Former Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn released a further statement on Wednesday saying he’s been contacted by many people over the past 24 hours concerned about their employment prospects due to their faith.
When it was revealed Thorburn was the chair of a controversial church, the 57-year-old was handed an ultimatum to choose the role at his church or to remain at Essendon.
That saw him spectacularly resign as Essendon’s CEO after just a day in the job. The resignation has also sparked somewhat of a political battle, with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews saying “there’s many reasons to be a somewhat disappointed Essendon supporter” after Thorburn’s appointment.
Victorian Opposition leader Matthew Guy and Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton have both suggested Thorburn shouldn’t have had to choose.
In his latest statement, Thorburn said it was a “dangerous idea” that he was immediately deemed unsuitable to be the chair of the controversial City on a Hill Church and Essendon’s CEO, while also thanking those who have reached out to offer their support.
See Thorburn’s Wednesday statement below, via The Age
Over the past 24 hours, I have received hundreds of messages of support and would like to thank all of those people, from a diversity of faiths and beliefs, who have reached out to me.
Concerningly, many messages expressed genuine worry for jobs and employment prospects due simply to faith. I believe that there are many Australians who fear the implications for their livelihoods, aspirations and participation in community life.
It is troubling that faith or association with a church, mosque, synagogue or temple could render a person immediately unsuited to holding a particular role. That is a dangerous idea, one that will only reduce tolerance for others and diversity of thought and participation in our community and workplaces. True tolerance, inclusion and diversity also includes people of faith.
Freedoms of thought, conscience, religion and association are fundamental human rights, explicitly recognised in Victorian law in our Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities and the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.
I genuinely and passionately believe people can hold different views on complex personal and moral matters while being able to live and work together respectfully and harmoniously. That is true inclusion whereby our communities are enriched by difference.
EARLIER
Outgoing Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn has released a statement after tendering his resignation on Tuesday evening.
Thorburn spent just one day in the role and was forced to resign after controversy emerged regarding his position as Chair of the City of the Hill church.
As the church holds radical abortion and same-sex marriage beliefs, the Bombers told Thorburn that he wouldn’t be able to hold both that role and the CEO position concurrently as the church’s values were in direct contradiction to those of the Essendon Football Club.
Taking to LinkedIn, Thorburn addressed his departure from the club.
Read Thorburn’s full statement below.
“Yesterday was one of the proudest days of my life. To be offered the role of CEO of the Essendon Football Club - who I have followed since I was a boy - was a profound honour. At last night’s Crichton medal, I could hardly contain my passion and wonder at the opportunity. I love the club, love the people, and was incredibly excited about the work ahead. I had seen a picture of a club that was not as broken as feared, and that with leadership and focus, could rebound strongly,” the LinkedIn post read.
“However, today it became clear to me that my personal Christian faith is not tolerated or permitted in the public square, at least by some and perhaps by many. I was being required to compromise beyond a level that my conscience allowed. People should be able to hold different views on complex personal and moral matters, and be able to live and work together, even with those differences, and always with respect. Behaviour is the key. This is all an important part of a tolerant and diverse society.
“Let me be clear - I love all people, and have always promoted and lived an inclusive, diverse, respectful and supportive workplace - where people are welcomed regardless of their culture, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation. I believe my record over a long period of time testifies to this.
“Despite my own leadership record, within hours of my appointment being announced, the media and leaders of our community had spoken. They made it clear that my Christian faith and my association with a Church are unacceptable in our culture if you wish to hold a leadership position in society.
“This grieves me greatly - though not just for myself, but for our society overall. I believe we are poorer for the loss of our great freedoms of thought, conscience and belief that made for a truly diverse, just and respectful community.
“My faith is central to who I am. Since coming to faith in Jesus 20 years ago, I have seen profound change in my life, and I believe God has made me a better husband, father, and friend. It has also helped me become a better leader. That is because at the centre of my faith is the belief that you should create a community and care for people, because they are created by and loved by God and have a deep intrinsic value.
“As it happens, I do sometimes disagree with things I hear in church - but I believe strongly in the right of people to say them, especially when taken in context. Reducing complex matters to a sentence is dangerous. Australia has a long tradition of diversity and religious freedom, and that must include preserving space for religious people to be able to express their religious beliefs.
“I am saddened by these events. I wish the Club success, and thank Dave Barham in particular for the opportunity he gave me. I hope the external review leads to great change. I am truly sorry that I will not be able to work with the whole Essendon team, and Brad Scott and Josh Mahoney in particular.”