Pastor Mark Driscoll responds
Mark Driscoll responded to critics
here is an excerpt:
As I have re-read my blog, I can see how some may have misconstrued what I said. Because I was writing to male pastors, I spoke in such a way that was not as clear as it could have been regarding what is true of Christian marriage in general. Therefore, I hope that this post is more clarifying.
My heart remains deeply burdened for the many young pastors who either do not enter ministry with a history of sexual purity and/or are struggling to maintain it in marriage and ministry. Pastors must continually strive for loving and satisfying intimacy on all levels with our spouse and to finish our race well many miles down the road of life. If you are a young pastor or Christian leader reading this blog who knows deep down that you are not in the best of places with your spouse and fidelity to them, I would simply urge you to seek wise counsel right away. Do not settle for anything less than what God intends for your marriage because too much is at stake to take any risks.
Lastly, I want to thank my critics, especially the most vocal. They
have helped me to understand that more than just pastors are following
what I am saying. Subsequently, they are helping me to learn how to
more clearly articulate what I am trying to communicate. In that way,
they have been of great assistance to me as I seek to pastor most
effectively for Jesus. I have waited some time to post this
clarification because in times past I have gotten angry and responded
with a tone that was defensive, prideful, and not helpful. I am
learning that critics in some ways are also friends because there is
often some truth in what they are pointing out. Subsequently, God is
using my critics to teach me and is asking me to be willing to listen.

Comments
Hope you're well!
Subsequently, God is using my critics to teach me and is asking me to be willing to listen.
I hope he is sincere, although nothing he says here excuses the remarks he made about (paraphrasing) pastors' wives letting themselves go. That was not a clarification issue; that was an incredibly insensitive and clueless statement. I'm also glad he waited, because anything he said in anger could have been used to destroy what others are trying to do to move the church forward.