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The controversial Southeast Portland branch of Washington's evangelical Mars Hill megachurch.

(The Oregonian)

Mars Hill, the embattled Washington state megachurch, has dismissed a pastor from its controversial Portland branch who was critical of the church's leadership.

Pastor Mark Dunford wrote that he was let go from the church after signing his name to a letter, jointly written by nine pastors, calling for the resignation of Mars Hill founder Mark Driscoll. The letter accused Driscoll of a "lack of transparency" and of creating a "culture of fear" and called for his resignation.

It's not the first controversy for the church or its charismatic founder. When Mars Hill opened its Portland branch in a stoic Sunnyside church in 2011, the choice raised eyebrows -- the conservative church seemed out of place in one of Portland's most liberal neighborhoods.

During the church's first sermon, demonstrators gathered to protest the church's stance on homosexuality. Driscoll was even criticized for his stance on yoga, which he once described as "demonic."

In August, the New York Times detailed the most recent criticisms lodged against Driscoll.

"He has been accused of ... plagiarizing, of inappropriately using church funds and of consolidating power to such a degree that it has become difficult for anyone to challenge or even question him."

Founded in 1996, Mars Hill Church grew to more than a dozen campuses in the Northwest and Southwest, including the Portland branch at 3210 S.E. Taylor St.

On Aug. 25, Mark Driscoll announced he was taking six weeks off from his church.

On Sunday, the Seattle Times reported that, after "18 years of explosive growth," Mars Hill would close or consolidate several Seattle-area church branches and lay off staff, with officials quoting financial pressures "in the wake of recent negative media attention."

-- Michael Russell