Guest column by Pastor Rob Bryceson
I was intrigued, Sunday by the picture of our church accompanied by this headline:
What if Mars Hill takes over this building? By Jan Shannon.
“I took this photo while sitting in traffic. I was struck by the juxtaposition of the No Trespassing sign and the “people accepted — lives changed” writing on the wall”.
These were the opening words. Just to be clear, the chain link fence is an entirely different piece of property. So it’s more than a little ironic that a view of the building from any other direction would not have yielded that result. I think the same can be said for Mars Hill Church. A view of their people, theology, and practices from any other direction than the online disgruntled naysayers, yields a freer perspective. Let’s get around the fence.
For the record. We have to sell our building because it’s too hard for us to grow a church in our urban blight neighborhood. I have almost an entire book written on my sad, wonderful, poignant and disturbing experiences of doing ministry on the front lines of urban poverty and brokenness. Mars Hill stepped up with an offer to buy our site that was way better than anything we received before. Even inside our own circles there are people who aren’t big fans of their style — but be assured their theology isn’t radical. It’s pretty standard Reformed Theology that’s been around for centuries. They aren’t a bizarre cult. Mark Driscoll, the pastor is rarely judged for his theology — he takes heat for his confrontational style and his leadership structure. But then again he has always been upfront and honest about those things too. I for one, don’t respect former subordinates who choose to go on staff at a hierarchal, submit-to-authority church and then whine later that it turned out to be exactly that. People signed up for it so they could be at a big, popular church and Driscoll stayed true to his word. He gave you what he told you he would give you — his leadership! Stop complaining — move on.
The article went on to add; “The message of Mars Hill Church isn’t truth and freedom, it’s corporate cover-ups and people imprisoned by fear of retribution if they speak out. Those of us who preach a message of inclusion and freedom and peace in Christ must be ready to speak out against any message of exclusion that comes to Spokane. We must be willing to stand up for the true Gospel of love.”
The original wording was more extreme. Driscoll has come clean publically before and apologized for mistakes (like his book deal last year). When accusations ring true his track record of apology and forgiveness is an open record. And — let’s be truthful — most of the churches in Spokane carry the same historical conservative views of women in leadership and homosexuality that Mars Hill espouses. Check out the theology of the biggest churches — Life Center, or many of its offshoots, Calvary Chapel, Real Life Ministries, the numerous Baptist churches, or the Pentecostal churches. When it comes to many of the views of human sexuality or the role of women in leadership, many of these they carry the same historic stand as Mars Hill. But they don’t take heat for being hateful.
I probably don’t agree with all of the theology of Jan Shannon’s lead Pastor, Andy Castrolang. But Pastor Andy is a delightful woman who has sat in my office and we have laughed and joked together about ministry life. Spend 10 minutes with her and Pastor Andy’s infectious smile and laughter will melt your blues away. She’s great. But I wouldn’t agree with all of her biblical interpretations. We’re all asking: Who will I befriend? Who will I work with in areas of compassion and mercy? Who will I worship and take communion with? They aren’t always the same.
When I followed the conversation threads that followed this article I must say I was really impressed with Eric Blauer’s thoughts and I gained respect for Jan Shannon for her willingness to modify her original wording and even air her honest fears. The the best part of this article is in her thread comment: “Eric, it’s my bunker mentality at work. Being gay frankly sucks in our current socio-political landscape, adding to that the attitudes of my fellow Christians against me, gets my back up. Mars Hill preaches repentance and redemption in Jesus so they preach the gospel and so the Holy Spirit will be working in and through that church. There are already many churches in Spokane that preach similar messages about homosexuality, so why am I posting about MHC? Fear. And that’s not usually a great place to speak from. You got me. I’m afraid.”
To you Jan Shannon, (and all your friends) — I’ve never met Mark Driscoll. Each campus of Mars Hill has its own area pastor. The guy here is a man named Miles Rhode who used to work as an Air Force Survival Instructor at Fairchild before going to Moody here in town. This summer, his offices will be in the building pictured with your original article. If you came down and invited him for coffee you will find him to be a very kind and gentle man who would treat you with respect, dignity, and kindness, even if the two of you disagree about some of your biblical interpretations. I can say this this is true of the all of the Mars Hill staff people I have met who have visited here.
Every now and then when I think of our controversial social and church issues and I suspect I’ve got it all down – I need to take a deep breath and begin meditating on David’s classic words from Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 See if there is anyoffensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (emphasis added).
Rob, thank you for sharing this with us and writing this response!
This is a great example of what I like about this site.
Thanks for sharing your part of the story Rob, it’s helpful to have more of the picture when most folks have to rely on media, promotion and hearsay. I have had interaction with Miles after the first round of media focus, where I pushed back on the anti-Driscoll crowd. I tried to engage the issues that were brought up, worried about, etc and didn’t get a follow up response, the convo deadened. I get that it’s not Miles job to engage every inquiry or have to be MD’s defensive line but I do think it would be great to be proactive and respond. Not an apologetic or defense based on a trial type inquisition, but maybe a hospitable hello, let’s clear the air or at least respond to a few concerns.
Jan did share that she had a measure of fear. I think that warrants a loving response to a segment of the community that has been juiced up on westside/online/local vitriol. I hope that happens more. You are doing some of that here and I appreciate it, but man, there’s a lot of stuff out there and it is combustable material that anyone hearing it might also be wary. I think the request is fair, if the communication is two way and not just an invitation to a fight.
Rob,
First off, I apologize for bot not writing back to you sooner, and for allowing this to be our first interaction. As I said to Eric, it’s not my happiest moment. 🙁 I’m actually a lot more fun than this!!
As for MHC, I am sure it’s just another church with a pastor who is stating his views on the Bible and biblical teachings, full of staff and congregants who are doing their level best in their search for God. That’s what all of us are doing, each in their own way, for that is what religion is: our search for God. Since MHC is full of people it will have the full spectrum of good and bad motives and intentions and behaviors much the same as Westminster UCC does, and even inclusive Westminster does not truly include everyone – we will not tolerate anyone who wants to worship with us but brings a message of hate or intolerance for any of our LGBTQ members (or staff) or who seeks to disrupt the wonderful open, safe, and affirming fellowship we have going over there. MHC, as I have read, will allow GLBTQ persons to worship with them but join into full membership. So, in a sense, we both exclude some types of people.
My main problem is with any church who wants to tell me that I am not a true Christian because of who I love, and frankly, I hear it a lot and it’s getting annoying. 🙂 No one truly knows the “real” reason that a person comes to church or says they are a Christian. Only God knows the heart so each of us should spend our time searching for God and loving God in whatever way we see fit, and leave the judgment up to God.
From what I have heard of First Covenant Church, a ton of good work for God’s kingdom has come from there, and I am sad to see that work leave the downtown area. Wherever God takes your ministry, I pray that God will bless it and that you will find a fresh, new, wide space to do more good work. Hopefully one day we will meet and share a laugh or two. Andy’s not the only pastor at WUCC with a sense of humor. 😉
J
Eric – thanks for the thoughts. As for connecting with Miles our sale has been back and forth and on then off then back on. Probably meant he was slow to respond because things have been a bit insecure and not nailed down until recently. I imagine running around trying to stomp out every spreading fire of controversy MD ignites would be exhausting. 🙂
Jan – nice to meet you. I think you will find that in spite of the controversy you would be treated kindly and with respect by MHC people. 🙂 of course we Christians believe that transformational change comes via the power of the Holy Spirit – it can get odd when we all demand that change often before someone has surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
We actually set limits too – booted a guy last week from the front row drinking whiskey during service – for real. You can’t hide your beer in the toilet tanks during church to keep them cold, please don’t shout out “that’s it pastor kick the demons in the a## – a hearty amen will suffice – and if your going to wear saggy pants that hang down in back then underwear is NOT optional. Just a few of the things I learned doing downtown ministry.