A controversial charismatic group’s recent founding of a political party in New Zealand is the latest of several attempts by evangelicals to create a Christian political movement in the nation.
The formation of Destiny New Zealand as an offshoot of the charismatic Destiny Churches network is raising concern that the “Christian party end of the political spectrum“ may now be getting crowded, since there already is the Christian Heritage Pary and United Future. The New Zealand Herald (May 24) reports that Destiny New Zealand has already raised controversy since it is linked to an evangelist who said that New Zealand has so many women politicians due to a “fatherless generation.”
But the main concern is that starting another party will further fragment the Christian vote Both Destiny New Zealnd and United Future votes will come largely from Pentecostals, while the Christian Heritage Party attracts evangelical Christians from a variety of denominations.