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Nine Men that Told Driscoll to Step Down Make Mass Exodus from Mars Hill Leadership

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Oct 08, 2014

The nine Mars Hill Church pastors that signed a letter calling for Mark Driscoll to step down from leadership are no longer employed by the church. Some of the pastors resigned while others were removed from the ministry. 

"The nine pastors are now nine former pastors," wrote Patheos blogger Warren Throckmorton.

James Rose’s departure from Mars Hill Ballard was announced Sunday; Rose formerly served as pastor and volunteer elder for community groups. He is the eighth signer to leave Mars Hill. 

Cliff Ellis is the ninth signer to be dismissed from the payroll. Ellis previously held the position of Director of Biblical Living; he remains an unpaid elder for the Mars Hill West Seattle campus. 

The nine pastors called for Driscoll’s departure after the lead pastor became involved with several controversies including using church funds to place his book “Real Marriage” on the New York Times bestseller list. 

"We are seriously concerned about the state of our church, especially the state our leadership at the highest levels and our continued lack of transparency in general," the pastors wrote. 

Publication date: October 8, 2014