Mark Driscoll - Who can fire the pastor?

For over 10 years Mark Driscoll taught that he was under the authority of the elders. He had one vote as did each elder. If the elders voted to fire Mark Driscoll he would be fired. Many of us members joined Mars Hill under the safety of this structure of governance. It has been emphasized again and again over the years from the pulpit. It has been a strong conviction that we strongly embraced as a church.

The new by-laws of Mars Hill Church however go against this teaching of Mark Driscoll. Although he recently claimed that under these by-laws he was actually giving up power to the Lead Pastor and slanderously accused the two recently fired pastors of posturing for power (by opposing the new by-laws), he in fact holds far more power under the new by-laws than he did before and has mislead the congregation to believe that he has less power. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004020898_webmarshill18m.html

Mark Driscoll claimed the fired pastors were posturing for more power by wanting to keep each elder having one vote as per the old by-laws. And he told the church that he was giving up power when in fact he went from having one vote in 24 to one vote in 5. Obviously the fired pastors were not posturing for power and obviously Mark Driscoll holds far more power than ever. Especially after demonstrating that he can get away with firing anybody without being held to account.

He now has a life-long tenure where the elders of Mars Hill Church cannot fire him. He does not have one vote to their one vote. He is one of 5 executive elders whom the elders cannot fire from their jobs. They could theoretically fire themselves if they have a two thirds vote of the 11 board of directors of which they make up 5. The only way they get held to any account is if the entire remaining 6 board of Directors plus 2 of their own vote against them. The elders have no authority any more other than to affirm a change to the statement of faith and to affirm the executive elder nominated board of directors. If 4 of the executive elders (who under new by-laws have almost unfettered power) decide to do something there is no provision for any real accountability. The elders are helpless. Any elder that might oppose them can be summarily fired and dismissed at the whim of the 5 executive elders.

The real violence of the firings of the two beloved pastors for opposing the new by-laws was that it quelled discussion about and dissent against the new by-laws that clearly violate the very teachings that Mark Driscoll has taught for 10 years.

So even if the men are exonerated and restitution given them for the slander, libel and harm done to them, Mark Driscoll still gets the power and insulation from accountability that he seemed to desire by forcing the new by-laws into play.

The real violence to the church is the new by-laws.

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