James MacDonald, the former founder of Harvest Bible Chapel, has faced a series of allegations and controversies throughout his career as a pastor. Prior to his firing from the church in 2019, he was accused of financial misconduct, authoritarian behavior, and creating a culture of fear and intimidation at the church. Former church members have also come forward over the years with accusations of emotional and spiritual abuse.

MacDonald founded Harvest Bible Chapel in 1988, and it quickly grew to become one of the largest megachurches in the Chicago area. The investigation also found that MacDonald had created a culture of fear and intimidation at the church, and that he had been verbally abusive to staff members.

In 2019, accusations of financial misconduct against James MacDonald included the use of church funds for personal expenses, including expensive clothing, vehicles for friends and ministry donors, hunting and fishing trips, and a private investigator. These allegations were detailed in a report by Religion News Service and were based on a review of two accounts that had no oversight by the church itself. MacDonald was fired from Harvest Bible Chapel in 2019 amid these allegations.

The firing of MacDonald was not the first time that he had faced allegations of misconduct. In 2013, MacDonald was accused of firing three elders who had raised concerns about his leadership style. The elders claimed that MacDonald was a “bully” who had created a “culture of fear” at the church.

The allegations of financial misconduct and abusive behavior ultimately led to MacDonald’s firing from Harvest Bible Chapel in 2019. However, the controversy surrounding MacDonald did not end there. In 2020, MacDonald launched a new church called Walk in the Word, which sparked further criticism from former members of Harvest Bible Chapel.

Now, MacDonald is facing even more serious allegations. According to an article in the Christian Post in April 2023, police in Illinois are currently investigating claims that MacDonald attempted to hire a hitman to commit murder. The allegations were first reported by independent journalist Julie Roys, who cited Chicago radio personality Mancow Muller and Emmanuel “Manny” Bucur, a deacon at HBC, as the sources.

Muller alleges that MacDonald asked him twice in 2018 if he knew a hitman he could hire. Bucur alleged that in 2015, while on a motorcycle trip to the Creation Museum in Kentucky, MacDonald asked him to kill his former son-in-law and offered to help dispose of the body. Bucur says he did not report MacDonald at the time because he was angry about his daughter allegedly being hurt, and he chalked up the proposal as a momentary lapse in judgment.

Both Muller and Bucur have filed reports with the police, and Muller says he is terrified of MacDonald, who he believes is “dangerous” and may be targeting him. Solicitation of murder is a Class X felony in Illinois, which carries a 15-30 year prison sentence.

MacDonald has not yet publicly responded to the allegations, and it is not clear whether he has hired an attorney. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have not released any further details about the case.

The new allegations against James MacDonald have once again cast a spotlight on his controversial career as a pastor. While he has denied many of the previous allegations against him, the accusations of financial misconduct, abusive behavior, and now solicitation of murder have raised serious questions about his spiritual state and mindset, let alone his fitness to lead a church. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what further revelations may come to light.