Ex-Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll to host conference on 'building a healthy church'

Mired in controversy, former Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll announced plans to host an upcoming conference to teach how to build healthy churches.

According to SeattlePi, 45-year-old Driscoll would appear alongside other Evangelical leaders for a three-day conference to be held Nov. 15 to 17 at his new church, The Trinity Church, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Among these leaders are Robert Morris of Dallas-Fort Worth's Gateway Church and Brady Boyd of Colorado Springs' New Life Church.

The conference would discuss topics such as "Building a healthy church government," "Developing healthy leadership from within," "Raising and managing church finances," and "Creating a healthy philosophy of ministry."

The irony is not easily lost, however, as Driscoll faced a disgraceful resignation only two years ago as senior pastor of the now defunct Mars Hill Church. The pastor faced multiple charges of plagiarism and of creating an abusive work environment where he allegedly bullied, intimidated and manipulated employees.

Earlier this year, former supporters of the fallen church slapped Driscoll and his chief elder Sutton Turner with charges of racketeering where they allegedly used church money for unauthorized purposes including the purchase of 11,000 copies of Driscoll's book.

Still, the pastor, whom Forbes dubbed as one of America's "most prominent and celebrated pastors," managed to enjoy the support of other Evangelical leaders.

"Early on in my relationship with Mark, I felt the Lord was putting us together," Jimmy Evans of Texas' Trinity Fellowship Church told Amarillo Globe News. "When Mark asked me to be on his board, I prayed about it and felt the Lord was telling me to do it."

Another supporter is Perry Noble, who was recently fired by NewSpring Church over issues of alcoholism.

"We all see a great heart and tremendous potential in him (Driscoll)," Noble said in a Facebook video. "Here's a man who messed up, made some mistakes, admitted it, apologized, said he was sorry — he's starting over ... Who made you the judge on whether or not he's ready?"