Destiny Church Covenant ring

In October 2009 at Destiny Church's annual Labour Weekend conference, 700 men swore a covenant oath of allegiance, obedience and deference to Bishop Brian Tamaki as their spiritual father, chosen by God. They could purchase and wear a covenant ring on their right hand to symbolise this commitment (Lineham 2013, 255). The covenant was titled 'Protocols and Requirements between Spiritual Father & His Spiritual Sons' and included directives on deference towards Tamaki, and more general directives such as dressing well.

The idea of the covenant was based on the Old Testament characters David and Jonathan who were knitted together like brothers. The Destiny covenant was made between male members of the church and their leader Brian Tamaki. They took an oath to honour and obey him, 'to imitate and follow his faith, and give him loyalty and strength' (Lineham 2013, 255). As the oath was made, the two men would grasp each other’s wrists as David and Jonathan once did. The red stone in the centre of the ring was symbolic of the sharing of blood as per Old Testament oaths.

However, as noted by this ring's former owner David Graham (Taranaki, Waikato), who was a founding and key member of Destiny Church Wellington from 2003-2013, ‘at no time was any blood shed during the covenant ring ceremony. It was only ever symbolic of what was done in those Old Testament times. In contrast in our new covenant with Christ, Tamaki says "he will never leave us nor forsake us".'

Graham believed the commitment was partly a way 'to keep us men in church after the fall-out of the Enough is Enough march in 2004.' However, some members and pastors left as a result.

Graham would wear his ring to work where it sparked debate and a lot of banter from those outside the church.

References:

Personal communication between David Graham and Te Papa curator Stephanie Gibson, 7 October 2022.

Lineham, P. (2013). Destiny: The life and times of a self-made apostle. Auckland: Penguin Books.