Church cuts Holocaust reference from sermon after Essendon scandal

The church at the centre of the religious storm that has sent shockwaves around Australia has quietly deleted one sentence from a sermon.

Andrew Thorburn at The Hangar, Essendon Football club

The church at the centre of the religious storm that has sent shockwaves around Australia this week has quietly cut a sentence from a sermon that made a reference to the Holocaust.

The City on a Hill church has made national headlines this week following chairman Andrew Thorburn’s shock resignation as CEO of the Essendon Football Club — just one day after his appointment was announced.

It came after a backlash against the appointment when the church’s controversial views on homosexuality and abortion were seen in old documents and articles posted on the church’s website.

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On Thursday Sunrise host David Koch shouted down responses from City on a Hill senior pastor Guy Mason during an interview where the breakfast TV star labelled the the church’s views an “abomination”.

With the church still reeling from the scandal, it was revealed on Friday the church has deleted another controversial article from its website surrounding its view on abortion.

The Herald Sun first reported a paragraph from a 2013 sermon posted on the church’s website showed an article condemning abortion was changed in the wake of Thorburn’s resignation.

The report reveals the sentence that was cut read: “Whereas today we look back at concentration camps, future generations will look back with sadness at the legal murder of hundreds of thousands (sic) human beings every day through medicine in the name of freedom.”

City on a Hill founder and pastor Guy Mason speaks with Andrew Thorburn, who quit as Essendon CEO after one day over his links with the church. Source: YouTube

The church also has an article on its website from 2013 titled ‘Surviving Same Sex Attraction as a Christian’.

The church’s controversial views on abortion and homosexuality were found to be in direct contradiction to the values of the Essendon Football Club.

Koch grilled Mason on the Holocaust reference on Thursday.

“But comparing abortion to the Holocaust is not love, it’s not inclusion,” Koch said.

“There are so many other churches that are tolerant, are inclusive. You all read the same book, why do you have this hard line and not so loving view?”

Mason said Koch was taking a quote from 10 years ago and the statement was not meant to be “inflammatory”.

“I’d use different words today,” he said.

Thorburn released a statement shortly after the news of his departure became public, blaming today’s culture for not accepting his faith and ultimately costing him the role.

“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,” Thorburn wrote.

David Koch probed the church leader on the Christian church's views. Picture: Sunrise

“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.

“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.

“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.”

Thorburn was previously the chief executive of National Australia Bank and resigned from his position during the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.