Story: Tongans

Breakaway Methodists

Breakaway Methodists

When a homosexual minister was appointed to a leadership position in the Methodist church in Christchurch, many Tongans were very unhappy. In Ōtāhuhu the conflict eventually resulted in most of the critics being locked out of the local Methodist church. This 300-strong congregation held a service beneath a makeshift marquee in a neighbouring driveway.

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New Zealand Herald
Reference: 7 May 2001
Photograph by Kenny Rodger

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Melenaite Taumoefolau, 'Tongans - Culture', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/3907/breakaway-methodists (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Melenaite Taumoefolau, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 25 Mar 2015