Controversial Seattle Church Pastor Resigns Amid Accusations of Bullying and Plagiarism
Erika Villanueva | | Oct 16, 2014 02:14 AM EDT |
(Photo : Mars Hill)
Mars Hill pastor Mark Driscoll stepped down Wednesday amidst accusations of bullying, plagiarism and an unhealthy ego that many of the church's devotees criticized.
As investigations about the allegations come to an end, Driscoll, who had been described as a 'charismatic but choleric pastor,' filed his resignation citing that the past few months have become 'unhealthy' for his family.
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"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," his resignation indicated.
This is amid reports that elders from the church have released results of their probe on the accusations noting that the 18-year Mars Hill pastor "at times, [had] been guilty of arrogance, responding to conflict with a quick temper and harsh speech, and leading the staff and elders in a domineering manner."
However, the investigation findings also revealed that Driscoll had never been accused of any immoral, illegal, or heretic conduct and that several of the accusations were deemed "unfair or untrue," noting that the Mars Hill pastor is still qualified to lead the once-booming evangelical megachurch in Seattle.
Despite this, Driscoll decided to leave the church he built nearly two decades ago saying that he acknowledges "I am an imperfect messenger of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
In the past, Driscoll's ups and downs have become one of the most dramatic stories in American evangelism.
Some of the criticisms thrown at the pastor had involved the use of language 'that objectified women and disparaged gay people,' as reported by the New York Times.
This, on the other hand, did not stop him from expanding the church which now has 15 campuses in five Western states through being a strong advocate of complementarianism, which basically means that men and women differ in roles in the society.
He is also known to be an influential figure in the evangelical movement which emphasizes predestination dubbed as the New Calvinism.
TagsMars Hill, Mark Driscoll, Church, resignation, investigation, bullying, plaigiarism, church pastor, Pastor, Christianity
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