know their behaviour has no place in Aotearoa.

"This is an appalling case and I know most New Zealanders will find it offensive and unacceptable" said Mr Tankersley.

"I encourage Kiwis to not be bystanders, to stand up if we witness hate attacks whether it's in a pub, in your church or even on social media. Let victims know they're not alone: but crucially let perpetrators know New Zealanders will not stand by silent while they spread hate and violence."