Mark Driscoll to Start His New Church This Year

Mark Driscoll will be launching his brand new church, Trinity Church, in Pheonix, Arizona this year.  Driscoll was the senior and founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seatlle before he resigned in August 2014.

"We have some exciting news to share from Mark Driscoll Ministries. Lord willing, in 2016 we'll be launching The Trinity Church in Phoenix," wrote Driscoll in a blog post publicized through his social media pages.

"We have a big announcement. At least it's big for us and our family," said Driscoll. "We have moved to Phoenix, love it here, healing up, making new friends and excited about this city and the future that God would have us to play in serving the people here along with some other great churches in the valley. And so Lord willing, we are hoping, trusting, praying, planning, and also a little bit worrying about planting a church here in early 2016," Driscoll said, looking at his wife.

Driscoll didn't give an exact date on when he intends to start services but he asked supporters to join him and his wife in prayer for the new ministry.

On October 14, 2014, Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill Church, citing concerns for his health and safety. The Board did conclude that Driscoll 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", but was not charged with anything immoral or illegal. Driscoll maintained that he had not disqualified himself from ministry.

The journalist Ruth Graham wrote that "there was no single disgrace or crime that brought Driscoll down. Instead, it was a series of accusations: of plagiarism, crudeness, a bullying management style, unseemly consolidation of power, and squishy book-promotion ethics, to name a few." Theology professor Anthony Bradley remarked that while denominational churches have continuity after the departure of prominent leaders, Mars Hill Church was nondenominational and largely built on Driscoll's personal charisma.

On October 20, 2014, six days after his resignation, Driscoll, at the invitation of mega-church leader, Robert Morris, spoke at Morris's Gateway Conference saying that, leading up to his resignation, he and his family were harassed and he had received death threats. Driscoll subsequently appeared at other conferences and churches.

 

 

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