The Trinity Church May Be Watching You

On April 28, David Bonner at the Wondering Eagle blog published a story about a family chased out of The Trinity Church because of a kiss shared by an adolescent boy and girl. The girl is one of Mark Driscoll’s daughter and the boy and his family attended The Trinity Church until Driscoll wanted the family evicted from the church.

I have been able to confirm the basic elements of this story with several sources. One source, Chad Freese, was until recently the  Director of Security at The Trinity Church. He told me that Driscoll confirmed to him the basic elements of the matter and was “pissed off” about the kiss.

In addition, Freese told me that Driscoll authorized the boy’s family members to be surveilled in the community and monitored on social media. Church funds were expended to hire security personnel to follow them and report back concerning their activities.

Freese recently left the church over this and other concerns.  His resignation comes amid the departure of several families and other staff members, some of whom are unable to speak due to non-disclosure agreements.

For more on Mark Driscoll’s elderless church, click this link.

 

23 thoughts on “The Trinity Church May Be Watching You”

  2. Surely it can’t be legal for Driscoll to behave like this towards that family?

    1. Based on what Warren wrote it is legal. Now the family might have grounds to sue (civil not criminal case). The only thing I’ve read so far that might be criminal is when Driscoll got the police involved. If Driscoll lied to the police to get them to investigate, that would be crossing the line. However, again, the family would have better luck in civil court.

      1. A lot of MenaGAWD in such positions first get the local authorities on their side. Whether by getting the authorities to join their church, recruiting off-duty cops for their security detail or becoming police chaplains themselves. All to move themselves and their church onto the “Cop” side of the “Code of Blue”, where Cop will always side with Cop against Not-Cop.

        “There are those who will say what we do is illegal. Before that can happen, make sure WE are the ones who define what is legal and what is not.”
        — L Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology

    1. You’re late to the Two Minutes Hate, Ian.
      I was making that comparison years ago, when I first heard of these “franchises” with nothing but a huge video screen in place of the pulpit (never mind altar) where Lead Pastor/Apostle would beam in his sermon to all his Franchises:
      “Big Brother’s Face Ten Meters Tall on All Telescreens.”

  6. I’m hoping at this point the family sues Driscoll and Trinity church for harassment.

    Further, that more people (besides Freese) choose to ignore those non-disclosure agreements and start speaking out.

      1. I very much doubt that. Driscoll strikes me as the type who would make you sign an NDA before even shaking your hand. I would find it hard to believe he didn’t make his director of security sign one.

        1. Kevin Smith (the Clerks guy) has a story about how he was invited to film at Prince’s compound. An NDA was part of the paperwork handed to him when he showed up. He simply didn’t sign it, but didn’t say anything. No one checked. They didn’t realize their mistake until much later, when he talked about the experience and they tried to threaten him with the NDA. Good times.

          There is a lesson here. If confronted with an NDA, and if you are willing to walk away if need be, discreetly folding up the piece of paper and sticking it in your pocket is not a bad strategy. It might not work, but then again it might. It depends on if the cult is competent enough to have someone going down a checklist on the paperwork. I’ll bet many are not.

        1. They could possibly sue for damages if someone violates the NDA. I suspect the NDA deliberately left out potential repercussions for violations so they could threaten whatever they wanted.

          I would be curious to see what the paid staff NDA looks like.

          1. Some of these Mighty MenaGAWD make sure ALL the high-priced law firms in their sphere of influence are on long-term standby retainers. This means they cannot take any case against the ManaGAWD or his church. Any victim would be limited to second- and third-string lawyers while the church has the best lawyers (and thus verdicts) money can buy.

  8. Good grief. What a circus. Surveilling a kid and his family like they are criminals simply because two teenagers were acting like …. normal teenagers. That is a sick level of control freakishness.

  9. The Driscoll Crime Syndicate at work. What an ongoing, train-wreck of a church Trinity must be. Just like Mars Hill. Some things sadly never change!

    1. I’m sure a lot of these churches work well enough for the average member who does little more than attend Sunday services and drops money in the collection plate. It’s only when you get more deeply involved and/or invested in a church like this do you run the risk of becoming a victim, and only then if you refuse to go along with those in authority. Even then, there will be many who benefit from the status quo and will happily ignore the warning signs.

      That’s how churches become cults. Give enough people enough of what they want and you’re free to run things the way you want.

    2. Sunk Cost Fallacy, the con man’s greatest friend.

      Get the suckers so emotionally invested in the scam that they CAN’T back out, because they would have to admit to themselves (and those around them) that they were suckered. To prevent that, they will instead fanatically defend the con man even as the takes them to the cleaners.

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