A "grieving" Andrew Thorburn believes his Christian faith has been tagged as "unacceptable" following his one-day stint as Essendon chief executive.
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The former NAB boss resigned from the Bombers on Tuesday barely 24 hours after his appointment due to his role as chair of a church with divisive views around abortion and homosexuality.
Once those views became public, Essendon told Thorburn he was unable to serve as the club's CEO while continuing as chair of City on a Hill.
Thorburn opted to remain with the church rather than stay with the Bombers, the club he grew up supporting.
The 57-year-old attended Essendon's best-and-fairest night on Monday, calling the day one of the "proudest" of his life.
"However, 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," Thorburn wrote on his LinkedIn page.
"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."
In an interview with SEN on Tuesday morning, Thorburn pointed to his CEO jobs at NAB and Bank of NZ where he led thousands of "diverse" people as evidence he was the right person to take Essendon forward.
He reiterated that sentiment in his message via LinkedIn.
"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."
Thorburn said he became a Christian 20 years ago and religion had made him a "better husband, father, and friend".
"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," he wrote.
"I am saddened by these events.
"I wish the club success, and thank Dave Barham in particular for the opportunity he gave me."
Australian Associated Press
