A petition to rescind Mark Driscoll’s invitation to the Hillsong conference in July is circulating online. The petition states that Driscoll should not take part in the London conference after his recent fall from grace over allegations of bullying, coercion, and misuse of Mars Hill Church funds.
Christian Today reports Driscoll was invited to the conference prior to resigning from Mars Hill.
The petition says inviting Driscoll to the conference, "is both disappointing and of great concern to many across the UK and internationally,” after the pastor hurt many through his behavior.
It continues that Hillsong is "both endorsing and legitimising Mark's messages about women and ignoring the concerns being repeated by many across the US and UK about his abusive behaviour, which has been corroborated by ex-members and ex-leaders of Mars Hill Church.”
Gender justice activist Natalie Collins took part in starting the petition.
She said, "The real question is about the extent of his repentance. He has never acknowledged the hurt he has caused to ex-Mars Hill members and leaders.
"Only six months later, he shouldn't be accepting an invitation to the biggest platform in Europe. It's too soon. He should be rejecting those platforms. We aren't saying he is forever disqualified from ministry, but this is too much, too soon.”
As it stands, Driscoll will not deliver a platform speech at the conference per the original plan, but will be interviewed by Hillsong founder Brian Houston.
Publication date: April 14, 2015
