Celebration church pastor Murray Watkinson has emailed church members urging them “not to enter into debate” and “keep sharing God’s love and his word.”

The email was sent yesterday afternoon after former church members spoke to Chris Lynch on Newstalk ZB with concerns over racist and homophobic comments Watkinson made during a recent service.

Watkinson is no stranger to controversy.

Similar claims where made in a Press article in 2017.

Watkinson says “ seems I may have caused some controversy and a lot of what I said is being taken out of context.”

“At this time I’m not planning to make a public statement or enter into a public debate”

“I just want to encourage you as part of the church to stay strong, try not enter into a debate, “keep sharing God’s love and his word.”

In the email, he says “the message of the word is not racist so we welcome every tribe, every tongue, every race, and every people,”

“When our views are challenged, it causes us to go back to the word and discover God’s wisdom.”

Six former members of the church have contacted Chris Lynch’s Facebook, saying they left because there was too much of a focus on donating to the church.

Others say some of Murray Watkinson’s teachings were “far removed from the word of god, and more about his outdated opinion on life.”