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Pastor’s apology defuses demonstration at church

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mwkruse
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From Religion News Blog: Pastor’s apology defuses demonstration at church

A grass-roots protest fizzled yesterday after the controversial pastor of an evangelical megachurch in Seattle apologized for what critics say were demeaning comments about women.

After being confronted by other local religious leaders, Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church said he was sorry.

“We believe we have a meaningful and sincere apology for the inflammatory remarks he’s made,” said Paul Chapman, a member of People Against Fundamentalism, whose half-dozen core members are Christians. “He’s pledged to change his language and tone without giving up on his theological convictions, which is fine.” …

Comments

14 responses to “Pastor’s apology defuses demonstration at church”

  1. Virgil Avatar
    Virgil

    This is so frustrating to me that they even tried to “protest” him. Driscoll is no saint in my opinion, but calling him names (like misogynist) and threatening him with protests is simply immature and just as hateful if you ask me.
    Very disappointing; this is not how you build bridges with people, and it is another example that Emergent is just another means to another end.

    Reply
  2. kairos Avatar
    kairos

    Did “Emergent” (or folks affiliated thereto) coordinate that protest? That’d be news to me…

    Reply
  3. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    Are the ones protesting Emergent? I know Driscoll is considered by some to be a part of the conservative wing of the Emergent conversation.
    I have generally stayed away from this story. Too much other cool stuff happening, and ideas forming, to waste too much energy on it.

    Reply
  4. Virgil Avatar
    Virgil

    Emergent officially had nothing to do with it, so in all fairness this was not something official. Most people organizing the protest were labeling themselves as “emergents” from the conversations I’ve had on a few blogs. I gave up eventually when name calling started flying; there are other more productive things to do.

    Reply
  5. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    Thanks Virgil. Like I say, I haven’t kept up on it. I think what the episode points out is that just like the rest of the church the Emerging Church is made up of fallen human beings.

    Reply
  6. travis johnson Avatar
    travis johnson

    Minus the comments on Emergent, I agree with Virgil. Matthew 18 prohibits a Christian from engaging in activity like this. Mark’s words are considered inappropriate by some. I would characterize Paul Chapman’s actions as a violation of Scripture.

    Reply
  7. Quotidian Grace Avatar
    Quotidian Grace

    Guess I’m the lone woman to comment on this.
    Driscoll’s remarks, as reported on the link, are certainly insensitive and offensive to many Christian women.
    Criticizing the wife of the pastor who confessed to buying drugs from a male prostitute is dispicable. I’m not a fan of the new ECUSA presiding bishop’s theology either–but Driscoll’s ad hominem (ad womanem??) attack on her is childish.
    According to this news story the protest was organized by something called People Against Fundamentalism. I doubt you can expect a group with that moniker to read or heed Matthew 18.

    Reply
  8. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    “Driscoll’s remarks, as reported on the link, are certainly insensitive and offensive to many Christian women.”
    Not just women!
    “but Driscoll’s ad hominem (ad womanem??) attack on her is childish”
    Well put.
    “People Against Fundamentalism. I doubt you can expect a group with that moniker to read or heed Matthew 18.”
    LOL. Amen!

    Reply
  9. travis johnson Avatar
    travis johnson

    Please cite where MD made a critique of Ted Haggard’s wife. I must have missed that in the blog entry.

    Reply
  10. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    Travis, I am gonna go out on a limb here and guess you have read the orginal post and don’t think MD did was critical of his wife? 🙂 So what is your take?

    Reply
  11. travis johnson Avatar
    travis johnson

    I read the article. He specifically was not speaking of Haggard’s wife.

    Reply
  12. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    Fair nuf, Travis. I went back and reread it and assuming what he still has up is the original post he does not address her specifically. The part I found troubling was the general implication women can somehow be implicated in their husbands transgressions and that was the part I did remember. In context he (likely) unwittingly planted the idea this may have been Haggard’s problem. Part of the joy of being in the spotlight.
    I think some critics were too hard on him and the protest rally was absurd. He does seemed to have handled the fallout with considerable grace. Again, as I said above, fallen people in the church.

    Reply
  13. kairos Avatar
    kairos

    I’ve posted too much on it myself, but if it will help others (with links and such), my thoughts about it are here: first, second, third, and fourth. There are links in there to comments throughout the blogosphere, including some bigwigs in the emerging conversation (such as Andrew Jones).
    My issue was largely the one Michael shared: the idea that in situations like these wives “can be implicated in their husband’s transgressions.” That’s a good way of putting it.
    And I share, Michael, your thought that the protest was an absurd idea and that some people were being too harsh, particularly in this protest idea or in threats made to his family, etc.
    On the other hand, in some instances, I don’t think the critics closest to him were being steadfast enough–I still don’t think that Driscoll apologized for the real issue, or for anything other than communication snafus or for a direct implication about Ms. Haggard. But maybe that’s wrong; I wasn’t at the reconciliation meeting. And I’m impressed at the tone/tenor of Driscoll’s public communication since the incident, and his willingness to engage the matter. Both are commendable.

    Reply
  14. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    Thanks Kairos. I found your posts quite helpful.

    Reply

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