The leader of Greenwich Council has insisted he will work with “all faith groups” after reports of a Woolwich church preparing to welcome an opponent of gay marriage.

Councillor Danny Thorpe was quizzed over the New Wine Church at a meeting last Wednesday, June 26,  as the establishment is set have Creflo Dollar give a talk later this week.

Dr Dollar has made headlines for his controversial stance towards gay marriage, having signed a statement in 2016 reading: “We also oppose same-sex marriage, polygamy, beastiality and all other forms of sexual perversion prohibited by scripture.”

The televangelist is listed as a speaker at a New Wine Church event Maximise Life, taking place this week.

Greenwich Council was forced to rethink it’s civic awards in 2017 after it rewarded New Wine Church despite it having had a pastor who compared homosexuality to murder and terrorism.

When quizzed on the event at a full council meeting last week, leader Danny Thorpe said he plans to work with “all faith leaders” in the borough.

Opposition councillor Charlie Davis, who is running for the Greater London Assembly, said: “Will the leader commit to engaging with the church on whether this breaches our community partnership pledge?”

MORE

£10k raised after woman died in crash at East Hill Road, Dartford

Cllr Thorpe said: “I would stress that New Wine, along with a number of organisations, signed our community partnership pledge that state our aspirations.”

“I have no power to stop anyone speaking at a church. If people are concerned about any particular speakers or hate preachers then that is a matter for the Met Police to pick up on and we can advise people to do that.”

He added: “I will continue to work with all religious groups and faith communities in our borough that do amazing things.”

New Wine Church had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

At the same meeting, Cllr Thorpe was praised for the installation of rainbow coloured crossings to celebrate London’s pride.

The leader, who himself identifies as gay, also responded to national reports that parents had complained about schools teaching children about same sex relationships.

“We can all agree that this country should have been doing proper sex and same sex education for a long time now,” he said.

“I would honestly say having done a few things as leader that I have not had as many positive emails as I did about painting the roads with rainbows – I think that shows how far we have come. You can never be at your best if you can’t be yourself.”

Opposition leader Matt Hartley added: “I want to associate myself with what the leader just said – one of the communications congratulating him on the Pride crossings was from me and it was sincere.”