Just months after he was installed as teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church to replace the exiting Rob Bell, Shane Hipps has announced that he will be leaving his post because of a disagreement with the eldership over his duties. The Christian Post reported that Hipps’ position as teaching pastor was restructured after Bell left to include full-time teaching responsibilities. Hipps previously partnered with Bell in teaching the congregation and did not feel he could now accomplish full-time teaching and still “serve in his optimum capacity.”
“When I originally accepted the calling to Mars Hill, I was given no promise by God that things would work out in any specific way,” Hipps wrote on his blog. “Neither was I told why I was called here. Just that I was supposed to come. If nothing else, I was given the opportunity to serve as a leader in a time of historic transition in the life of this church. And while it is not what I envisioned, I am honored to have served here in this way.”
Hipps has not determined a final exit date and will continue to serve as teaching pastor until a replacement can be found. Before taking the position at Mars Hill, Hipps was a pastor at a Mennonite church. He will release a new book in October and has plans to write another one in the coming year.
