Pastor James MacDonald formally disqualified by Harvest Bible Chapel

Christian Today ^ | 11/06/2019 | Daniel Blake

[SeekAndFind]

Harvest Bible Chapel elders have formally disqualified their founding pastor, James MacDonald, from ministry, reasoning that his actions have not met Scriptural requirements to be an elder.

In a letter read to the congregation on Sunday, Elder Karl Jackson explains that even though the church elders were grateful to MacDonald for his three decades of ministry to the church, they nevertheless had to take action following revelations about his conduct.

The elders stated: "On February 12, 2019 James MacDonald's employment was terminated by our elder board as our Senior Pastor for not being 'above reproach' and for having a 'sinful pattern of inappropriate language, anger, and domineering behavior'. You may be wondering why we're coming to you now, months after James' dismissal. As we spent time with the congregation and visited all of our campuses, it became clear that there was confusion over the previous statements about our former Senior Pastor. We are here today to provide clarity to our church family and to those who listened to and supported Walk in the Word, a ministry of Harvest Bible Chapel."

In their statement, the elders referred to 1 Timothy 5:19-20, which speaks of not charging an elder "except on the evidence of two or three witnesses", and to rebuke those who persist in sinning in the presence of all, that others may stand in fear. The elders confirmed that they had "interviewed and documented first-hand evidence of these accusations seeking to validate or refute them."

The statement commented: "In this investigation, you can be assured of three things. (1) We have only considered accusations that included two or three witnesses. In fact, everything that is covered in this letter includes many more witnesses than the biblical requisite of two or three. (2) We have only considered evidence from first-hand witnesses. (3) We have listened to these witnesses in groups of two interviewers in order to protect us from an individual opinion swaying the outcome."

The elders also referred to scripture in 1 Timothy, Titus, and 1 Peter, to explain how MacDonald was found to not be above reproach, respectable, and upright, among other criteria set forth in the Bible passages.

They also noted a pattern of extravagant spending, whereby MacDonald had utilised church resources that resulted in his personal gain. Their statement read "We found that James had a pattern of improperly exercising his positional and spiritual authority over others to his own advantage", and that he had "made repeated efforts to profit himself beyond what was honorable."

The former pastor's "behavior and language indicated that he thought of himself more highly than he should as evidenced by his pattern of insulting, belittling, and verbally bullying others."

"The Bible does not teach that disqualification from ministry is permanent; however, with the scope of the damage caused by his behavior, James will not be able to serve again as an Elder or Pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel."

The elders concluded by asking the church to continue to pray for MacDonald and his wife, Kathy. "We have communicated to James that he needs to find a small group of godly brothers to restore him biblically in the spirit of gentleness," they said. "He needs an extended period of time away from ministry in order to focus on repentance and to seek relational reconciliation and restitution where it is possible."

They added, "We have no desire to shame James, but seek only to be in submission to God's Word. 1 Timothy 5 does not require us to reveal all the details and the witnesses of these accusations; our biblical responsibility is to accept or reject these accusations and issue this public rebuke."

MacDonald was forced out of the church earlier this year following remarks he made that were caught on a hot mic, which aired on a Chicago-area radio program.

On the audio footage, MacDonald was heard boasting about planting child pornography on Christianity Today CEO's Harold Smith's computer, as well as making remarks about journalist Julie Roys, joking that she had an affair with Christianity Today Editor-in-Chief Mark Galli. He also made a vulgar reference to Ed Stetzer, who is executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.

The church elders said they hoped MacDonald could be "restored" to ministry one day, but would first need to see clear evidence of repentance on his behalf - something that the former pastor has not shown to them yet.

They concluded, "There is much potential for God to be glorified through him in the coming years, and our hope is to witness that someday."

[SeekAndFind]

PASTOR JAMES MaCDONALD

WHO IS PASTOR JAMES MaCDONALD?

James S. MacDonald is a Canadian-born evangelical Christian pastor, Bible teacher, and author. He was senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and was the Bible teacher for the former broadcast ministry, Walk in the Word.

Founded in 1988, Harvest Bible Chapel grew from 18 people meeting in a local high school, to more than 13,000 attending on seven campuses in the Chicagoland area.

The congregation moved into a converted warehouse in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, in 1995. It added campuses in Elgin and Niles in 2004; Crystal Lake in 2007; the downtown Chicago Cathedral campus in 2010; Aurora in 2011; and Deerfield Road in 2012. The church was included in Outreach Magazine's "Top 100 Fastest Growing Churches in America" and "Top 100 Largest Churches in America.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Nice to see a hutch follow Scripture.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Autocorrect!

Hutch was meant to be church

[wbarmy]

MacDonald was heard boasting about planting child pornography on Christianity Today CEO's Harold Smith's computer

That right there is evil. In today's political climate, this is death. Just the rumor of that can destroy a man's marriage, family and career.

[SeekAndFind]

My question is this -— WHAT COULD HAVE INDUCED THIS PASTOR TO DO THIS?

[DariusBane]

This pastor, is not the first pastor to tend to tyrannical megalomaniac narcissistic behavior. I believe it comes with the job. Speaking in front of large groups, universal deference afforded the pastor for years. Finally the intimate nature of the counseling afforded to deferential people.

That’s my theory in any case.

[Gamecock]

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[daniel1212]

My question is this -— WHAT COULD HAVE INDUCED THIS PASTOR TO DO THIS?

But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 32:25)

[P-Marlowe]

If he planted child pornography then he possessed it before he planted it. He should be in prison.

I used to like this guy, but several years ago I concluded that he had gone off the rails. I don’t recall the reason. I think it might have been involvement in the Emerging Church Movement. I just concluded that he no longer was preaching Sound Doctrine. I haven’t listened to him or followed him for years.

[rawcatslyentist]

Mammon. AKA The love of money.

[SharpRightTurn]

“Nice to see a church follow Scripture.”

I agree. It is refreshing.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Having served as an elder in a church with a domineering pastor, I appreciate these elders for standing up to him on God’s behalf.

[Buckeye McFrog]

"In this investigation, you can be assured of three things. (1) We have only considered accusations that included two or three witnesses. In fact, everything that is covered in this letter includes many more witnesses than the biblical requisite of two or three. (2) We have only considered evidence from first-hand witnesses. (3) We have listened to these witnesses in groups of two interviewers in order to protect us from an individual opinion swaying the outcome."

Sounds like he got way more of a fair shake than Trump is getting from the House.

[vpintheak]

We had to do the same thing to our church a few years back. It isn’t easy, and there will always remain a lot of people who will blame the people doing the Biblical thing

[married21]

I had a friend/co-worker whose parents divorced after they moved to Israel. Her father was an orthodox rabbi. In New York, he was respected, but in Israel, he was idolized. It went to his head. He was impossible to live with— an egotistical jerk. My friend’s mother moved back to New York with the children.

[WASCWatch]

Pride and arrogance that he was untouchable.

[cloudmountain]

Oooo yuck.
You're correct but Oooo yuck.

[cloudmountain]

Pride and arrogance that he was untouchable.

PRIDE: the first (and the worst) of the seven deadly sins.

[Grammy]

"This pastor, is not the first pastor to tend to tyrannical megalomaniac narcissistic behavior. I believe it comes with the job. Speaking in front of large groups, universal deference afforded the pastor for years. Finally the intimate nature of the counseling afforded to deferential people."

We were kicked out of a church because we were not deferential to the pastor. We had been in leadership and a serious part of the building of the church as it grew to be quite large. When Mr G told him "no" about something he wanted done, we were kicked out. Mr G still feels nauseous at the thought of running in to him, and this happened at least 15 years ago!

[DariusBane]

The very best thing you can do for a pastor is treat him like everyone else. I too have been inside the boardroom of church. These vaunted pastors need to hear “no” earlt and often. Most importantly the deferential treatment afforded pastors does them no favors. Pastors quickly forget themselves and become annoited demigods.