The lead pastor of Mars Hill's Bellevue campus announced on Sunday that he is stepping down.

According to Patheos, Thomas Hurst announced his resignation during the 10:30am service on Sunday, explaining to the congregation that he wanted to take a break from ministry with immediate effect.

However, he and his wife apparently still want to remain members of the church, which is actively looking for a new lead pastor.

His resignation came just days after a major announcement from the Mars Hill leadership on the dissolution of the current organisation.

The radical change in church model means that the satellite campuses now have to decide whether they want to become independent churches, merge with other Mars Hill campuses, or close their doors for good.

Patheos quotes Hurst as saying he is "tired" and will therefore not be the man leading the church during this transition phase.

Mars Hill's decision to dissolve the existing church organisation follows the departure of lead pastor Mark Driscoll over sustained accusations of bullying and intimidation.

Announcing the end of Mars Hill's multi-site structure, executive elder Dave Bruskas said the leadership had decided the "best future for each of our existing local churches is for them to become autonomous self-governed entities".

The decision about individual campuses will be left to their pastors and elder teams to make, but the aim is to have the new set-up in place by 1 January 2015.

"The existing Mars Hill Church organisation will be dissolved," said Bruskas.

"Ultimately, the success of this plan, and the future viability of each of these new local churches rest solely on all of us continuing to be faithful in supporting Jesus' mission through our attendance and continued giving.

"Mars Hill Church has never been about a building or even an organisation. Mars Hill is a people on mission with Jesus, and that singular focus continues as these newly independent churches are launched. It's still all about Jesus."