Private - Ballard 1998-2007

Gender

Prefer not to say

Which describes your role at Mars Hill?

I was one of the above but prefer not to specify.

What Mars Hill location(s) did you attend?

Ballard

What years were you involved / attending?

1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

How did you first hear about Mars Hill?

We received a postcard from the Push Turbocat Lounge advertising something related to MH.

What was the circumstance of your first time attending Mars HIll?

We came on a Sunday evening to services.

What were your first impressions?

Eclectic mix of semi-liturgical feel with a more modern touch.

Why was Mars Hill your church home?

We believed that the core values of Meaning, Truth, Beauty, and Community were important. We thought that MH was the best mix of conservative values theologically with liberal allowances artistically.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a positive impact on you?

MH loved kids in a way I had never seen before. Initially there was no Children's church or youth group, and I appreciated that.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a negative impact on you?

The attitude of superiority that members (and later ex-members) had. The general attitude is that either you are for us or against us.

What would you like to have changed about Mars Hill?

I think that none of the people in positions of ministry were qualified to be in those positions. Mark Driscoll was not a great pastor, but plenty of the other elders (even pre-bylaws fiasco) were simply horrible pastors. In fact, I can honestly say that Mark Driscoll wasn't even close to the worst of the pastors at MH.

Which describes you?

I left Mars Hill prior to closure.

Please describe why you left Mars Hill and what that experience was like.

We left when the cult of MH-theology was too strong. The elders were unqualified, and they did little to help with issues.

How would you describe the reason for Mars Hill's closure to an outsider.

It is sad that MH closed on the one hand, but on another hand it was inevitable. The Mark Driscoll detractors seemed to think that MH could exist without Driscoll in authority, and that simply wasn't possible. Driscoll had no reason to stay the moment that he was placed under church discipline. The entire movement against MH looked (and continues to look) like bitterness and anger. Sure, people that left almost a decade ago likely left under unfortunate circumstances; but after a certain point you can't blame all your problems on someone else. Furthermore, having Rob Smith, Paul Petry, and Bent Meyer as the poster children of Driscoll abuse was unwise. All three men have a history of being abusive when they have been in positions of power. All three men were unqualified to be pastors. All three men grievously sinned against members of MH, and placing them in the position of perfection lost makes it impossible for those that left MH due to their abuses to speak up for healing.

What's changed for you since your time at Mars Hill came to an end?

I am no longer a Protestant Christian.