Former pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel was arrested in California last month following a car accident in a parking lot. The charges include felony assaults, and the incident is being characterized as road rage.
According to police, MacDonald was trying to parallel park his truck about 10:15 a.m. in the 900 block of Orange Avenue when he struck the woman’s car. The two exited their cars, and he “attacked” her, according to Coronado police.
The woman was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for serious injuries, police said.
Macdonald is charged in San Diego County with one felony count each of battery causing serious bodily injury and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
In 2019, James MacDonald was fired from Harvest Bible Chapel for litany of reasons. The reasons for his firing included allegations of authoritarian leadership, financial misconduct, and a pattern of behavior that was inconsistent with the church’s values and mission. These allegations were documented in a series of articles published by discernment bloggers, as well as by former members and staff of the church.
Specifically, MacDonald was accused of using church funds for personal expenses, including a private jet and a luxury vacation home in Florida. He was also accused of creating a culture of fear and intimidation within the church, and of mistreating staff and volunteers.
After an internal investigation, the church’s elders concluded that MacDonald had violated their trust and failed to live up to the biblical standards expected of a pastor. As a result, they decided to terminate his employment and sever all ties with him.
MacDonald has denied many of the allegations against him and has since launched a new ministry called Walk in the Word. However, the controversy surrounding his leadership of Harvest Bible Chapel has had a lasting impact on the church and its members.
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