Mark Driscoll Nailed for Plagiarism

From Janet Mefferd:

On Nov. 21, I conducted an interview with Mars Hill Church Pastor Mark Driscoll. During the course of the interview, I questioned Pastor Driscoll about two sections of his book, “A Call to Resurgence,” which neglected to contain any quotes, detailed footnotes or attribution for his reproduction of another scholar’s thoughts and insights. The passages in question are on pages 38-47 and pages 185-189 of Pastor Driscoll’s book. Those pages of material all borrow from the original material of Dr. Peter Jones, cited here in his books, “Gospel Truth and Pagan Lies” and “One or Two: Seeing a World of Difference.”

Today, we also revealed that Pastor Driscoll has lifted material from another source — word for word — in another of his books, “Trial: 8 Witnesses From 1&2 Peter.” This was a book published in 2009 by Mars Hill Church. On pages 7 and 8, Driscoll lifts and publishes, under his own name, an entire section from “1 Peter,” New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, Ed. D. A. Carson, 4th ed. (Downers Grove, Ill.: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994),p. 1370.

MATERIAL SCREENSHOTS HERE

On Nov. 23, Pastor Driscoll posted an article on his website, entitled “We Even Lie About Our Lying.” In that article, he writes the following: “Deception is where we twist the truth into a weapon for harm and destruction. Cheating in school. Half-truths on a resume. Falsifying reports at work. Double-billing clients. And, pastors are notorious for ‘borrowing’ material. All of us are guilty of deception to some degree. Its prevalence, however, does not change the fact that deception is a demonic, satanic issue.”http://marshill.com/2013/11/23/we-even-lie-about-our-lying

It is evident from this article and from his own sermons and website material that Pastor Driscoll understands the seriousness of committing plagiarism.

Scripture is clear that Christians are to be holy, exhibiting the highest standards of ethics, integrity and morality in obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is an even higher standard of conduct expected for Christian pastors, as Scripture clearly says they must be “above reproach.” (I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6) Plagiarism is a significant ethical breach that has ended the careers of academics and journalists alike, and especially in view of our calling before God to be upright and godly, Christians should not dismiss such charges lightly.

Since many listeners have asked for the evidence of our claims, we have compiled 27 pages of material for public investigation. It is our hope that people will examine the evidence and determine whether or not these charges of plagiarism are true.

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (I Peter 1:15-16)

For the glory of God,
Janet