Media Release

24 November 2015

NZ Christian Network is urging churches and individuals concerned about the possibility of euthanasia being legalised in New Zealand, to make submissions to the Health Select Committee before the due date 1 Feb 2016.

“There has been some very good work done by various groups on the issue. We are particularly impressed by and grateful for the work of the Care Alliance, which has produced a brochure to help people make submissions” – [Glyn Carpenter, NZ Christian Network]

The Care Allliance website contains all the information necessary to make a submission. This can be done online, or by email, or by traditional post.

“We are asking pastors and concerned individuals in churches to make sure the link to Care Alliance is circulated within churches” said Carpenter.

“But more than that … we have been informed by the chair of the select committee that if people are concerned about this issue, they MUST make a submission. Silence could be interpreted by MPs as people not caring.

Submissions can be as short as one sentence, or include as many points as people want to make. We’ve heard of one local church that finished its Sunday service early, handed out pens, paper, and envelopes, and in ten minutes, 130 submissions were written.

The important thing is for people to use their own words, and not to cut & paste someone else’s words.

We are also thankful to the Nathaniel Centre which produced the list of arguments below. People can use the list as a basis for making their own points in a submission.

[ENDS]

New Zealand Christian Network is a broad-spectrum network of churches and Christian leaders, with a Board of Reference that includes leaders from all the main denominations. It seeks to present a biblically orthodox position on issues, reflecting the views of the majority of Christians in New Zealand.

Author: Glyn Carpenter

Glyn Carpenter was National Director of New Zealand Christian Network from March 2003 to 2017. He attends Northcote Baptist Church in Auckland, is married to Christine (married in 1981), and they have three sons – two working as doctors and one in computer science.