Club Mgmt. Board of Directors as led by President Dave Barham

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His views and that of his church do not align with mine at all - however they’re also pretty part and parcel for the devout of basically every religion on earth except Judaism.

Really the thing that concerned me most of all was that he was to chair an external review and came out the other side as CEO…
 
it’s a fairly significant appointment for a client with a shitload of recent bad press. you do your ****ing due diligence, and then some.
 

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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.”


My last post. Some really need to read it carefully and the actually read what they are posting.
There is room in this world for people to have their own views and even for people to express them.
 

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This is disappointing.

He doesn't have to denounce anything. How insecure must people be to force someone to go against their core belief, even if you think said belief is hogwash.

If personally holding oneself to a sexual ethic whislt tolerating others who don't is considered bigoted, then we're going down a slippery slope.

I wonder how Houli must be feeling right now...
 
I agree that Thorburns record suggests he is no homophobe. BUT I don’t know how to reconcile that with his belonging to a church that espouses views to the contrary.

His statement is disingenuous. The issue is not his Christianity. Its very specifically the views on homosexuality seemingly held by his church, his tacit endorsement of those views via his chairmanship and eventually his refusal to repudiate those views.

Rightly or wrongly, there is effectively zero societal tolerance for views on homosexuality other than explicit acceptance these days. Anything else WILL lead to “cancellation.” What happened was inevitable.
 
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adsla69k said:
I can see the optics is not great but sametime pandering to a noisy 3% of the Australia wide population is pathetic. Just the way the world has gone, it's turned to s**t. This is like the Mainly jersey. All a beat up!
Meantime we have real world problems with NK firing a missile over Japan today, russia prepping to test a nuke in coming days, GBP about to collapse, SE America devastated by a cyclone and most of europe about to freeze to death this winter and starve. Yeah let's get all worked up about what people do in the private of their homes.
Wake the * up people, so ******* selfish and ignorant of reality. Oh well let the peasants have their brains entertained with BS and I'll quietly relax knowing I've stacked silver/gold and squared away all debt waiting for the collapse and being somewhat relaxed knowing the flood is coming like Noah and tried to help as many as I could before it happens.
Anyways lets hope EFC sign Bowes lol.
Click to expand...
This stuff always amuses me. What earthly use is gold/silver bullion after societal collapse? Are you going to tie it to the end of a stick so you can club someone and steal their chickens?
 
He held a senior level of power and influence in the church and chose that over the ess ceo role.

He could still follow and have his beliefs without the seniority and spotlight.

We will find another ceo.
 
ant555 said:
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.”


My last post. Some really need to read it carefully and the actually read what they are posting.
There is room in this world for people to have their own views and even for people to express them.
Click to expand...
Nah fk that, fk him.

Hiding behind holding “Christian values” as the reason for associating with vile campaigners. The less people like this in positions of power the better off society will be.

Another embarrassing moment supporting this rabble of a football club.
 
Vander18 said:
I agree that Thorburns record suggests he is no homophobe. BUT I don’t know how to reconcile that with his belonging to a church that espouses views to the contrary.

His statement is disingenuous. The issue is not his Christianity. Its dry specifically the views on homosexuality seemingly held by his church, his tacit endorsement of those views via his chairmanship and eventually his refusal to repudiate those views.

Rightly or wrongly, there is effectively zero societal tolerance for views on homosexuality other than explicit acceptance these days. Anything else WILL lead to “cancellation.” What happened was inevitable.
Click to expand...
When it's apparently 'acceptance' by force, I'd suggest wrongly.

Are we going to start screening potential draftees on their personal/religious views now?
 
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