The remarkable fall from grace of the evangelical preacher Mark Driscoll could provide case-study materials on public ministry for years to come. The Seattle pastor\u2019s resignation from his megachurch on Oct. 14 and the subsequent dissolution of the church he built had nothing to do with the sort of sordid scandals that in the past brought down preachers such as Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker. Mr. Driscoll\u2019s downfall had a great deal to do with the online world that he had seemed to master, a world that made him famous but also exposed what he called in his resignation letter his \u201cpride, anger and a domineering spirit.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Boosted by live streaming, podcasts and social media, Mr. Driscoll harnessed the Internet to propel his nondenominational ministry beyond Mars Hill, his local congregation. He was known for his muscular, in-your-face style of preaching about Jesus, depicting Christ as more superhero than lamb of God, once declaring: \u201cI cannot worship a guy I can beat up.\u201d\u009d This aggressive posture, visible online and off, paradoxically made the once \u201ccussin\u2019 pastor\u201d\u009d famous but also helped bring down his ministry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same rough edges that can land you in hot water are the very same things that attracted, in some cases, tens of thousands of people to you in the first place,\u201d\u009d Mark DeMoss, whom Mars Hill hired to do public relations for six months before Mr. Driscoll\u2019s resignation, told me.<\/p>\n