The letter from Mars Hill suggests that after it spins off or shuts down the sattelite churches, that Mars Hill itself will shut down. The letter states, “(1) All of Mars Hill’s existing church properties will either be sold, or the loans on the individual properties will be assumed by the independent churches, subject to approval by the lender; (2) all central staff will be compensated for their work, and then released from their employment; (3) if any funds remain after the winding down and satisfaction of Mars Hill business affairs, they will be gifted as seed money to the newly independent churches, then, (4) the existing Mars Hill Church organization will be dissolved.”
Does this mean that the mother ship is going to go away for good, or close and reemerge as something else? Or does it only mean that the Mars Hill centralization will disband?
This was always the plan. Mark said in multiple sermons that if he left this is what happened. There is no real news here other than that things are going according to the succession plan of him serving out his lifetime in ministry at Mars Hill.
This was always the plan. Mark said in multiple sermons that if he left this is what happened. There is no real news here other than that things are going according to the succession plan of him serving out his lifetime in ministry at Mars Hill.
I never saw this before. On what grounds would this be offered as a biblical plan for the future of a local church?
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
This was always the plan. Mark said in multiple sermons that if he left this is what happened. There is no real news here other than that things are going according to the succession plan of him serving out his lifetime in ministry at Mars Hill.
I never saw this before. On what grounds would this be offered as a biblical plan for the future of a local church?
None. It was all practical/pragmatic. Not defending the idea, just saying it’s not surprising.
(1) All of Mars Hill’s existing church properties will either be sold, or the loans on the individual properties will be assumed by the independent churches, subject to approval by the lender (2) all central staff will be compensated for their work, and then released from their employment (3) if any funds remain after the winding down and satisfaction of Mars Hill business affairs, they will be gifted as seed money to the newly independent churches (4) the existing Mars Hill Church organization will be dissolved
It strikes me that if Shaynus is correct that this was always the plan for Driscoll, he needs to come to grips with the reality that by usually taking center stage, he was actively preventing other men from exercising their spiritual gift of preaching while he prevented himself from learning how to minister to people on an individual level. Yikes. Double yikes in that it would seem that the reasons for his downfall have a lot to do with his failure to minister to people on an individual level and learn to relate to them.
Nothing pretty about this, but there is at least a tiny silver lining in that Driscoll realized that it wasn’t just anybody that could draw that many people to the pulpit.
Seriously, though - this is great news. I’m glad to see the MH elder/leadership team address this publicly and admit that they sinned and they were wrong. Those baby steps I mentioned before are beginning to look like a full on trot or run at this rate. Good for them.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Discussion
NewOther sources say, "Mars Hill Will Close Its Doors for Good"
The letter from Mars Hill suggests that after it spins off or shuts down the sattelite churches, that Mars Hill itself will shut down. The letter states, “(1) All of Mars Hill’s existing church properties will either be sold, or the loans on the individual properties will be assumed by the independent churches, subject to approval by the lender; (2) all central staff will be compensated for their work, and then released from their employment; (3) if any funds remain after the winding down and satisfaction of Mars Hill business affairs, they will be gifted as seed money to the newly independent churches, then, (4) the existing Mars Hill Church organization will be dissolved.”
Does this mean that the mother ship is going to go away for good, or close and reemerge as something else? Or does it only mean that the Mars Hill centralization will disband?
Look at the title in the Relevant Magazine article: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/slices/mars-hill-church-will-close-its-…
M. Scott Bashoor Happy Slave of Christ
NewOfficial communication
https://marshill.com/2014/10/31/local-mission-local-churches
Twitter
Jim's Doctrinal Statement
NewThis was always the plan.
This was always the plan. Mark said in multiple sermons that if he left this is what happened. There is no real news here other than that things are going according to the succession plan of him serving out his lifetime in ministry at Mars Hill.
NewIt is an acknowledgement that
It is an acknowledgement that it takes a celebrity preacher, in some cases, to keep multi-site churches going. When he is gone, the ministry unwinds.
NewShaynus wrote:
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
NewChip Van Emmerik wrote:
None. It was all practical/pragmatic. Not defending the idea, just saying it’s not surprising.
NewCT
http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/october/goodbye-mars-hi…
Twitter
Jim's Doctrinal Statement
NewAlways the...YIKES....plan?
It strikes me that if Shaynus is correct that this was always the plan for Driscoll, he needs to come to grips with the reality that by usually taking center stage, he was actively preventing other men from exercising their spiritual gift of preaching while he prevented himself from learning how to minister to people on an individual level. Yikes. Double yikes in that it would seem that the reasons for his downfall have a lot to do with his failure to minister to people on an individual level and learn to relate to them.
Nothing pretty about this, but there is at least a tiny silver lining in that Driscoll realized that it wasn’t just anybody that could draw that many people to the pulpit.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
NewWe now believe that you were grievously sinned against...
Remarkable letter from numerous Mars Hill elders to two of the victims of mistreatment. I appreciate that the acted publicly.
http://joyfulexiles.com/2014/11/03/seven-years-later-18-mars-hill-elders-issue-letter-of-confession-to-bent-meyer-paul-petry-and-the-church/
NewNot a whimper but a bang
Anything that makes the local news, both print and TV, in the Seattle area, qualifies as a bang. Wow.
The wonderful one hoss shay ran for about 20 years, not 100.
Anyone else want to tackle if it’s fire or ice?
NewHeh
I hold with those who favor fire, ChristyM. :)
Seriously, though - this is great news. I’m glad to see the MH elder/leadership team address this publicly and admit that they sinned and they were wrong. Those baby steps I mentioned before are beginning to look like a full on trot or run at this rate. Good for them.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
NewMars Hill Church
For a slightly different take - http://rethinkxian.com/2014/11/11/mars-hill-church-a-cautionary-tale/.
Keep thinking,
Rob