James MacDonald

“No tithes, offerings or severance pay have gone to Harvest Bible Chapel’s former senior pastor, and he won’t see any in the future, according to the latest update from the popular megachurch.” - Chicago Tribune

“Citing a tip published by Dee Parsons at The Wartburg Watch, independent journalist Julie Roys, confirmed in a report Tuesday that MacDonald gifted Stetzer a just under $13,000 1971 VW Beetle last April. Stetzer said he had no idea MacDonald used money from church donations to pay for the gift.” - Christian Post

“Admitting they had ‘made mistakes,’ members of the elder board spoke to Harvest Bible Chapel’s congregation and promised big changes are coming to the Chicago area megachurch. ….a whole lot of people are going to be resigning from positions of leadership—including all five members of the executive committee of the elder board.” - Church Leaders

“After LifeWay pulls James MacDonald’s Bible studies, Christians consider if and when a leader’s teachings remain edifying after a scandal.” - Christianity Today

“Elders announced the move in an update posted to the church’s website on Wednesday (Feb. 13).” - RNS

The elders of Harvest Bible Chapel announced Wednesday that Pastor James MacDonald would take an “indefinite sabbatical” from preaching and leadership at the Chicago megachurch while it works to reconcile with past critics.

“James MacDonald’s church takes unfavorable ruling as “God’s direction” to abandon legal effort against Julie Roys and Elephant’s Debt blog.” - CToday

Conference president Danny Wood: MacDonald … “contacted me personally to say he is stepping away from all outside speaking engagements for a season.” - BPNews

[no] evidence of reforms at Harvest, and instead … repeated stories of mistreatment. The five other signers of the 2013 letter likewise say they’ve seen no evidence that the character issues involving MacDonald have been resolved. I’ve also interviewed more than two dozen former staff, elders, and members of Harvest, including some who have left the church within the past two years.