An Auckland church's billboard on controversial US presidential candidate Donald Trump has been stolen, while the Reverend was conducting a funeral inside the church.
St Luke's Church in the Auckland suburb of Remuera had the billboard put up in time for Lent a couple of weeks ago.
The billboard showed Mr Trump standing in front of Jesus on the cross, holding a hammer and saying "I don't like losers".
The whole billboard was taken, leaving only the two poles it stood on.
"It is disappointing that someone decided to break the law and steal something that was stimulating a meaningful discussion in our community about the meaning of Easter," says Reverend Glynn Cardy.
However Rev Cardy admits the billboard was made to stir debate.
"Some people don't like the billboard because they like Donald Trump. Some don't like the billboard because it infers Jesus was a loser," he says.
"Whereas others, like myself and those here at the Community of St Luke, see the cartoon as showing that the values and views of people like Mr Trump are completely at odds with those of Jesus."
Rev Cardy says Jesus was associated with those rejected by society, and this is why he was killed.
St Luke's was going to replace the billboard after the church's Easter Sunday celebrations.
Newshub.
