Speaker Trevor Mallard 'has no plans' to reintroduce Jesus into Parliamentary prayer

A spokeswoman for Speaker Trevor Mallard said the prayer was now "more inclusive to all religions". Photo / Mark Mitchell

Speaker Trevor Mallard has no plans to add Jesus Christ back into the Parliamentary Prayer, despite "thousands of people" planning to protest outside Parliament tomorrow.

Among the protesters would be "dozens of motorcyclists" representing "Riders for the King," according to Pastor Ross Smith, one of the organisers of tomorrow's protest.

Last year, the official Parliamentary prayer was changed to remove a reference to Jesus but God remains in the prayer.

"Bill English, the then Leader of the Opposition described it as striking the right balance," a spokeswoman for Speaker Trevor Mallard told the Herald today.

But Pastor Smith said Mallard had "marginalise all faiths and religions" by taking Jesus' name out of the prayer – "it is a blatant misuse of his powers".

He said this was not just an issue for Christians, it's about all faiths.

"If you take Jesus Christ out of the prayer then nobody knows which God you're talking about. So the Christians have been excluded and all other faiths have been marginalised."

He said the protest tomorrow won't just be Christians.

A group of Muslims plan on attending as well, according to Smith, as by removing the reference to Jesus, Mallard had "reduced God to nothing," and made the prayer too religiously ambiguous.

"It's clear there is an agenda for the ultimate removal of God and religion from our Parliamentary proceedings and this must not happen."

But Mallard's spokeswoman said the prayer was now "more inclusive to all religions".

"The Speaker respects the views of those who are protesting at tomorrow's rally, and had no plans to make further changes to the Parliamentary prayer."

Smith was not convinced Mallard's decision was more inclusive to all religions.

"Over the last few months we've met with numerous Christian groups and churches around the country who are incensed at what is a deliberate step towards dismantling and removing prayer, religion and God completely from our Parliament and nation," Smith said.

He added that New Zealand was founded on Judean and Christian values and principles and the National anthem implores God to defend New Zealand.

"Yet the Speaker thinks he is above our heritage and legacy and can undo a central foundation on which our country was built".