The Nelson Civic Choir have been told that they will not be allowed to perform in a concert promoting religious tolerance at Nelson Cathedral.

A concert including the Islamic call to prayer has been turned away from Nelson's cathedral after its dean said it "was not Christian".

The decision has disappointed Nelson Civic Choir, particularly as the concert was about promoting religious tolerance.

Nelson Civic Choir president Wim Oosterhoff felt the Christ Church Cathedral dean's decision to not host a performance of The Armed Man was "ironic", and showed religious intolerance.

Marion van Dijk Christ Church Cathedral in Nelson.

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is a contemporary anti-war composition, dedicated to victims of the Kosovo crisis and is based on the Catholic Mass, and includes texts from other religious and historical sources, including the call to prayer, the Bible and the ancient Sanskrit Mahabharata as well as secular writers including Rudyard Kipling.

"It's not just a concert, it's a total experience," Oosterhoff said.

He said the choir was disappointed, but had arranged to hold it at Nelson College, a larger venue.

Dean of the cathedral, Nick Kirk said he had refused the choir's request to perform The Armed Man because it did not fit with the cathedral's "religious beliefs".

"The Islamic call to prayer is not Christian."

The Armed Man was performed at the cathedral in 2007.

Kirk said he was tolerant of other religions, but "because of different beliefs we have decided not to accept the singing of the Armed Man in the cathedral".



"Christianity does not compromise with other religions," he said.



"I think people have to understand that Christianity stands alone. Jesus said there is no other way to salvation except through him. If we start to say any other way is ok, that's not true."



He said the piece did not reflect the cathedral's values under his leadership.



When queried on why the performance was allowed in 2007, Kirk said "I'm a different dean."



Kirk said he had already received complaints about the decision, but he was not worried about his stance.



"I think we have to stand up for what is true."



He said generally all performances in the cathedral would be Christian, though he looked at enquiries on a case-by-case basis.

He said the choir had looked at doing a different performance but it proved too costly.

The Anglican Bishop of Nelson Richard Ellena said he admired the work but said it was "difficult" to have the piece played in the cathedral. He said he had not personally made a decision either way.

"I never said I wouldn't allow it to the choir."

Ellena said the main reason the choir were not performing it at the cathedral was because it was not big enough.

He also said he had spoken with Oosterhoff earlier in the year, where he said while the cathedral was happy to hold the performance in 2007 "the situation has totally changed with the rise of ISIS and the severe persecution of Christians."

Oosterhoff believed the piece was particularly relevant now.

"There are terrible things happening in the world in the name of Islam, but people should see not everyone who is following the Islam faith has the same ideas as ISIS."

Choir member and practicing Muslim Colin Davis felt the cathedral's stance was outdated.

"To behave as exclusively as that is behind the times in this day and age. I think tolerance is on the increase, obviously in parts of the world there's a lot of intolerance but in countries like New Zealand, Australia the majority of Europe and the UK, there's a lot of religious tolerance."

Davis said all religions generally said their way was the only way.

"The call to prayer is only to Muslims. It has no sort of war like intentions or anything like that. Obviously Islam, like Christianity, thinks it's the only way but Islam at its best is a very tolerant religion."

He did not think Kirk's stance was representative of Nelson's attitude towards other religions.

Davis added the refugees in the headlines were Muslim and New Zealanders pushing for the Government to accept more showed there was a lot a tolerance through the country.

He said while it was Kirk's decision, he found it a "pity" not to be able to perform at Christ Church Cathedral.

"It's such a central part of Nelson, and musically it is a beautiful place to perform it."

The Armed Man will be held in October at Nelson College, a larger venue for the choir of about 100 people and an orchestra of 45.

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