Pastors quit church as relatives face sex case

Brian Tamaki. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Destiny Church Taranaki pastors Lee and Robyn Edmonds have quit amid allegations of sexual misconduct against two family members.

In a statement issued by the church yesterday, spokesman Richard Lewis said "management" had accepted their offer to stand down and would be looking into the circumstances of both cases.

One of the matters, against a 29-year-old man, is already before the courts. He is next due to appear in New Plymouth District Court in May. The other allegation is against a woman.

Ms Edmonds headed the Taranaki branch of the Open Home Foundation (OHF), which places children in foster homes, at the time of the alleged offences.

Her resignation from that position was accepted yesterday, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Ms Edmonds said the alleged victim was not in the foundation's care when the incident occurred, but Child Youth and Family head Ray Smith said the girl was in its care and living in a Destiny Church foster home at the time.

The church said there was no formal arrangement between OHF and Destiny Churches New Zealand.

Ms Edmonds confirmed that, as manager of OHF Taranaki at the time, in each case she had notified the foundation's national office "for thorough independent assessment and action".

Mr Lewis said that, contrary to media reports, Bishop Brian Tamaki was not notified or involved in either case.

"Whilst the matters giving rise to these two incidents in Taranaki are of great concern to us, I believe it in no way reflects on the integrity and professionalism of the wider Destiny Church movement."

- NZPA