Harvest Bible Chapel Fires Founder, Sr. Pastor James MacDonald

ROLLING MEADOWS — Harvest Bible Chapel announced Wednesday the firing of senior pastor and founding member, Dr. James MacDonald. According to a statement posted by church elders, a recent development regarding conduct that led Elders to take immediate action Tuesday against MacDonald. The Tuesday firing of the church network's leader didn't come without much review, discussion and reflection, according to church Elders.

"That timeline accelerated, when on Tuesday morning highly inappropriate recorded comments made by Pastor MacDonald were given to media and reported," Elders said in a statement on the Harvest Bible Chapel website. "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."

The group added that input from trusted outside advisors also helped the make the decision, which they also said was made with heavy hearts.

Related: Mancow Muller Calls For Harvest Bible's MacDonald To 'Come Clean'

"A more detailed communication regarding next steps for our church will take place in our weekend services," the statement said. We sincerely thank you for your prayers, your support, and your patience as we work together to restore a trust in leadership, a humility to surrender to biblical authority, and a firm resolve to move forward as a church family.

>> Entire statement from the Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel

The decision comes less than a month after WLS radio personality Mancow Muller made comments in a column published by the Daily Herald. Patch reported in the column, Muller explained his close relationship with the popular evangelical minister who was at the time on leave from the church, thought the circumstances of MacDonald's departure weren't clear. Members have criticized the church for financial irregularities, including steep debt. In January, Harvest Bible Chapel dropped a defamation lawsuit against bloggers and other critics after it became clear that documents would be subpoenaed and made public as part of the case.

Harvest Bible Chapel was founded in Rolling Meadows in 1988, and has eight campuses in the Chicagoland area and in Florida. About 12,000 people attend services.

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