The senior leader of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn revealed on Twitter his departure from the US President's Evangelical Advisory Board.

A statement read: "In a social and political climate such as ours, it often takes a gathering of unlikely individuals to shape the future of our nation on issues of faith and inner city initiatives.

"I was willing to be one of those unlikely individuals, and that is why I agreed to serve on the President's Evangelical Advisory Board."

"However, it became obvious that there was a deepening conflict in values between myself and the administration."

 

Mr Bernard, who also serves as the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York, said he submitted his letter of formal resignation on Tuesday after stepping away "quietly" from the Board "several months ago".

A number of business people have also stepped down from advisor roles to the US President in the past week, in protest at his controversial response to a white supremacy rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday.

As a member of the US Commission of Religious Leaders, Mr Bernard joined other religious figures on Monday in signing a letter which expressed "condemnation of hatred".

Donald Trump drew strong criticism this week after saying nationalist demonstrations and counter-protestors in the deadly Charlottesville march were both to blame for the violence.

New York pastor A.R. Bernard has announced on social media that he has stood down from his position as an advisor to Donald Trump.