Washington

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(108,023 posts) Mon Sep 8, 2014, 12:46 PM Sep 2014

Mars Hill church closing Seattle branches, laying off staff

Mars Hill church reportedly will close its Seattle branches and lay off up to 40 percent of its staff.

The Seattle Times reports financial pressures and recent negative media attention are forcing the closures of Mars Hill's downtown Seattle and University District congregations, which will consolidate with a Ballard church. Also, almost 40 percent of the church's staffers will be laid off, according to the Times.

Mars Hill branches in Phoenix, Ariz. and Huntington Beach, Calif., are also in danger of closing, according to the Times.

Mars Hill was created by Mark Driscoll, who grew the church to 15,000 members worshipping at 15 campuses across five states, but he recently came under scrutinty, with former staffers saying Driscoll abused and threatened them, misused church funds and more.

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2014/09/mars-hill-church-closing-seattle-branches-laying.html?ana=e_sea_rdup&s=newsletter&ed=2014-09-08&u=ColXVN5SPzQtLHFP87ho2w07857290&t=1410193179

6 replies

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Mars Hill church closing Seattle branches, laying off staff (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Sep 2014 OP

In god we trust. Downwinder Sep 2014 #1

Hmmm...that's reminiscent of the Overlake scandal. factsarenotfair Sep 2014 #2

Reading Dirscoll's Wikipedia article TlalocW Sep 2014 #3

It was just a matter of time The Blue Flower Sep 2014 #4

Whose name is on the debt? Downwinder Sep 2014 #5

Aaannnnd....he's GONE! eridani Oct 2014 #6

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)

1. In god we trust.

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Mon Sep 8, 2014, 12:49 PM

Sep 2014

factsarenotfair

(910 posts)

2. Hmmm...that's reminiscent of the Overlake scandal.

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Mon Sep 8, 2014, 12:51 PM

Sep 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overlake_Christian_Church

Wasn't this pastor paying attention???

TlalocW

(15,384 posts)

3. Reading Dirscoll's Wikipedia article

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Mon Sep 8, 2014, 01:15 PM

Sep 2014

Makes him sound like a guy who put together a club/organization just so he would have something to be in charge of.

TlalocW

The Blue Flower

(5,442 posts)

4. It was just a matter of time

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Mon Sep 8, 2014, 02:22 PM

Sep 2014

Mars Hill is a Driscoll cult. This is a much better outcome than kool-aid.

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)

5. Whose name is on the debt?

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Mon Sep 8, 2014, 05:30 PM

Sep 2014

eridani

(51,907 posts)

6. Aaannnnd....he's GONE!

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Wed Oct 15, 2014, 05:58 PM

Oct 2014

Embattled Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll resigns
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/10/mars-hill-pastor-mark-driscoll-resigns/

Controversial Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll has resigned, according to the church’s website.

In a Tuesday letter written by Driscoll and printed on Religion News Service Wednesday, the controversial pastor said:

“By God’s grace I have pastored Mars Hill Church for 18 years. Today, also by God’s grace, and with the full support of my wife Grace, I resign my position as pastor and elder of Mars Hill. I do so with profound sadness, but also with complete peace.”

Driscoll took a leave of absence on Aug. 24 while elders conducted a formal review of charges made against him.

Driscoll had stepped aside in August so church leaders could investigate whether he was fit to lead, following accusations that he bullied members, threatened opponents, lied and oversaw mismanagement of church funds.

The church noted that Driscoll was not asked to resign.

Mars Hill grew to 15 branches in five states with 13,000 visitors on Sundays. Driscoll appeared on Nightline, preached at Seahawks stadium, threw out the first pitch at a Mariners game, and founded a network of evangelical leaders who started hundreds of other churches.

But after 18 years of stunning growth, an escalating string of bad news finally started driving churchgoers away. Mars Hill leaders recently said attendance and giving had plummeted so fast that it would have to close several Seattle branches and cut its staff 30 to 40 percent

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