http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/seattle-megachurch-dissolves-after-founder-resigns/ar-BBcg46I
SEATTLE — Two weeks after lead Mars Hill Church pastor Mark Driscoll resigned amid questions about his leadership, the Seattle megachurch he founded announced Friday it was dissolving its network of branches across four states.
The church said on its website that the best future for its branches would be for them to becoming "autonomous self-governed entities."
"This means that each of our locations has an opportunity to become a new church, rooted in the best of what Mars Hill has been in the past, and independently led and run by its own local elder teams," Pastor Dave Bruskas wrote on the church's website.
The existing Mars Hill Church organization will be dissolved.
The megachurch's controversial founder resigned as elder and lead pastor on Oct. 14, following an investigation into formal charges brought against him.
The church currently has multiple branches in Washington, and one location each in Oregon, California and New Mexico. Last month, it closed its Phoenix location as a Mars Hill church.
Driscoll's resignation came after a group of church elders recently ended an investigation into the charges.
Driscoll took a leave of absence in August so church leaders could investigate whether he was fit to lead. He faced accusations that he bullied members, threatened opponents, lied and oversaw mismanagement of church funds, the Seattle Times has reported.
The church said it found Driscoll had a domineering style with a quick temper and harsh speech, but it noted he was never charged with immorality or heresy.
On Friday, Bruskas said on the church's website that central Mars Hill staff would be compensated for their work and then let go, and that church properties would be sold off or individual property loans would be taken over by independent branches.
Local leaders and pastors will decide whether to become independent, merge with an existing church or disband.
"Mars Hill Church has never been about a building or even an organization," Bruskas wrote. "Mars Hill is a people on mission with Jesus, and that singular focus continues as these newly independent churches are launched."
The church says it hopes the reorganization plan will be completed by Jan. 1.
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Abusive narcissists attracted to Mark Driscoll's church. Glende? Ski?
Passionate about sharing Jesus? Or dominating and humiliating people?
Copying Driscoll and Groeschel.
Driscoll Defended by Jeske
Driscoll, the Dark Lord of Seattle
Loved by Jeske, Ski, Bishop Katie, and Glende
Pastor Jeske's Blog
6/8/2009 - Cussing
Perhaps you’ve heard of Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill church in Seattle. A prolific author and speaker, he has a considerable national reputation. Some of his detractors, including equally famous Southern California pastor John McArthur, recently ignited some hoo-ha when they criticized his occasionally salty pulpit language as inappropriate “cussing.” McArthur even called for Driscoll to step down as Mars Hill pastor.
Apparently Driscoll has been heard to say “Damn” not in its Biblical sense but in the more common usage merely as an emphasis word. Some of what he is being criticized for is not cursing per se (i.e. calling on God to condemn something to hell) but vulgarity (“hell”, “I’m screwed”, “that sucks”). Even the notoriously hip Pastor Ed Young, Jr., piled on. I can resonate with Driscoll’s dilemma. I have been strongly criticized several times for saying “Dang” in a message.
On the one hand, you have Bible passages like Ephesians 4:29 that urge Christians not to let “any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,” or Ephesians 5:4, “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking.” On the other hand, Driscoll’s defenders point out that he is not actually cursing, but merely using language the way his target audience uses it. The huge growth of Mars Hill is seen as proof that he is connecting with young people in metro Seattle.
Well, what’s a pastor to do? Do you have any advice for me?
As a comment to Jeske's post below:
6/9/2009 - Posted by TF
I think light cussing maybe is alright to use in context to reach younger church goers, but it is a slippery slope. You may offend more than you attract. I am 43, and it would hard for me to hear a pastor cuss. I am from a traditional WELS background. Keep up the goodwork Pastor Mark. I wish I could find someone more like you in a local church.
I think light cussing maybe is alright to use in context to reach younger church goers, but it is a slippery slope. You may offend more than you attract. I am 43, and it would hard for me to hear a pastor cuss. I am from a traditional WELS background. Keep up the goodwork Pastor Mark. I wish I could find someone more like you in a local church.
What would we do without traditional WELSians
Why were Glende, Ski, and Katie in Seattle for seafood?
Driscoll? Did they tell their congregations the truth?
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Mark and Avoid Jeske Admires Mark and Avoid Drisco...":
WELS/LCMS Pastor Mark Jeske states, "On the one hand, you have Bible passages...On the other hand, ...The huge growth of Mars Hill is seen as proof that he is connecting with young people...Well, what’s a pastor to do? Do you have any advice for me?"
What's wrong with this world that WELS/LCMS Pastors such as Mark Jeske are made to chose between God's Word and huge growth.
WWSD? Yeah, he already did.
Jeske should be taken to the edge of town and pelted with .... Contemporary dog poo. (little nod to DK)
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Glende's dream latte church in Savoy, Illinois experienced his bullying. He skipped town before the coffee bar was finished (no joking). The congregation was foreclosed by WELS, and the property sold to an emergent Babtist church. The congregation dissolved.
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| Staffer clings to her job. |
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| Glende's vision is now the Little Hope Babtist Church of Savoy. |
