Embattled Mars Hill founder Mark Driscoll resigns from megachurch
Oct 15, 2014, 1:00 PM | Updated: 2:02 pm
Mars Hill Church founder Mark Driscoll has resigned following months of controversy, the church announced Wednesday. (AP file)
(AP file)
The embattled founder of Bellevue-based Mars Hill Church has resigned, the church announced in a blog post Wednesday.
Pastor Mark Driscoll had been on a leave of absence since August after coming under fire for alleged misuse of funds, abusive behavior to staff, misogyny and retaliation against critics and former church members.
Driscoll, 43, told the Church’s Board of Overseers “it would be best for the health of our family, and for the Mars Hill family, that we step aside from further ministry at the church,” in his letter of resignation published exclusively by Religion News.
Under Driscoll’s leadership, the conservative evangelical church grew to 15 campuses in five western states with a weekly attendance of 15,000, the New York Times reports.
He became a rock star of church leaders in his signature jeans and tennis shoes, appearing on national television, preaching at huge gatherings including one at CenturyLink Field, and leading the development of a nationwide network of churches with other young church leaders around the country.
But attendance has waned and the church recently merged three Seattle area churches into one amid mounting controversy and criticism.
Church leaders recently concluded a wide-ranging investigation into formal charges brought against Driscoll, the board says on the blog. While not addressing the charges specifically, the leaders say they concluded “Pastor Mark has, at times, been guilty of arrogance, responding to conflict with a quick temper and harsh speech, and leading the staff and elders in a domineering manner. While we believe Mark needs to continue to address these areas in his life, we do not believe him to be disqualified from pastoral ministry.”
The leaders say Driscoll has never been charged with “any immorality, illegality or heresy,” and that some accusations against him were “altogether unfair or untrue.”
“Recent months have proven unhealthy for our family-even physically unsafe at times-and we believe the time has now come for the elders to choose new pastoral leadership for Mars Hill,” Driscoll wrote in his resignation letter.
The board says it is working with the church community on plans for the first change of leadership in its history.
Driscoll has refused requests for interviews.
