The Dundee Foodbank has been accused of “discrimination” after it said “only committed Christians and church members” could apply for a role with the charity.
The group, which administers five centres in the city, posted a controversial advert for a new manager on their Facebook page, sparking outrage among some the group’s supporters.
Now, the Scottish Secular Society (SSS) has demanded the group change the job specifications, saying they are an “insult to thousands”.
The Dundee Foodbank, which is affiliated with the Trussell Trust, said it welcomed support from all faiths but that the managerial position involved specific duties that could only be properly delivered by someone of Christian faith.
Free Church Moderator David Robertson, also weighed into the debate on social media and criticised the “petty and vindictive” SSS.
SSS Chair, Spencer Fildes, said: “Whilst we applaud the work that Dundee Foodbank do, we do not applaud the closed shop employment policy they hold against those of other faiths and none.
“There is no law in this land that allows an employer to openly discriminate against those of a particular faith, yet here we have another example of discrimination towards other beliefs and those of no faith.
“Dundee Foodbank is closely linked with Tesco: imagine the outcry if the supermarket chain started advertising jobs for everyone but excluded Christians.
“Our laws allow this appalling activity to be implemented on a broader scale particularly in publicly funded Catholic schools and it’s concerning to see it taking place elsewhere in the labour market.
“How can faith be a qualifying factor on a person’s capacity to work efficiently and successfully for any charitable organisation?
“What Dundee Foodbank and it is not obvious they are a Christian organisation are effectively inferring is that unless you are a Christian, you are unfit for the role. This is an insult to the thousands of non-Christians who hold charitable roles across the country.”
Ewan Gurr, Scotland Network Manager for the Trussell Trust and former Dundee Foodbank manager, said: “In my experience, the role of a Trussell Trust foodbank manager necessitates the delivery of duties such as leading church services, speaking to a number of church groups, working with predominantly church-based stakeholders and, in some cases, leading prayers.
“To be expected to carry out these responsibilities without being open and transparent about the need for them could be deemed to be equally as, if not even more, inappropriate than appointing someone to a position in which they feel uncomfortable or are expected to deliver in areas that may conflict with their own values. I expect Dundee Foodbank would not wish to put any employee in such a position, which is why the advertisement has been very clear about their desire that the successful applicant be a person of Christian faith.
“However, the foodbank continues to welcome the support and involvement of people from all backgrounds in its work to alleviate hunger for people in crisis.”