Mars Hill formally dissovling

[whirlingmerc]

"Mars Hill Church, which as recently as January had more than 14,000 people attending Sunday morning worship services, will cease to exist organizationally by the end of the year.

In a letter to the congregation that’s posted on the Seattle-based megachurch’s website, teaching pastor Dave Bruskas says the multi-site church organization will dissolve by Jan. 1, 2015, though some of the sites that are viable as local congregations will continue to operate. But several of these locations have already shut down, and others are likely to do so in the months ahead. ..."

see more at
WORLD | Mars Hill Church to dissolve | Warren Cole Smith | Nov. 3, 2014


14,000 to dissolving end of year is quite a drop. My opinion is a pastor must prepare his congregation not to be so personality oriented that if he disappeared the place would cave in. Churches should not be personality oriented like that.

 

[DMcFadden]

American megachurches are almost by definition "personality driven." Personally, I "prefer" a big church to a tiny one, but NOT a ginormous one. But, preference is not the most important issue to me. Things like biblical fidelity and opportunities for service are more important.

I pastored in churches that were small, medium, and large-ish and now attend one that is large-ish. If you get much bigger than 500-1000 worship attendance, you will almost necessarily fall into the traps common to megachurches.

 

[whirlingmerc]

It's nice to be big enough to have a variety of programs. I get the impression lots of families get attracted to the big offering churches feeling it's for the sake of the kids and lots of offerings but there may or may not have lots of depth

Sad to see the collapse... in some cases it may be a restructure somewhat favoring a more local effort..

 

[GulfCoast Presbyterian]

One wonders (or as an attorney, I wonder) how they can divide the "Mars Hill general fund" among the departing churches, and which will remain as the "legacy church" with the obligations to fund the severance packages.

 

[Gforce9]

I'm sad about all the folks who will be disillusioned by all that has taken place in the past several years. That organization has hurt many a folk, I'm afraid. May none curse God's name as a result of the immature and childish shenanigans from M.H.........

 

[Edward]

One wonders (or as an attorney, I wonder) how they can divide the "Mars Hill general fund" among the departing churches, and which will remain as the "legacy church" with the obligations to fund the severance packages.

I doubt that there will be much in the way of funds left to be 'gifted as seed money'. So that speculation is probably more of an academic exercise than an actual problem that will have to be addressed. And I don't see anything about severance packages.

Dissolution by January 1 also does not seem to be realistic. They have to negotiate with the real estate lenders to either have the debt assumed, accept a deed in lieu, or allow for foreclosure. And they may have other contractual obligations which will need to be addressed. And they really can't be 'gifting seed money' until the debts are satisfied.

They probably should consider a liquidating Chapter 11 to best address their goals. Or if there isn't going to be much left, a Chapter 7.

 

[C. M. Sheffield]

From Dave Bruskas: "Mars Hill Church has never been about a building or even an organization."

No, it appears Mars Hill has been about one man: Mark Driscoll. He resigns on the 14th of October and the remaining elders announce plans for the churches dissolution on the 29th. Stunning.

 

[Eoghan]

One wonders (or as an attorney, I wonder) how they can divide the "Mars Hill general fund" among the departing churches, and which will remain as the "legacy church" with the obligations to fund the severance packages.

The practicalities constrain many decisions I fear. One church here in the UK borrowed from the denomination to fund improvements to the church building - only to seek to leave the denomination. They were allowed to go minus the building but are /were burdened with the debt of the loan they entered into. I do wonder exactly who is responsible for these loans. Ministers retire, elders leave - so who in that state of flux is underwriting the loan?

 

[GulfCoast Presbyterian]

Warren Throckmorton's site has a fair bit on Driscoll and severance package issues.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

I guess it is impossible to separate the two topics of the church and the pastor. http://www.puritanboard.com/f103/driscoll-mahaney-john-macarthur-accountability-84532/#post1057206