In October 2014, the controversial Evangelical pastor Mark Driscoll resigned from the network of Mars Hill churches which he founded 18 years ago.
The last service at the original church in Ballard, Washington, took place on Sunday, December 28, 2014 (H/T: Dr Gregory Jackson of Ichabod).
Sadly, the interim pastor and congregation seemed happy to listen to and watch a 45-minute sermon from Baptist pastor Rick ‘Purpose-driven Church’ Warren. Will people never learn?
Mars Hill comprised a number of churches in five states in the western US. On New Year’s Day 2015, these were either closed or assumed new independent identities. The Ballard church is now known as the Cross & Crown. It still meets in the converted hardware store.
Not surprisingly, between October and December, many congregants left the Mars Hill church network. Many of us pray that they find suitable congregations where the leadership is truly faithful to the Gospel, instead of exhibiting a macho-man aggression.
I echo Seattle Times reader Ugmo’s sentiment in the comments following the paper’s December 28 article on the Ballard church’s final service:
Those left looking for a new home for their faith might want to consider returning to a mainline Protestant church… Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist… No rants, no big video screen, no “Jesus rock and roll.” Instead, clergy with actual seminary educations, a focus on thoughtful, complex theology, good music, social outreach, tolerant politics, charity and community.
May God’s grace guide the Mars Hill people towards the true Good News — and a good church community.
6 comments
January 4, 2015 at 1:47 am
Andrew
So…what happened?
Was it some scandalous slip-up or did he just burn out?
Has he “moved on” to some other theological position?
It’s no sin to plant a bunch of churches and then move on to other things.
That’s what Paul did !
I don’t know that much about Mars Hill.
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January 4, 2015 at 1:58 am
churchmouse
Driscoll was accused of committing some unpastoral errors and was excluded in October 2014.
He was a bit out of the norm (please skip the first post in this category, which is today’s):
https://churchmousec.wordpress.com/tag/mark-driscoll/
A happy New Year to you!
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January 4, 2015 at 2:12 am
Andrew
Happy 2015 to you also !
Was Driscoll part of a larger denomination or was he accountable to anyone?
Is his doctrine in question or was it more a case of his personality/leadership style?
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January 4, 2015 at 2:21 am
churchmouse
Thank you, Andrew.
He came from a Roman Catholic background then became an evangelical Protestant. Sorry, but you will have to do the background readings in my previous posts. Most people know the errors he preached.
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January 4, 2015 at 2:34 am
Andrew
OK I will check it out.
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January 4, 2015 at 2:38 am
churchmouse
Thank you.
I spent a lot of time putting the previous posts together. Hence my original recommendation to read them.
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