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God TV’s Summer Celebration to be broadcast from Plymouth Guildhall

Could God TV’s Summer Extravaganza and its key speaker increase friction in the city with hate speech, division and questionable views?

The religious broadcasting network’s Summer Celebration event, which is to be held at Plymouth Guildhall on May 19 to 21, features as its main attraction TV evangelist Andrew Wommack.

The preacher and faith healer has a documented history of anti-gay rhetoric, and because of this Plymouth Humanists are campaigning to have the city refuse to host the event. In his televised sermons, radio programs and various writings, Wommack has stated that “under the new covenant, there is a cure for homosexuality”, has referred to gay relationships as an “abomination to any godly person”, and despite having been given multiple opportunities to condemn punishments abroad for homosexual acts, instead Andrew Wommack Ministries declared support for The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Whilst last year’s Summer Celebration took place at the Plymouth Pavilions, God TV’s event this May is to be hosted on Plymouth City Council property, even though Wommack’s views on gay people are in direct conflict with the PCC’s Commitment to Equality and Diversity. A Plymouth City Council “Welcoming City” poster even states ‘Homophobia, Not in Our City’.

As part of his Christian Philosophy series, Wommack justifies the harsh punishments for homosexuality as described in the Old Testament by likening them to current methods of treating cancer. Though he clearly states that he does not agree with the killing of gay people today, he says this is only because the New Testament provides a “solution” in the death of Jesus Christ. If this new covenant was not in place, would Wommack still endorse the ways of the old covenant in today’s society?

In direct response to the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014, previously called the "Kill the Gays bill”, Andrew Wommack claimed that the legislation was set up in response to a United Nations attempt to pressure Uganda’s government into passing “pro-homosexual legislation in order to obtain a large sum of money offered to them (a bribe).” Whilst most people have declared such punishments for homosexuality as abhorrent, a breach of Human Rights and unethical, Wommack has encouraged his followers to vote in their country for someone ‘who promotes Godliness’.

God TV first announced it would build a ‘Revival Prayer Centre’ in 2013, and have since spent nearly £2million on turning Plymouth into its production centre. Over the years, the television network’s speakers have been considered controversial, it has been criticised for teaching a “Gospel of Prospertity” and has had its finances scrutinized by UK and US government agencies.

Andrew Wommack’s worldwide ministry, based in Colorado, USA, also preaches the “health and wealth” prosperity gospel, which promotes faith-healing, miraculous cures and the idea that donations to the ministry can improve one’s financial circumstances. Wommack himself has supported the idea that prayer can be used as cure for cancer, physical disabilities and autism, and can even raise people from the dead, but goes even further by conflating the acceptance (or non-acceptance) of his gospel as a direct cause for terminal disease or disabilities. It is a troubling idea that victims of serious illness are being told that the reason that they are not cured is directly their fault through sin.

In reaction to the upcoming event Plymouth Humanists have written to the council asking them not to betray the cities LGBT community and those that stand with them by hosting Andrew Wommack on Plymouth City property.

Ben Kerr Chair of Plymouth Humanists said “While we are strongly in favour of free speech we cannot see why Plymouth City Council would want to host Andrew Wommack at the Guildhall. His views towards the LGBT community are highly troubling and (one has to believe) not a fair reflection on the Christians in the city either.”

Richy Thompson Campaigns Manager, British Humanist Association commented “Andrew Wommack's deeply intolerant views on LGBT issues are at odds with both reality and the views of wider British society. It is disappointing that he has found for himself such a prominent platform with which to air them.”