MARK DRISCOLL AND MARS HILL ~ POSTS IN RESEARCH GUIDE SERIES
Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church Research Guide – Part 2D – Putting It All Together
Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church Research Guide – Part 2E – Research Guide Table of Contents
Capstone Article 1 – A Critique of the Three Official Options for Dissolution of Mars Hill Church
Capstone Article 2 – Some Words for Discernment for Those from Mars Hill
Capstone Article 3 – Answering the Original FAQ List About Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill
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RESEARCH GUIDE ~ TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTE: Blue headline titles are links to that post.
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PART 1. RESEARCH GUIDE TO MARK DRISCOLL’S PERSONAL ISSUES
Series Introduction
Formal Charges and Asking Key Questions
List of Official Charges
Questions to Answer
Resources for Tracking Mark Driscoll’s Character Issues
Summaries of key personal and/or organizational issues
Timelines and documents for issues going back to early 2000s
Some key first-person accounts – 1990s and early to mid-2000s
Resource sites with many first-person accounts and analysis
Announcement of August 24, 2014; background information; and interpretations
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PART 2. RESEARCH GUIDE TO MARS HILL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONAL/INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
PART 2A. FIVE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS AT “MARS HILL”
Purposes and Sources for Part 2
Other Notes
1. Five Types of Organizational Forms Found in “Mars Hill”
Orienting to Relevant Organization Types at “Mars Hill”
Type #1 – Tax-Exempt Organization (EO) ~ 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Type #2 – Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Type #3 – Charitable Remainder UniTrust (CRUT)
Type #4 – Revocable Living Trust
Type #5 – For-Profit Corporation
Concluding Thoughts and an Example for Homework
2. Mars Hill – Official Source Links and Summary Profiles
Washington State Agencies – Sources for Official Records
Reference List ~ Active Entities Related to Mars Hill Church and Mark Driscoll
Reference List ~ Inactive Entities Related to Mars Hill Church and Mark Driscoll
Type #1 – Non-Profit Corporations and 501(c)(3)
Type #2 – Limited Liability Companies ~ LLCs
Type #3 – Charitable Remainder UniTrust (CRUT)
Type #4 – Revocable Living Trusts
Entities Still Under Study
Inactive Entities
3. Mars Hill Church Compilation Reports and IRS Forms 990
Mars Hill Church Compilation Reports
Mars Hill Church IRS Forms 990
4. Other Research Sources on Mars Hill Organizations and Issues
Mars Hill Church / Mars Hill Fellowship ~ Nonprofit
On Mission LLC
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PART 2B. GENERAL BACKGROUND ON TOP LEGAL PROBLEMS FOR NON-PROFITS
The Process in The Next Two Posts
A Few Words of Introduction …
Step 1 – Review IRS Requirements
The Compliance Guide – Basic Prohibitions and Problems
The Nonprofit Complaint Form – Specific Problems and Points of Jeopardy
- CATEGORIES OF CHARGES.
- LIMITATIONS ON INVESTIGATIONS OF CHURCHES.
- IRS REVIEW PROCESS AND OPTIONS.
- WASHINGTON STATE AS AN EXAMPLE.
- CIVIL LAWSUITS.
- DISCLOSURE PROHIBITION.
General Reference – IRS Manual and Resources for Non-Profits
IRS Regulations – Potential Implications
Step 2 – Consider Top 10 Nonprofit Problems
Top 10 Legal Risks Article – Original Version
Top 10 Legal Risks Article – Notes-and-Tips Version
Top 10 Legal Risks – Potential Implications
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PART 2C. FIVE POTENTIAL LEGAL/ETHICAL PROBLEMS FOR MARS HILL CHURCH, MARK DRISCOLL, AND ITS OTHER LEADERS
Step 3 – Tutorials for Five Core Problems with Mars Hill Church
My Perspective: Frameworks for Research and Interpretation
Some Final Notes
Inurement
Key Points and Significance
Detailed Description and Examples
Additional Resources
Inurement – Potential Application to Mars Hill
- Total compensation package for Executive Elders, and whether any of those constitute “excessive compensation.”
- Compensation for Board of Advisors and Accountability
- The use of tax-exempt donations given to Mars Hill Church, to pay a $200,000+ contract with ResultSource Inc.
- The appearance of using church funds almost as the equivalent of a “loan” to cover the ResultSource Inc. contract.
Explore Research Articles on Mars Hill Church
Restricted/Designated Solicited Funds
Key Points and Significance
Detailed Description and Examples
- SOLICITED VERSUS UNSOLICITED DESIGNATIONS.
- DISCLAIMER AT TIME OF SOLICITATION.
- ILLEGALITY OF MISAPPROPRIATION OF RESTRICTED FUNDS.
- WHY MISAPPROPRIATION IS NOT FOUND IN A SPECIFIC IRS CODE.
Additional Resources
Restricted/Designated Solicited Funds – Potential Application to Mars Hill
- The Global Fund.
- The Jesus Festival.
Explore Research Articles on Mars Hill Church
Spoliation of Evidence
Key Points and Significance
Detailed Description and Examples
- RANGE OF LEGAL DEFINITIONS.
- STATE-BY-STATE STATUTES.
- WASHINGTON STATE.
Spoliation of Evidence – Potential Application to Mars Hill
- Email Deletion Policy, December 2013.
- Website Scrubbing.
Explore Research Articles on Mars Hill Church
Governance Policies and Practices
Key Points and Significance
Detailed Description and Examples
Additional Resources
Corporate Structure – Potential Application to Mars Hill
- Bylaw Changes in 2007 – Was it the Spiritual Equivalent of a “Hostile Takeover”?
Explore Research Articles on Mars Hill Church
Conflicts of Interest
Key Points and Significance
Detailed Description and Examples
Conflicts of Interest – Potential Application to Mars Hill
- Board Membership.
- Real Marriage Book, ResultSource Contract, and Mars Hill Church.
Concluding Thoughts and an Example for Homework
Explore Research Articles on Mars Hill Church
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PART 2D. PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER
Introductory Notes
Introducing the Compilation Charts and Graphics
Introduction: Sources for Research Guide, Part 2
- PRIMARY SOURCES/DOCUMENTS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVES.
- SECONDARY SOURCES/INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND ANALYSIS.
Putting Part 2 Together, and Creating Visual Versions
- WASHINGTON STATE.
- COLORADO.
Entities Involved with Mars Hill and/or Mark Driscoll
Washington State Public Information Compilation
Side-by-Side Comparison Charts
Detailed Version of Charts
Shortened Forms of Charts
Organizational System Graphics
1. Mars Hill Church Organizational System
- Image: Mars Hill Church Organizational System ~ Draft #2 ~ September 6, 2014
2. Mars Hill Church Campuses
- Image: Mars Hill Church Campuses ~ Draft #2 ~ September 6, 2014
3. Mark Driscoll and Related Personal Trusts, LLCs, etc.
- Image: Mark Driscoll and Related Trusts LLCs ~ Draft #2 ~ September 6, 2014
4. Following the Funds …
Key Associations and Contractual Partnerships
Non-Profit Associations
- ACTS29 NETWORK.
- EVANGELICAL COUNCIL FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY (ECFA).
- THE GOSPEL COALITION.
Contractual Partnerships
- RESULTSOURCE INC.
- TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS.
Concluding Thoughts
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PART 2E. RESEARCH GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PUBLIC REMEDIATION BY MARK DRISCOLL, OTHER MARS HILL LEADERS, AND MARS HILL CHURCH
To be added.
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PART 4. RESEARCH GUIDE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ISSUES RELATED TO “COMMENDERS” OF MARK DRISCOLL AND MARS HILL CHURCH
To be added.