. Thank you for taking the stand that you did. And he said, you know, James Macdonald had requested that I come out to a meeting and he had requested Mike Dunwoody and one other elder Mark Hopwood was a longtime elder from Elgin that we would all join them for a meeting at seven oclock on that Thursday night. Julie. He was in Walk in the Word studios apparently, and said some really vile things, including, you know, joking about putting child porn on a computer, joking about me having an affair with a Christianity Today editor, which has no basis in fact whatsoeve. And I got the text. So what happened? Why did you think it was important to own not just who James McDonald was, and not just point the finger at him. I had asked one of the one of the people on the reconciliation team earlier that day, I said, Im going to go into a meeting with James McDonald and I need I need to have the letters I need to know. June 17, 2021 James MacDonald, the former megachurch pastor who's been embroiled in scandal and controversy for several years, is lashing out against independent journalist Julie Roys. #JRgossipslut James MacDonald (@jamesmacdonald) June 15, 2021 We dont know how much the top people at Harvest make. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! And Stetzer is a huge, huge part of the crooked machine. We had a group of Pastors who interviewed him and he gave us free tickets to his Straight Up conference. Thats about my attitude lately. John MacArthur, for example, has preached, Scripture does not automatically permit divorce in the case of a physically abusive husband. Instead, MacArthur urges abused wives not to provoke any circumstances that will make your husband become violent. But if he continues to be abusive, The wife should remove herself from danger by fleeing the home if necessary.. Had they reached all the elders at this point? And at this point, the letters, what had happened with the letters? We knew what we knew what we were going to do. No One Knows. I wasnt looking forward to that. And that was a big question. Because your article seemed to conflate all these things. Thanks for a thoughtful, educated, godly response. They should go to the reconciliation team. Like this had been a months long drawn out battle. These were people bringing charges against an elder. And so I was pulling into the garage, and I knew I knew, as soon as I pulled in the garage, you know, I was, I was gonna go drive up to whatever floor and go to the meeting. And most of them, a number of them, Ill say, have not read any of these letters. Yes, yeah, there were a number of people. Then pray for all of us. He was in the many meetings leading up to McDonalds termination. Pastor James MacDonald. Theres a number of narratives out there right now about how these letters came to the elder board. So were in the meeting. And the things that were done to them after they left. So he did that. I hope you have a great day and God bless. This wasnt anything else. Yet another American megachurch is immersed in accusations of wrongdoings. Not all he said was false because then it would have been obvious to any discerning Christian. How come church leaders and male congregants are always beating up the women with this particular Scripture but no one ever (to my knowledge) addresses the husbands responsibility to love their wives as Christ loved the church? The headlines really heated up after the December 2018 publication of "Hard Times at Harvest," a lengthy expos by investigative journalist Julie Roys. But I had all I had all the letters by that point. The ministry is growing, we should expect to be attacked. Ostensibly, one of the assets MacDonald obtained in the arbitration settlement is the list of email addresses of former Walk in the Word supporters. Divorce is a civil remedy that is necessary when there is abuse, physical, emotional, financial, or even when people are incompatible. I am so sorry to report that he has not changed. There were six people who were brave enough, vulnerable enough to write letters. And at the end of the night, we looked around the room, we had talked through it. I also dont believe girls (or boys) have to like certain colors or behave and dress in certain ways to be real girls/boys. Roys detailed evidence from former Harvest elders, employees, and members that . MacDonald notes in the email that about a month after the settlement, he was able to write to recipients of the email. If the church wants to regulate marriage, let them say you cant get remarried in their church if you are already married in the eyes of the church. And I had already written back to Executive Committee Chairman at the time and said, we cannot say unconditional support. Harvest didnt know what it looked like to not have him as a senior pastor. One, its impossible, and were gonna get killed, were gonna get slaughtered on that. To donate, click here. This is the passage. (Proverbs 27:12). But he starts arguing process. My spouse and I and many others went to college with James in the eighties in Canada. And I looked at it, and I could not read the whole letter in one sitting. And there was a group and we had two prayer meetings of people who had been former elders, staff people who have gone on the record with me. We can put it up on the Harvest site, and Ill read it to the congregation on Saturday night. And in those letters like Jacob Ross, who was the bodyguard of James McDonald. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. I remember that too. Julie Roys lives for her anti gospel, anti authority, man hating bias - even partnering with shock jocks like Mancow Muller or worse. You know, they asked him as an executive committee member and the elder board chairman. I totally get the emotion that you must have felt because I felt it, too. And they said, I remember Dan telling me that that James slammed his fist on the table. Yet he notes that only a small number of former listeners responded positively. Others, who stumbled by the public deception sent many hateful words.. This isnt phrased to have constructive conversation. Mine havent offered any blessings, but at least they havent eaten my extremities while I sleep. Ill write a statement. So, Dan, thank you for that. He also advertised an upcoming GrampCampan overnight retreat providing training and tools for grandparents to connect with their grandkids. And when I read that, I just shook my head. Jennifer The fruit which was souls coming to Christ was enormous. I dont understand how folks in a church can continue to contribute to the church knowing that a significant portion of their contributions have gone / are going to line someones pocket in this dispute. She also previously hosted a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, called Up for Debate, and has worked as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate. And this still disheartens me, because the people of Harvest, who we were supposed to be overseeing at that point, we were silent on that weekend, because we couldnt come to an agreement about what we would do. When I entered my UCC church-sponsored college, I figured out why. This is this is one of the biggest things elders could do. It was a battle in the natural but more than that, there was a spiritual battle going on then, and I think its still going on now. Very sad situation for James and the elders as well. So those letters, and I just, I had to thank you, Dan, because those letters may have never reached the full elder board had you not push the issue. Literally more than two dozen people. It was a large elder board. Its funny how things turn out, and this situation isnt wrapped up, yet. 2011 NIV. Like wow! It seems we are being punished for the acts of someone who was our spiritual leader and was misleading us in a very unqualified way. And so she sent me a letter before it went to the elder board. And there were a number in the room who were looking at I Timothy 5, thats for those who persistence sin rebuke them in the presence of all so that the rest may stand in fear. No, its not how it went down, Julie. It wasnt an argument. Divorce sadly acknowledges the truth. But again, reading those letters, and it does have a different impact when you read the actual letter than someone summarizes it. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Prominent evangelical scholar, author, and missiologist, Ed Stetzer, is leaving his position as executive director of Wheaton Colleges The Billy Graham Center, Despite being disqualified from public ministry by his former megachurch for a pattern of sinful behavior, James MacDonald is preaching at Generation, An Arizona megachurch has hired Landon MacDonald as a lead pastor, despite allegations MacDonald bullied and abused those in his care while. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Well, because Scripture says you do it in front of everybody. And again, this was on the churchs dime. Then, referencing his arbitration with Harvest, in which he won about $2.5 million, along with all digital and physical assets of Walk in the Word, MacDonald writes: When we won the arbitration and regained access to our teaching ministry, it was in shambleslike a model plane that had flown so beautifully, being returned with report of a crash, when in reality an envious child had dashed it against the rocks just out of sight.. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. . Youre, youre characterizing it correctly. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. But somewhere around 2008-10 his preaching changed a bit. What is the point of bringing this pastors political views into the story? What really caused Harvest Bible Chapel to fire James MacDonald? Longtime leader of the Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel James MacDonald has been ousted as senior pastor in light of unsavory remarks he made on a hot mic that were aired on local media Tuesday. She said a survey of 20,000 women for her book, The Great Sex Rescue, found that when men make the final decision in the marriage, even if they consult with their wife first, chances of divorce increases 7.4 times . On that Haiti trip. However, you did sign a letter of unconditional support. And there were several of us saying, you know, looking at I Timothy 5, looking at Hebrews 13:17, which tells us that elders are going to give an account. Gary, Not long ago, I noticed that James MacDonald is still latched onto evangelical watchdog blogger Julie Roys as his number-one. I say this as a Christian who was taken to task by Christian doctors who told me of all sorts of cases that are not as the woman loved murdering her baby as many pro-life conservatives want everyone to believe. And what happened in all the backroom meetings, private conversations, and phone calls leading up to that fateful event? And his email says, it seems we are being targeted. Hi. I think, how is it that we had the word of God sitting in front of us, which is pretty clear about what to do. So Rick was, in effect, the Assistant senior pastor. Im gonna put it up on my Facebook page, on my blog. MacDonald is a successful American religious entrepreneur. And I actually requested the letter from Sandy, because Sandy had shared some things with us about what she had seen. There would be no Roys Report without Judson University. My strength is dried up, as by the heat of summer. I called him. Its not being nice, polite, or inoffensive. While we were doing that, I was in my office at home. According to an independent audit of Harvest Bible Chapel, disgraced celebrity pastor, James MacDonald, siphoned off millions in church funds to support his lavish lifestyle. So who is he talking about? I see that as just simply implicating a larger group and a conspiracy to use church money for stuff that was never intended. Patient, kind, not self-seeking. Today the guys share their conversation with journalist, author, and speaker Julie Roys. And what happened and all the backroom meetings, private conversations and phone calls leading up to that fateful event? And I was still on the elder board, we shrunk the elder board that next week down to nine men. Former Pastor Accused of Rape Resigns from Churchome After TRR Investigation; Church Official Makes False Claims, Arkansas Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of Sexual Assault, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser, Days-long Revival Sweeping Asbury University in Kentucky, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Covered Up Pastors Sexual Abuse, Witnesses Say, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthurs Church Supported Convicted Child Abuser & Pedophile, Records Show, Dante Bowe Posts, Then Removes, Apology for Behavior Causing Split with Maverick City Music, Matt Chandler Steps Aside After Admitting Inappropriate Online Relationship, John MacArthur Pulls Out of Ligonier Conference, Pastor Resigns From Houston Megachurch After Admitting Affair, Televangelist Creflo Dollar Renounces Past Teachings on Tithing, But Questions Persist. . Im Julie Roys. Tragically . Pastor Platforming James MacDonald Says Strong Women with Weak Husbands Become 'Toxic' By Julie Roys December 22, 2022 5:39 pm CST 26 Comments Pastor Ryan Visconti of Generation Church in Mesa, Arizona, is attracting attention for his partnership with James MacDonald and provocative social media posts. But according to a recent email by MacDonald, he's a victim of defamation by an "envious child"and needs your money "to rebuild." "Tragically . I just know I got them. But he said even the way said that he said, we got out of that meeting, we looked at each other. Yeah, I got sued, but the case got dropped. Just saying a lot of vile things. And in case you dont know, Dan Marquardt was one of three former elders at Harvest, who stood up to James McDonald in 2013, and was excommunicated as a result. A strong woman with a weak husband will become a toxic woman. But it was at this point that I started to reach out to Harvest and really seeking their comment on some of the things that I had heard. Is that how it went down? Yeah. One is, I dont want people to give up on the church. It wasnt an easy thing to do. But like you do what that says and the people responded as you hope Christians do. If this passage defines what a strong husband looks like, I think most of the issues take care of themselves. I knew that there were hundreds of people, probably more, that were hurt that all this stuff happened. In that same meeting that same Thursday night, he argued, the elders shouldnt have the letters. Ron Duitsman, Chairman of the Board, who agreed to fire James, now appears to be out there, saying that after James got fired, that the elders were were spinning what happened in a false way. Hi. Ive already told you there was consensus from board. Dan currently is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Front Seat Leadership. So thats, thats February 5, 2019. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. And while youre at it, Id really appreciate it if youd help us spread the word about the podcast by leaving a review. But the other letters, my understanding is they came in, and youre in a meeting with the other elders. The Roys Report has over 78 articles dedicated to MacDonald and/or HBC, many of which were written by Roys. And we were at an absolute stalemate. However, MacDonald texted me an invitation to appear with him in a public forum to answer for the many many lies Ive reportedly written about him. To donate, James MacDonald Ministries June 13, 2021 Email, Ed Stetzer Named Dean of Biola Universitys Talbot School of Theology, James MacDonald Preaching at ARC Megachurch in Arizona, Landon MacDonald to Lead Arizona Megachurch Despite Allegations of Abuse When at Harvest Bible Chapel, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. And this is when everything really started happening. And there is one thing we know about Satan. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/898.htm bagad (treachery aka abuse) is used FIVE times in Malachi 2:10-16!!! I encourage you to talk to Christian doctors who are fearful of extreme under no circumstances legislation that now forces molested preteens to give birth, and makes it difficult to treat a septic And many who have followed this story know what James McDonald has done. His sermons changed from adoration of the text to little postcard messages. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Do you expect ANYONE to say yes to your question. You know, theres, I would say, round two, but I my guess is there were lots of small rounds in there, of people being silenced and bringing charges and, and the board looking the other way. But some of these people, for 10 years or more, had been maligned. Marquardt is a Buick GMC dealership where you can expect honesty, integrity and transparency. I at least heard of it from somebody by that point. What I especially find troubling is this: How come nobody has talked about the false doctrines that MacDonald has been preaching??? This was months months later. And I just felt this incredible weight. And learn how MacDonald almost escaped being exposedand how six scathing letters that revealed MacDonalds true nature almost failed to reach the elder board. 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