City on a Hill pastor says church is not homophobic despite controversial sermons

The City on a Hill church at the centre of the Andrew Thorburn controversy will update its website to address concerns surrounding homophobia and abortion.

The City on a Hill church at the centre of the Andrew Thorburn controversy will update its website to address concerns surrounding homophobia and abortion.

The church will update the Q&A section on its website after controversy surrounding senior pastor Guy Mason’s comments, where he said same-sex relationships were sinful and compared abortion to concentration camps.

It comes after the church removed a sentence from its website earlier today that compared abortion to Holocaust concentration camps.

Thorburn quit his job as Essendon’s chief executive after the Herald Sun revealed he was chairman of the church.

When asked if the church’s views are “extreme”, the website’s new Q&A says: “The church knowing Jesus and making Jesus known means we seek to live out Jesus’ teaching on love and life in our own lives.”

City on a Hill founder and pastor Guy Mason. Source: Supplied

“Listen in on our recent sermons on current issues and you’ll find very common Christian perspectives on marriage and pro-life issues (as well as refugees, climate change and race relations).”

The church’s views on abortion and homophobia are also listed saying: “Nobody should feel pressured into having an abortion. Our calling is to support a choice for life whenever possible, not to judge. We support, love and welcome all women, no matter what choices they make.”

“We are grateful for those who have raised concerns about one particular sentence in a sermon preached at one of our churches in 2013. The preacher has apologised for his choice of words, and would not use them today,” the church said.

The church added that to “mistreat or demean anyone based on their sexuality is wrong”.

“With the Archbishop, we stand against homophobia. We stand against hate in any and all forms. Like Jesus, we welcome you whatever your sexuality, politics, culture, religious beliefs … or even football club.”

The church said: “Being allowed to totally disagree with the Sunday sermon is an ancient and cherished Anglican tradition. We have never been afraid of discussing controversial and sensitive issues, because Jesus leads by example in respecting all people – even those who totally disagreed with him.”

Former Essendon Football club CEO Andrew Thorburn

FOUNDER’S CHANGE OF HEART

A senior pastor who founded the controversial church City on a Hill says its followers are not homophobic despite condemning homosexuality as a sin.

Guy Mason said he used the wrong words in a sermon when he said same-sex relationships were sinful and compared abortion to the Holocaust.

“We are talking about a quote that was from 10 years ago and the intention was not to be inflammatory,” he told Sunrise on Thursday.

“The words were wrong, I would use different words today.

“The essence of the message though was that Jesus is all about life, we’re inclusive, we are not homophobic, we are for life and we are for love.”

It comes as Andrew Thorburn quit his job as Essendon’s chief executive after the Herald Sun revealed he was chairman of the church.

City on a Hill was founded in 2007 by a small team who met at a bible study group in a Melbourne apartment.

The organisation launched their first public service in a Docklands pub and now have eight churches in five cities across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

In a statement published on the church’s website, Mr Mason said it had been a “difficult couple of days”.

“Despite media grabs and comments from our Premier, City on a Hill has always been about Jesus,” he said.

“Knowing Jesus and making Jesus known is the heartbeat of our church community.

Jesus loves all people and is the author of life.

“He invites all people to experience his love and walk in his life.”

Mr Mason said the church was diverse and inclusive.

“I have good friends who are Christians who are same-sex attracted, who love Jesus and found life in him,” he said.

“We are a very diverse community, we are about love.

“Our community is made up of all kinds of people, of different nationalities, of different backgrounds and different sexual orientations.”

Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier said the church was the “victim of its own success”.

“I think if every utterers that was said in sermons ... was analysed and two sentences pulled out, you’re likely to find something that can be used in other contexts,” he told 3AW.

“People do change their views, and they express things differently.

“We need to have a bit more understanding.”

The group has four churches in Melbourne.

Archbishop Freier said Mr Mason didn’t want to be a leader for homophobia.

“He is very aware of diversity of views and something that I know he does not particularly want to be a brand leader for is rampant homophobia,” he said.

Mr Mason refused to answer whether former Essendon chief executive Andrew Thorburn’s views aligned with the church’s beliefs.

“The Christian view is one of life and one of love, that’s what we stand for. that’s what we want to proclaim, that Jesus is all about life and he is all about love,” he said.

“I’m sure Andrew would agree with that, you would need to ask him his views.”

Mr Mason said Mr Thorburn was a “remarkable leader”.

“He has been and continues to be, an incredible gift to our church,” he said.

“I am incredibly thankful for Andrew and his courage, humility, and love.

“He is a man of great character, and I am inspired by his conviction and integrity.

“It is these very character traits that would have made him a great success at Essendon.”