Christians in New Zealand are gathering to pray in the nation’s capital of Wellington on Tuesday after concerns that the name ‘Jesus Christ’ will be removed from the prayer said at the opening of Parliament.
Removal of mentions of Jesus and Queen Elizabeth II from Parliament’s Te Reo karakia or prayer were mooted by Parliament’s Speaker Trevor Mallard last year.
In response, a delegation of church leaders met with Mr Mallard and, according to the group ‘Jesus for New Zealand‘, were assured that no decision on changes to the Parliamentary prayer would be final until the commencement of Parliament which takes place at 2pm on Tuesday, 30th January.
Jesus for New Zealand are calling for people to gather at Parliament House in Wellington and pray between noon and 1.30pm on Tuesday.
Spokesman Ross Smith said the gathering was not a protest but a movement aimed at bringing as many Christians together as possible to “make a stand”.
“We feel that the church does not have a voice in this change and we are here to change that,” Pastor Ross, of Celebration Church Wellington, said in a statement. “Numbers speak to Parliament and this rally may be the only way to keep Jesus in the prayer, that is why we are calling for all Christians to be a part of this movement.”
The organisers cite a poll on Stuff.co.nz run last year which shows that 50 per cent of more than 10,000 respondants were opposed to the change while only 17 per cent supported it. A third – 33 per cent – didn’t think there should be a prayer for Parliament at all.
