Wellington, Feb 5 NZPA - The Anglican clergyman behind a controversial Christmas billboard of Joseph and Mary in bed is no longer Archdeacon of Auckland, but the city's Anglican Bishop denies he has been sacked.

Bishop John Paterson said Archdeacon Glynn Cardy's position was always going to come up for renewal in April and his leaving had nothing to do with the billboard.

The bishop told a parishioner in a letter many people had found the billboard offensive and he had asked Mr Cardy to apologise to his fellow clergy, Newstalk ZB reported.

Bishop Paterson added he would no longer be the Archdeacon of Auckland.

The billboard posted in December outside St Matthew in the City showed Mary and Joseph in bed with a caption reading "Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow".

It was vandalised three times before the church took it down permanently.

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