Comments on: James MacDonald to Take Sabbatical to Focus on Peacemaking

By: Adam Dolhanyk

Adam Dolhanyk — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:49:32 +0000

As with most things, it’ll be about the money.

if the MHC story is any lesson, the question will be this:

1. Does James get to keep control of the narrative. Driscoll gave up Twitter and other social media to appease big donors and senior leaders, which meant that when the narrative turned against him he couldn’t respond.

2. While on “sabbatical”, is James still the guy in charge?

3. Where’s the money? MHC wasn’t sustainable as an organization because they had overextended with high overhead relative to income. This is why campuses were able to sustain as independent churches because they didn’t have to maintain the costs of the central office and constant expansion.

If HBC is documented to have a high debt, but to my knowledge no one know their reserves, so they may be able to whether the storm. James also hasn’t had as high of a profile since the heady days of the Elephant room and TGC leadership, so the target outside of Chicago, might not be as big as it was for Driscoll in 2014.

4. How long the board will continue to act in preservation of the leader vs. preservation of the organization. In MHC’s case, the board and the leader were pretty much the same thing. In the Willow Creek case, the board eventually made the shift but was slow in doing so, far too slow.

By: donjonesmd

donjonesmd — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:50:42 +0000

Unfortunately, looks like another bungled response. If going to be a time of reflection, then stay out of preaching and take time to reflect. GO silent for awhile. Take time to give evidence to true deeds of repentance. I continue to be more and more disappointed with response of leaders of HBC and JMD. Just read one of the links to the Instagram. Naples leadership is excited about this?! The skeptic in me looks at that and thinks the Naples leadership has little voice in all of this. So he had already been planning to be in Naples, FL before taking his “Sabbatical”? If that time line is correct, that is just another spin on the whole thing — so sad, especially when church leadership needs to be attempting to rebuild trust rather than spin events.

By: donjonesmd

donjonesmd — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:52:37 +0000

Is there any contact info for the HBC elders or leadership? Thanks

By: Priscilla Frye

Priscilla Frye — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 21:34:18 +0000

In reply to Priscilla Frye. Couldn't get the image upload previously

By: Priscilla Frye

Priscilla Frye — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 21:29:53 +0000

In reply to Bene D.

Here’s a screenshot of the IG Harvest Bible Chapel Naples post from Sept 2018 announcing James MacDonald would be in residence January to March of EACH YEAR! Naples is by far the most wealthy area of Southwest Florida.

We have many branches of mega churches down here in Southwest Florida. I think they gravitate to our area vs the Tampa Bay area or Orlando because we have a lot more retirees here with some wealth put away and they are probably more gullible.

Edit: I could not get the image upload, will try again later