Mark Darling removed from GCC national board?

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[Boggs]

I'm not sure when this happened but Mark Darling's name has been removed from the GCC Board page. Previously his name and bio were included noting that he was on leave.
http://gccweb.org/about/gcc-board/

His name remains on the Rock contact page with a "On Leave" note:
http://www.rockthechurch.com/contact

[Boggs]

Open questions:
- will Great Commission Churches release any information about why Mark Darling is no longer on the board?
- did Mark resign or was he removed from the board?

Ironic coincidence I discovered while searching for more information: the 2018 Pastor's Conference is being held at........Evergreen Bloomington.
http://www.gccpastorsconference.org/

[Badger]

Another question...  How long will Brent Knox's profile last on that same page?

[Badger]

I think we would have seen a statement from Hopler if he was fired.  It was probably easier and cheaper for GCC to let him resign.  If he did resign, do you think there were any non disclosure agreements or severance package included?

I think it is also the best move for Mark right now.  Leave now and try to save as much face and followers as possible.  Then go and start a new ministry for those who are okay with being "uncormfortable" and can handle the "hard truth."

[GodisFaithful]

When Jim McCotter left one of the rumors was that he had to leave in order to preserve the movement as he had become "a lightening rod" for all the criticism that was being lobbied against the group.

And it worked, in a way, except for some fall out here and there.

Sure enough, Jim M. is trying to muster up a following down in Colorado.

[margaret]

I heard it said that "you're only as sick as your secrets."

GCx has a LOT of secrets.

[Heidi]

When did they remove Mark from the board??
I hope that GCM as a national movement will not just remove Mark from the National Board with NO explanation.  Maybe an explanation is coming.  I think it should have been done together.  In my opinion this seems to be the pattern with GCM.  Wipe something away quietly. No public announcement, or repentance.  Just quietly remove his name from the Board.  

This is not truthful, or transparent.  

[DarthVader]

There has been no public communication at all - he was listed on the website one day as "on leave" (I think) gone from the website the next.  They probably sent something to GCC leadership internally but nothing externally.   My guess is that if you called them and asked, they'd say "he stepped down given the distraction of the ongoing investigation."  It would be interesting if someone would call and ask..maybe Lynn Newman or someone might know.

[Watching]

When did they remove Mark from the board??
I hope that GCM as a national movement will not just remove Mark from the National Board with NO explanation.  Maybe an explanation is coming.  I think it should have been done together.  In my opinion this seems to be the pattern with GCM.  Wipe something away quietly. No public announcement, or repentance.  Just quietly remove his name from the Board.  

This is not truthful, or transparent.  

Heidi - agreed.  Once again, it's very concerning the way things are being handled, apparently from the very top all the way down.  This kind of behavior makes me continue to question the integrity of the process, which will in turn determine my future membership.  Sad. 

[Huldah]

In my opinion this seems to be the pattern with GCM.  Wipe something away quietly. No public announcement, or repentance.  Just quietly remove his name from the Board.

These were my exact thoughts. When a problem is made public, GCC just quietly makes it disappear.

[OneOfMany]

I could go borrow a phone and call them. It would be helpful to know what their answer would be. 

[Huldah]

Someone alerted me that the GCC website has been updated.

Mark Darling informed the GCC Executive Committee on May 30th that he would like to step off the GCC Board of Trustees at this time. Mark's role with GCC was a volunteer position. On behalf of the Board, we are all very grateful to Mark for his service to this association throughout the years.

I already complained about GCC covering up information, so I'd be a hypocrite now if I complained about them suddenly adding this information. But the way it's worded really bothers me. If Mark really did abuse his position of trust with all those women, then thanking him for his service is so very, very wrong.

[Badger]

Someone alerted me that the GCC website has been updated.

Mark Darling informed the GCC Executive Committee on May 30th that he would like to step off the GCC Board of Trustees at this time. Mark's role with GCC was a volunteer position. On behalf of the Board, we are all very grateful to Mark for his service to this association throughout the years.

I already complained about GCC covering up information, so I'd be a hypocrite now if I complained about them suddenly adding this information. But the way it's worded really bothers me. If Mark really did abuse his position of trust with all those women, then thanking him for his service is so very, very wrong.

I agree Huldah, thanking a man who is stepping down at a time when he is under investigation for abuse is troublesome.  Considering that the national board members seldomly change and the timing of his resignation, it is unlikely that Mark would be resigning for any other reason.  The board's response seems disingenuous at best to me.  Although their lack of a fitting truthful statement does fit with the popular GCM adage, is it true, nice, and necessary.

[Boggs]

Huldah, I agree. It's better to have something acknowledging a removal/resignation than quietly removing a board member who resigned under these circumstances with no explanation.

Personally I would have removed him from the page and posted a press release or news article explaining the change. And I would have approached the communication quite differently. But I do want to acknowledge that they mentioned it since I pointed out that they hadn't as of last night.