Gloriavale’s Christian ethos clashes with human rights – senior leader: 1 News

By Ryan Boswell | 1News |

There are “very definitely” difficulties between Gloriavale’s Christian ethos and human rights law, according to a senior leader of the West Coast commune.

Stephen Standfast, who is the successor to Overseeing Shepherd Howard Temple, is giving evidence in the Employment Court in Christchurch.

The court is deciding whether six former residents, who are all women, were employees or volunteers. It’s claimed the women were made to work long hours in slave-like conditions.

“We should obey the laws of the land to the point where they require us to directly go against subscription,” he said.

“I personally believe that the place women have, held in our faith and life, has a lot of scope to broaden on what it has been right up to a point.”

further reading and video link: Gloriavale’s Christian ethos clashes with human rights – senior leader