(CP) – The elders of Harvest Bible Church have formally disqualified their former and founding pastor, James MacDonald, from ministry Sunday, emphasizing his actions do not meet Scriptural requirements to be an elder.
In a letter that was read to the congregation Sunday, Elder Karl Jackson noted that though the elders were grateful for MacDonald’s three decades of ministry to the church, they nevertheless had to make a statement with some difficult truths about his conduct. “On February 12, 2019, James MacDonald’s employment was terminated by our elder board as our Senior Pastor for not being ‘above reproach’ and for having a ‘sinful pattern of inappropriate language, anger, and domineering behavior,'” the elders stated.
“You may be wondering why we’re coming to you now, months after James’ dismissal. As we spent time with the congregation and visited all of our campuses, it became clear that there was confusion over the previous statements about our former Senior Pastor. We are here today to provide clarity to our church family and to those who listened to and supported Walk in the Word, a ministry of Harvest Bible Chapel.” Citing 1 Timothy 5:19-20 — which speaks of not charging an elder “except on the evidence of two or three witnesses” and to rebuke those who persist in sinning the presence of all. READ MORE
