What do Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, Meriam Ibrahim, and the KJV have in common? All were subjects of the most-read Gleanings posts of 2014.
Here are the top 20 stories that kept readers clicking:
20) How 727 Megachurches Spend Their Money
Leadership Network and Vanderbloemen find what determines pastor salaries (and who might be most underpaid).
19) Houston Mayor Drops Pastor Subpoenas
National debate over religious freedom prompts withdrawal.
18) C. J. Mahaney, Joshua Harris Resign from Gospel Coalition after SGM Abuse Conviction
Trial of former youth leader revives debate over alleged abuse coverup at Sovereign Grace Ministries.
17) James MacDonald Asks Forgiveness for Unbiblical Discipline of Harvest Bible Chapel Elders
Megachurch pastor confesses board slandered three elders as 'false messengers' last year.
16) Wheaton Students Protest 'Train Wreck Conversion' Speaker's Ex-Gay Testimony
Chapel message becomes latest debate over how evangelical colleges approach sexual identity.
15) Bill Gothard Breaks Silence on Harassment Claims by 30 Women
Popular seminar speaker: 'I have failed to live out some of the very things that I have taught.'
14) Popular Pastor Resigns after 'Moral Failure,' But Followers Still Want His Sermons
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale explains why it took down Bob Coy's teachings on marriage.
13) Bill Gothard Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Investigation
Family-focused speaker whose Wheaton course became a seminar phenomenon faces allegations from more than 30 women.
Government of Sudan: 'This case remains a legal issue and not a religious or a political one.'
11) Founder of World's Largest Megachurch Convicted of Embezzling $12 Million
Pastors defend character of South Korean pastor David Yonggi Cho, who bought stock from 'prodigal' son, evaded taxes.
10) Lecrae Brings Reformed Rap to Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show
Performance with The Roots was the first by a Christian rapper on late-night TV.
9) Conversion of Sweden's Most Influential Pastor Causes 'Pain and Disillusion'
Swedish Evangelical Alliance on Ulf Ekman: 'One should not underestimate the [impact] that this creates in many people today.'
8) Academy Disqualifies Joni Eareckson Tada's Oscar-Nominated Song from Christian Movie
Tada hopes all the attention will 'extend the message and impact' of song from 'Alone Yet Not Alone,' once one of five Oscar candidates for best original song.
7) Worship Songwriter Vicky Beeching Comes Out as Gay
The CCM worship world has its Jennifer Knapp moment.
6) The Most Popular and Fastest Growing Bible Translation Isn't What You Think It Is
NIV vs. KJV: Surveys and searches suggest the translation that most Americans are reading is actually not the bookstore bestseller.
5) Pope Francis Learns What Rick Warren, Russell Moore, N. T. Wright Think about Marriage
Warren turns Vatican conference into 'revivalist meeting,' while Moore explains why marriage crosses theological boundaries.
4) $600,000 Stolen from Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church Offering
Megachurch 'heartbroken' but working closely with police on investigation.
3) Tim Keller, Don Carson Explain Why Tullian Tchividjian Was Asked to Leave Gospel Coalition
Tchividjian apologizes that his public breakup with TGC has 'given the world the justification they're looking for to disbelieve the gospel.'
2) Confirmed: American's Pregnant Wife Faces Sudan Death Penalty for Not Renouncing Christian Faith
Convicted of adultery and apostasy, Sudanese doctor will give birth to her second child this month.
1) Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church
Mark Driscoll's Mars Hill controversies dominated the news in 2014. Each of these blogs ranked individually among CT's most-read Gleanings:
Mars Hill Defends How Mark Driscoll's 'Real Marriage' Became a Bestseller
'Unwise' but not 'uncommon or illegal,' $200,000 campaign helped marriage book briefly top New York Times list.Mark Driscoll Retracts Bestseller Book Status, Resets Life
'My angry-young-prophet days are over,' Seattle pastor tells Mars Hill Church. First step: He's quitting social media.Mark Driscoll Addresses Crude Comments Made Trolling as 'William Wallace II'
Mars Hill pastor says 14-year-old posts were 'plain wrong' and he 'remain[s] embarrassed,' but 'I have changed.'LifeWay Stops Selling Mark Driscoll's Books at 180 Christian Stores
Southern Baptist chain decides to 'assess the situation regarding his ministry.'Mark Driscoll Steps Down While Mars Hill Investigates Charges
Driscoll offers 8-step solution to followers: 'Current climate is not healthy for me or for this church.'Nine Current Mars Hill Pastors Tell Mark Driscoll To Step Down from All Ministry
Mars Hill responds Friday to leaked letter, says 'our team is Jesus, not one group of elders or another.'Goodbye, Mars Hill: Mark Driscoll's Multisite Empire Will Sell Properties and Dissolve
Come New Year's Day, 13 churches will go their separate ways or shut down.Acts 29 Removes Mars Hill, Asks Mark Driscoll To Step Down and Seek Help
Mars Hill cancels Resurgence conference. Paul Tripp says Driscoll's accountability model will never work. Board insists 'making real progress' on problems.
For comparison:
Top stories of 2013: Focus on the Family interviews Bono, Jon Acuff resigns from his "dream job" with Dave Ramsey, and "wrath of God" lyrics keep a popular worship song out of 10,000-plus churches.
Top stories of 2012: T.D. Jakes embraces the doctrine of the trinity, Joseph Kony trends on Twitter, and scientists wish people would stop calling Higgs boson the "God particle"
Top stories of 2009: Ray Boltz comes out, Matt Chandler reveals a mass on his frontal lobe, and translators announce the end of the TNIV
Top stories of 2008: An Anglican diocese threatens to suspend J.I. Packer, Donald Miller gives the benediction at the Democratic National Convention and the faith of 12 Beijing Olympians is highlighted
You can also check out the most-read posts 2014 for Christianity Today, Her.meneutics and Testimonies.
