Mark Driscoll Controversy 2014: Pastor Resigns Amid Scandal

Controversial Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll stepped down from his position on Wednesday, October 15 after being accused of plagiarism, power abuse, and inappropriate use of church funds, Huffington Post reported.

The Mars Hill Church, which the 43-year old pastor founded in 1996, is one of the most successful megachurches in the Pacific Northwest and currently has 15,000 members at 15 locations in five Western states, with 200,000 people watching online sermons every week.

Driscoll was known for being an "evangelical bad boy" who is also a gifted communicator, but with a penchant for being provocative, rude, and profane during his sermons, said NY Times.

According to the report from NY Times: "Mr. Driscoll became a celebrity in conservative Christianity, a sought-after speaker and prolific author known for a celebration of masculinity that helped Mars Hill attract young men, a demographic noted in church life mostly for its absence."

Driscoll was also controversial due to his criticisms on issues such as feminism and homosexuality. Moreover, he was accused of committing plagiarism to increase sales of his book.

In his resignation letter published on Religion News Service, Driscoll acknowledges that he is an imperfect messenger and that he has a proud, angry, and domineering spirit.

"Prior to and during this process there have been no charges of criminal activity, immorality or heresy, any of which could clearly be grounds for disqualification from pastoral ministry.

"Other issues, such as aspects of my personality and leadership style, have proven to be divisive within the Mars Hill context, and I do not want to be the source of anything that might detract from our church's mission to lead people to a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ," Driscoll wrote.

He added in the letter: "Recent months have proven unhealthy for our family-even physically unsafe at times-and we believe the time has now come for the elders to choose new pastoral leadership for Mars Hill."

According to Huffington Post, Driscoll was also removed by board members from Acts 29, the church-planting organization he co-founded, after influential leaders Paul Tripp and James MacDonald quit from helping the church. LifeWay Christian Resources, a well-known evangelical book publisher, removed Driscoll's book from its stores as the pastor's ministry is still being investigated.

Seven elders and the board of overseers conducted the investigation on Driscoll. MSN reported that Driscoll wasn't charged with illegality or immorality, but that, "most of the charges involved attitudes and behaviors reflected by a domineering style of leadership."

"We concluded that Pastor Mark has, at times, been guilty of arrogance, responding to conflict with a quick temper and harsh speech, and leading the staff and elders in a domineering manner," Huffington Post reported according to the church's board of overseers' findings.

"We found some of the accusations against Pastor Mark to be altogether unfair or untrue."