MacDonald 'Biblically Disqualified' From Ministry: Harvest Bible

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — The Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel announced in a statement Sunday that founding pastor James S. MacDonald has been "biblically disqualified" from the position of Elder of the megachurch. Since MacDonald's Feb. 12 termination as Senior Pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, Elders have investigated charges against him and concluded that he had "a substantial pattern of sinful behavior" in several areas including inappropriate language, domineering behavior and anger, according to the statement. In Sunday's statement, the group said MacDonald will not be able to serve again as an Elder or Pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel.

The group also stated there has been a full transition to a new Elder board since MacDonald's February firing.

"We have interviewed and documented first-hand evidence of these accusations seeking to validate or refute them," the statement read. "In this investigation, you can be assured of these three things: (1) We have only considered accusations that included two or three witnesses. In fact, all 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."

However, the Elders added in the statement that MacDonald could return to ministry in the future if he goes through "a restoration process."

"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," the statement read. "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."

Related:

• Evangelical Group Suspends Accreditation for Harvest Bible Chapel
• Harvest Bible Chapel Founder's Sons Resign Days After James MacDonald is Fired
• Harvest Bible Chapel Fires Founder, Sr. Pastor James MacDonald
• Mancow Muller Calls For Harvest Bible's MacDonald To 'Come Clean'
• Watching Mancow's In-Studio Struggle To Out Mega-Church Pastor

Harvest Bible Chapel was founded in Rolling Meadows in 1988, and has eight campuses in the Chicagoland area and in Florida.

"Though this is painful, we desire this rebuke to be loving and we remain open to meeting with James," the Elders added in the statement. "Please don’t ever stop praying for James and Kathy."

>> Read the full statement