Longtime leader of the Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel James MacDonald has been ousted as senior pastor in light of unsavory remarks he made on a hot mic that were aired on local media Tuesday.
In an elders update posted on the church website Wednesday, the HBC elders stated "with great sadness" that they had determined that MacDonald should be removed from his role at the church. This action, they explained, came about following "highly inappropriate recorded comments" MacDonald had made that were played on the air of a local radio program Tuesday morning.
"Given that and other conduct under consideration, in accordance with the procedures in our Bylaws, Pastor MacDonald was removed as Senior Pastor and as an Elder of the church for engaging in conduct that the Elders believe is contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church. His employment has been terminated from Harvest Bible Chapel, effective today, February 12, 2019," the elder update reads.
"This decision was made with heavy hearts and much time spent in earnest prayer, followed by input from various trusted outside advisors."
MacDonald's firing comes after the publication of a lengthy investigative piece by Julie Roys in World magazine. Her article, "Hard Times at Harvest," which took eight months to complete, documented alleged financial malfeasance, abusive dynamics within the church from the top-down — particularly MacDonald's temper — and a culture of fear and intimidation.
This is what happens when people dismiss discerners. People like me have been reporting on him for seven years. It also shows that the foundational problem isn't just who the "senior pastor" is, as they come and go every 3-6 years or so, but that the real problem are all the elders who circle the wagon around their buddy, up and against the pesky sheep who actually see the problem and voice their legitimate concerns.This also shows that the elders of that church are merely shepherding after the fact, ie, under compulsion when forced to. That they feel the need to go to "outside sources" for advise proves their ineptness to lead their own church, much less deal with their own leaders.That they wanted to give the condemned MacDonald just a time out (neatly called "sabbatical") and still defended him a few months ago in December:
"The HBC elders issued statements Tuesday of their own, defending MacDonald, the elder board and their actions. They believe Roys is attacking the elder board, has an "unhealthy fixation" with Harvest, and is trying to show that MacDonald does not submit to Elder authority and has no accountability, something they insist is "false." ~ source
Now they are forced to fire this guy. But it's a PR move, not out of care for the people under their care.
1Pe 5:2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
1Ti 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
1Ti 5:20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning.
1Ti 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
It is they who kept this wicked man afloat, aiding and abetting him as he continue to sin upon sin against multiple people, both publicly and "privately". They violated 1Tim. 5 and continued in the sin of partiality toward one of their own. But they didn't treat others with the same partiality. These men think and behave as if God doesn't see nor care what is done "privately". They trifle with the Holy One of Israel.
1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
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