James MacDonald
James MacDonald, former Harvest Bible pastor, charged with felony assault and battery
By Bob Smietana — April 13, 2023
(RNS)— MacDonald, a once popular radio preacher who helped found what was one of Chicago’s largest churches, was fired in 2019 and deemed unfit for ministry. He has continued to guest preach at churches and run an online ministry.
James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel reach multimillion-dollar agreement
By Yonat Shimron — October 20, 2020
(RNS) — MacDonald, who was fired last year, will get $1.2 million and a vacant parcel of property adjacent to the church’s Crystal Lake Campus. He will also be allowed to run his Walk in the Word ministry independently.
James MacDonald returns to pulpit for first time since ouster from Harvest Bible Chapel
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 19, 2020
CHICAGO (RNS) — MacDonald is set to preach Sunday (March 22) at Calvary Chapel South Bay in California — albeit via livestream as many churches have moved services online to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Former Harvest Bible Chapel pastor James MacDonald sues radio host ‘Mancow’
By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 16, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — MacDonald is suing Chicago radio personality Erich ‘Mancow’ Muller for defamation after the radio host used his show to — in the host’s words — ‘bring down the cult of MacDonald.’
Harvest report pins ‘massive corporate governance failure’ on MacDonald
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 22, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — A law firm's review blamed the megachurch's ousted pastor's “powerful and subversive leadership style.”
James MacDonald ‘biblically disqualified’ for ministry, says Harvest Bible
By Bob Smietana — November 3, 2019
(RNS) — Harvest Bible Chapel says founder James MacDonald, who was fired as its pastor earlier this year, is no longer fit for ministry.
Evangelical financial watchdog faces scrutiny over backing of errant megachurch
By Bobby Ross Jr. — May 29, 2019
(RNS) — Critics say the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability ignored 'glaring improprieties' in Harvest Bible Chapel’s finances for way too long.
Harvest Bible Chapel apologizes as it installs new elder board
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 3, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The move comes as the Chicago-area megachurch transitions to a new board of elders this week and prepares to move forward under new leaders.
ECFA ousts Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 18, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, a Christian financial watchdog group, has terminated the membership of Harvest Bible Chapel.
ECFA suspends Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 18, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has suspended Harvest Bible Chapel, the Chicago-area megachurch that recently fired its founding pastor, James MacDonald, amid allegations of financial impropriety and domineering behavior.
Harvest announces executive committee will resign, more changes after MacDonald fired
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 19, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The Chicago-area megachurch announced that the entire executive committee of its elders will resign over the next few months — one of several changes coming after the ouster of its founding pastor, James MacDonald.
James MacDonald fired as Harvest Bible Chapel pastor
By Bob Smietana and Emily McFarlan Miller — February 13, 2019
(RNS) — Elders announced that the church founder was fired for 'engaging in conduct that the Elders believe is contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church.'
James MacDonald on ‘indefinite sabbatical’ from Harvest amid renewed criticism
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 16, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — The move comes as its elders announced a 'peacemaking process that seeks both reconciliation and change where needed' in an update posted Wednesday (Jan. 16) on the Harvest Bible Chapel website.
Harvest Bible Chapel drops lawsuit against bloggers, writer
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 8, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — Harvest Bible Chapel has announced it will drop a defamation lawsuit against two bloggers, their wives and a freelance reporter after a court ruled that documents subpoenaed in the case could be made public.
Harvest Bible Chapel sues bloggers for spreading ‘false information’
By Bobby Ross Jr. — November 8, 2018
(RNS) — Megachurch pastor James MacDonald and his congregation filed suit recently, claiming two bloggers and a freelance writer were spreading false information about the church.
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