Essendon settles legal dispute with former chief executive Andrew Thorburn

Essendon has settled a legal dispute with former CEO Andrew Thorburn, acknowledging what happened in October should’ve been handled better. Read the statement.

Andrew Thorburn.

Essendon has been forced into a humbling back down and confidential settlement with CEO-for-a-day Andrew Thorburn after forcing him to choose between the club and his religious beliefs.

The Bombers on Tuesday agreed to donate money to the Ethics Foundation in a decision that saw them officially apologise to former NAB Bank CEO for the events of October 4, where he was forced to resign.

As revealed by the Herald Sun, the confidential settlement will see Thorburn drop any potential legal action, with Essendon making clear the long-time Dons supporter was still welcome at the club.

Essendon can now move on from a turbulent and damaging few months that saw them paying out sacked coach Ben Rutten, former chief executive Xavier Campbell and Thorburn.

The money diverted to the Ethics Foundation will see the organisation prepare an independent paper on “how sporting organisations can build inclusive communities recognising freedoms including those relating to race, religion and sexuality”.

Andrew Thorburn cut ties with Essendon after one day.

The club had condemned a series of sermons published on the City on a Hill church website

on homosexuality and abortion.

Thorburn was the chairman of the controversial church.

He was to be paid up to $850,000 a season to run the club but chose to cut ties with Essendon instead of City on a Hill.

Essendon president David Barham had said in announcing Thorburn’s resignation that they were “horrible comments” and did not reflect the “values of the club”.

“He’s chairman of the board of that church and those views didn’t

match with our views and our values so in the end they were competing values so he had to make a decision on which one,” Barham said on October 4.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, Thorburn and Essendon said “everyone should be able to openly express their personal position, in a respectful way, without fear and still feel that they belong”.

Earlier this month Thorburn announced he would be stepping down from all formal responsibilities with City on a Hill.

Barham, new chief executive Craig Vozzo and new coach Brad Scott now have the chance

to set up the club without the ongoing distractions of a potential legal case.

Thorburn is still keen to have an informal involvement with Essendon as a long-time

supporter.

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

In the statement from Thorburn and Essendon both parties made clear that commentary at the time was “extreme” and counter-productive to “respectful community dialogue”.

“A critical element of this resolution is to enable a wider community conversation on the importance of freedom of conscience, religion and belief and how to have respectful dialogue between people with different views and perspectives,” the statement said.

“All people should be respected and welcomed in workplaces and community organisations. No-one should have to choose between their faith or sexuality, and their employment.

“Further, everyone should be able to openly express their personal position, in a respectful way, without fear and still feel that they belong. Genuine diversity and inclusion also includes people of faith. The club acknowledges that the events of October should have been handled better and apologises for the impact it had on Mr Thorburn, his family and others.

“Both parties consider that elements of the public commentary at the time were extreme and wrong and counter-productive to the respectful community dialogue they agree is critical. Mr Thorburn remains welcome at the club. The club reiterates that he is a person of integrity who treats others, whether at work or elsewhere, with dignity and respect. He has a strong track record of leadership including with respect to diversity and inclusion of LGBTIQ and other minority groups.

“As part of a commitment to genuine diversity and inclusion, and to show leadership in this area, the club has agreed to make a donation to an Ethics Institute. The Institute will prepare an independent paper on how sporting organisations can build inclusive communities recognising freedoms including those relating to race, religion and sexuality.”

Thorburn said in a personal statement on LinkedIn it was important to draw concessions from the club.

“The statement is important – not just because it enables us to resolve the differences between us constructively, but because it affirms some key points of principle about genuine diversity and inclusion and respectful engagement,” Thorburn said.

Originally published as Essendon settles legal dispute with former chief executive Andrew Thorburn