David Koch blows up at pastor of sacked Essendon CEO’s church

A senior pastor from a controversial church with links to ex-Essendon chief executive Andrew Thorburn has been savaged by Sunrise host David Koch.  

Thorburn was forced to quit his role on Monday after only one day in the top job at the Essendon AFL club when he refused to stand down as chairman of the City on the Hill church. 

Essendon later said that the church’s controversial views on abortion and homosexuality were in direct contradiction to its values. 

Koch invited City on a Hill senior pastor Guy Mason to respond to criticism of his church. 

In a heated interview, Koch, who is the chairman of South Australian AFL club Port Power, toed the game’s line on inclusivity as he blasted the church. 

Andrew Thorburn was forced to quit his role on Monday after only one day in the top job at the Essendon AFL club when he refused to stand down as chairman of the City on the Hill church

‘Even the most conservative bloke I think I know, Peter Dutton, called your views an abomination,’ Koch said.  

‘Comparing abortion to the Holocaust is not love, it’s not inclusion.

‘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 defended his church’s values and threw his support behind Thorburn.

‘I know Andrew to be a great man, he is a man of integrity, generosity, warmth and he is a man of faith and I admire that in him,’ Mason said.  

He also 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 added.

Mason also told Koch to ask Thorburn if he wanted to know the ex-chief’s views on homosexuality and abortion.

‘He wouldn’t be chairman of your board unless he shared the same views the church does,’ Koch replied.

Previously, a Christian lobby group said Thorburn was the victim of a ‘frightening’ and ‘toxic’ wokeness in sport that targets Christians.

Koch invited City on a Hill senior pastor Guy Mason to respond to criticism of his church – and the two had a heated discussion

The City on a Hill Church has several locations in Victoria and has published hardline views on abortion and homosexuality online

That Mr Thorburn was given this ultimatum ‘is a frightening thing for every Australian’, Australian Christian Lobby Group spokesperson Wendy Francis told Daily Mail Australia. 

Sydney radio talkshow host Ben Fordham also stepped into the fray accusing Essendon of ‘vilifying’ and ‘cancelling’ Mr Thorburn for his Christian faith.

‘Essendon say: ‘This is not about vilifying anyone for their personal religious beliefs’,’ Fordham wrote.

‘Oh, yes it is. That’s exactly what happened.

‘He’s been pushed out the door – because of his religious beliefs.

‘And he’s been cancelled because of his Christianity.’

Thorburn said he was ‘saddened’ by the events that led to his decision to step down. 

However, he fired back at his critics in a statement, claiming ‘it became clear to me that my personal Christian faith is not tolerated or permitted in the public square’. 

He added: ‘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.’