Mark Driscoll: The ‘Trap’ & The Truth, Part II

Guest Bios

Show Transcript

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9GDwRlUn5Q

Is Mark Driscoll a victim of vindictive leaders? Or is he an unrepentant narcissist and liar, who refuses to take responsibility?

In part two of this podcast with former Mars Hill Executive Elder Sutton Turner, we discuss the narrative Mark Driscoll has been crafting for eight years. This is one in which Driscoll claims he’s a victim—that leaders at Mars Hill had set a trap, and Mark left before they could destroy him.

In this podcast, you’ll hear Robert Morris, pastor of Gateway Church in Texas, help shape Driscoll’s narrative early on. Just six days after Driscoll abruptly resigned, Morris platformed Driscoll at a Gateway conference. And he likened those criticizing Driscoll to Christians who shoot their wounded.

You’ll also hear disgraced Hillsong founder Brian Houston do something similar. In an interview played at Hillsong’s 2015 global conference, Houston sympathetically responds as Driscoll tearfully claims to be the target of a trap by Mars Hill elders. 

But Sutton Turner—an eyewitness to what happened at Mars Hill—tells the other side of the story. Turner gives facts and testimony that call into question everything Driscoll is purporting. Similarly, former Mars Hill Elder Miles Rohde gives reasons he believes Driscoll’s latest narrative is fiction.

But perhaps most gripping is hearing Miles and Sutton, who clearly loved Driscoll and Mars Hill, express their heartache over what’s happened and their warning should Driscoll continue on his path.

Listen to Part One of “Mark Driscoll: The ‘Trap’ & The Truth”

Listen to Inside the Driscoll ‘Cult,’ Part One & Part Two

This Weeks Guests

Sutton Turner

Sutton Turner was Executive Pastor, Executive Elder and Board Member of Mars Hill Church from 2011 to 2014.  He, Mark Driscoll and Dave Bruskas served together leading the church. Sutton has over 30 years of experience leading companies as CEO across US, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, as well as two stints in full-time ministry with Mars Hill and Celebration Church.

Sutton is married to Marci Turner of 25+ years and has three kids. They live in College Station, Texas and he is currently CEO of Life Bridge Management, a real estate company with over 50 employees.

Miles Rohde

Miles Rohde was one of eight elders who investigated formal charges against Mars Hill founding pastor Mark Driscoll in 2014. He participated in the Lead Pastor Residency Program at Mars Hill and was planning on planting Mars Hill Spokane when Driscoll abruptly resigned. Instead, he planted Redemption Spokane, where he’s still pastoring today.

Miles and his wife, Pam, have been married for 25 years and have two children.

Show Transcript

SPEAKERS

MARK DRISCOLL, JULIE ROYS, SUTTON TURNER, MILES ROHDE, ROBERT MORRIS, BRIAN HOUSTON

JULIE ROYS 00:01

Is Mark Driscoll a victim of vindictive leaders who simply wanted to take over Mars Hill Church? Or is he an unrepentant narcissist and bully who refuses to take responsibility? Welcome to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys. And in part two of my interview with former Mars Hill executive elder Sutton Turner, we discussed the narrative Mark Driscoll has been crafting for eight years. Ever since abruptly resigning from Mars Hill in 2014, Driscoll has claimed he’s the victim, the leaders at Mars Hill set a trap and Mark left before they could destroy him. In this podcast, you’ll hear Robert Morris, pastor of Gateway Church in Texas introduce Driscoll at a conference just six days after Driscoll resigned. And despite the fact that Driscoll refused to submit to a restoration plan by the Mars Hill elders, Morris says nothing about Driscoll’s sin. Instead, he urges everyone to welcome Driscoll and Morris likens criticizing Driscoll to the church shooting its wounded. You’ll also hear a similar narrative in 2015, in an interview between Driscoll and Hillson