Destiny Church says claims it is planning to build a "walled city" for members in South Auckland "could not be further from the truth".
It was responding to media reports that land had been purchased with the intention of creating a self-contained "kingdom" in which members could live, sheltered from the outside world.
Church spokeswoman Janine Cardno told NZPA there were plans to create a church centre in South Auckland, expanding the school, medical and social services offered by the church. But the idea of a "walled city" was pure fantasy.
"That's a media term. Why do you wall it up? That's silly, churches are open to people." Ms Cardno said the church's social work was focused on South Auckland and it made sense to its their base from its current site at Mt Wellington.
At a Labour Weekend church conference, self-styled Bishop Brian Tamaki urged supporters to move to Auckland to be part of the new centre.
"You'd shift for a payrise. Would you shift for the purpose of God? To see something happen? Would you do that?"
TV3 News said yesterday it had been contacted by a man who became concerned after his mother attended the conference. He said she was planning to sell her six properties in Nelson in order to donate the proceeds to the church and move to "Destiny City".
Ms Cardno said there were no plans to house anyone at the new centre and nobody had been asked to sell their homes.
"All that was said to everybody at the conference was `if you want to be involved in the ministry in South Auckland you can get yourself to Auckland.
"Relocate does not mean we're all going to live in a commune or something." Ms Cardno said the deal to purchase land and properties in South Auckland would be finalised on November 10 and the church could not reveal exact details of the proposed centre until that date.
Mr Tamaki said more than $2.4 million had been donated towards the project.
