Mars Hill Church, Seattle, announced today that it will be dissolving as a whole and each of its individual sites must decide what their next course will be. The options for the 13 sites are merge with another church, become independent churches or close the doors.
According to Christianity Today, Mars Hill will dissolve by Jan. 1 in the following sequence: all properties will either be sold or the respective loans be taken on by individual churches, all staff will be released from employment and any excess funds will be gifted to the newly independent churches.
This announcement has come just 17 days after founding Pastor Mark Driscoll resigned following an investigation by elders into complaints that Driscoll was becoming “arrogant” and leading in a “domineering manner.”
Church spokesman Justin Dean said congregations won’t continue with the name Mars Hill, The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., reported.
Dave Bruskas, primary teaching pastor, said, “Ultimately the success of this plan and the future viability of each of these new local churches rest solely on all of us continuing to be faithful in supporting Jesus’ mission through our attendance and continued giving.”
Since its conception in 1996, Mars Hill has grown to include 15 sites across five states. Two of the sites were recently closed. In 2010, more than 7 million sermons were downloaded from Mars Hill’s website and Driscoll has authored several books.
Driscoll’s rise to prominence was fast, but rocky. He has been accused of plagiarism, founded and been removed from the Acts 29 church planting network, had bestseller status retracted for paying to have one of his books put on the bestseller list and been referred to as the “cussing pastor” in Donald Miller’s memoir Blue Like Jazz, Christianity Today cited.
Currently the phrase many members, former members and onlookers are using in reference to Mars Hill is “disillusioned.” (TAB)
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