Mark Driscoll responds to ‘false and malicious’ allegations in lawsuit

(RNS) Four former members of the now-defunct Mars Hill Church in Seattle filed a civil racketeering lawsuit Monday (Feb. 29) against the church's controversial ex-pastor.

Mark Driscoll was an influential but edgy pastor within conservative evangelical circles for several years. Photo courtesy of Mars Hill Church
Driscoll was an influential but edgy pastor within conservative evangelical circles for several years. Photo courtesy of Mars Hill Church

Mark Driscoll was an influential but edgy pastor within conservative evangelical circles for several years. Photo courtesy of Mars Hill Church

(RNS) Pastor Mark Driscoll said the allegations against him in a new lawsuit are “false and malicious.”

Four former members of the now-defunct Mars Hill Church in Seattle filed a 42-page civil racketeering lawsuit Monday (Feb. 29) against the church’s controversial ex-pastor, accusing him of “a continuing pattern of racketeering activity.”


The lawsuit was filed as part of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, intended to prosecute the Mafia and other criminal organizations.


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“Unfortunately, false and malicious allegations continue to be made against me,” Driscoll said in an email to RNS Thursday (March 3). “I’m certain that the most recent examples are without any merit.”

The suit by Brian Jacobsen, Connie Jacobsen, Ryan Kildea and Arica Kildea alleges Driscoll and former Mars Hill executive elder John Sutton Turner solicited donations for specific purposes, then used that money for other things.

Among the allegations: It contends that millions donated by church members to support missionaries overseas appear to have stayed in the U.S. It also claims the church paid $210,000 to a company called ResultSource Inc. to land Driscoll’s book, “Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship and Life Together” on the best-seller lists of The New York Times and others.

Driscoll resigned from the church in October 2014 amid earlier allegations, including plagiarismabusive behavior and critical comments he made about feminism and homosexuality under a pseudonym on a church message board. The church’s 15 campuses closed that December.

He recently announced in a video online that he and his family have moved to Phoenix, where they are “healing up” and planning to launch a new church called The Trinity Church in early 2016.


“I remain focused and devoted to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, loving others, and praying for my enemies,” Driscoll said.

(Emily McFarlan Miller is an RNS correspondent)

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