Wow! I got to this pastor when I started watching TBN. It's sad that this should happen. What went wrong?
James MacDonald, pastor of the megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC), was fired from the church after a radio show host aired the first of several inflammatory audio clips. In the clips, a man who is presumed to be MacDonald makes crude comments about Christianity Today, reporters and even discusses a plan to plant child pornography on someone's computer.
According to HBC:
I've also now heard the complete 50 minutes of audio that Mancow referenced, and heard the clips in context, and they are credible. I've also reached out to MacDonald for comment, and he did not respond with either a confirmation or denial.
Mancow said he plans to air the entire 50-minute conversation on an upcoming podcast. I will save some of my comments about the recording until then.
But the clips Mancow played today are breathtaking. On them, the man who's presumably MacDonald jokes about me having an affair with Mark Galli, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today (CT). That's not funny. It's disgusting. Galli and I have never had anything but a professional relationship, and it's repulsive that anyone—a pastor, no less—would make a joke about that.
MacDonald also makes vulgar references to Harold Smith and Ed Stetzer, CT contributing editor and the executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. He also allegedly insults CT, calling it a "... pipe-organ protecting, musty, mild smell of urine, blue-hair Methodist loving, mainline dying, women preacher championing, emerging church adoring, almost good with all gays and closet Palestine promoting Christianity" magazine.
However, especially disconcerting to me is an excerpt where MacDonald alleges that I and "another person who used to attend (Harvest)" approached the houses of people who were victims in a DCFS investigation and shouted at them about a cover-up at Harvest. He alleges that I'm "off the rails" and predicts that in 30 days, I'm going to be "riding a tricycle with a midget on (my) shoulders."
Roys previously reported that MacDonald took money from church coffers.
CN
James MacDonald, pastor of the megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC), was fired from the church after a radio show host aired the first of several inflammatory audio clips. In the clips, a man who is presumed to be MacDonald makes crude comments about Christianity Today, reporters and even discusses a plan to plant child pornography on someone's computer.
According to HBC:
Following a lengthy season of review, reflection, and prayerful discussion, the Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel had determined that Pastor MacDonald should be removed from his role of senior pastor. That timeline accelerated when on Tuesday morning, highly inappropriate recorded comments made by Pastor MacDonald were given to media and reported. 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, Feb. 12, 2019. This decision was made with heavy hearts and much time spent in earnest prayer, followed by input from various trusted outside advisers.Julie Roys, a Chicago-area reporter and watchdog blogger, offered more information:
I've also now heard the complete 50 minutes of audio that Mancow referenced, and heard the clips in context, and they are credible. I've also reached out to MacDonald for comment, and he did not respond with either a confirmation or denial.
Mancow said he plans to air the entire 50-minute conversation on an upcoming podcast. I will save some of my comments about the recording until then.
But the clips Mancow played today are breathtaking. On them, the man who's presumably MacDonald jokes about me having an affair with Mark Galli, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today (CT). That's not funny. It's disgusting. Galli and I have never had anything but a professional relationship, and it's repulsive that anyone—a pastor, no less—would make a joke about that.
MacDonald also makes vulgar references to Harold Smith and Ed Stetzer, CT contributing editor and the executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. He also allegedly insults CT, calling it a "... pipe-organ protecting, musty, mild smell of urine, blue-hair Methodist loving, mainline dying, women preacher championing, emerging church adoring, almost good with all gays and closet Palestine promoting Christianity" magazine.
However, especially disconcerting to me is an excerpt where MacDonald alleges that I and "another person who used to attend (Harvest)" approached the houses of people who were victims in a DCFS investigation and shouted at them about a cover-up at Harvest. He alleges that I'm "off the rails" and predicts that in 30 days, I'm going to be "riding a tricycle with a midget on (my) shoulders."
Roys previously reported that MacDonald took money from church coffers.
CN
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