Mark Driscoll's New Church Starts Its First Service This Sunday

Pastor Mark Driscoll, the former lead pastor and founder of Mars Hill Church, will have his first service at his new church plant this Sunday (March 27). The Trinity Church will host its first gathering that evening at the Glass and Garden Drive-In Church in Scottsdale, Ariz., the new church announced on its website.

The website described the gathering as a "modest open house and prayer meeting" where Driscoll will share the vision for the church as it begins putting together its launch team."We know that God has gone before us, preparing an opportunity to minister. This building provides a wonderful opportunity for our mission," it said. 

He had spent months praying for a church building with more than 1,000 seats along the 101 Freeway, according to the church website, and he "believes that God has supernaturally provided" that in the Glass and Garden Drive-In Church building. 

On October 14, 2014, Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill Church, citing concerns for his health and safety. His resignation came as a "surprise" to the church's Board of Overseers, who said in a statement that they had not asked Driscoll for his resignation. 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. 

 

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