IE Megachurch Pastor Blasted For Anti-Islamic Sermon After Midterm Election

CHINO HILLS, CA — A Chino Hills megachurch pastor is facing criticism from Muslim civil rights advocates after questioning the loyalty of Muslim Americans elected to public office following the results of last week's historic midterm elections.

Jack Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, said in sermons that the growing number of Muslim Americans serving in government poses a threat to the United States. Muslims cannot pledge allegiance to the Constitution under Islamic law, he claimed.

In one sermon on video, Hibbs described the Nov. 3 election as the end of the nation's constitutional republic.

"The republic ended on Tuesday. It will prove to be a historic election because we the people decided to embrace no longer a constitutional republic. We the public embraced something that is unthinkable," Hibbs said.

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He also criticized Christians who did not vote, saying he wanted to "grab them by the beard, throw them out into the street like Nehemiah did and beat them up."

Hibbs also pointed to a report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations identifying 255 Muslim Americans serving in elected office nationwide. Hibbs claimed they had all been elected on Nov. 3 and could not swear allegiance to the Constitution.

However, the figure of 255 came from organization's August 2026 directory, which documented Muslim elected officials already serving across 26 states. In a separate report released Nov. 5, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said at least 97 Muslim candidates had won or been reelected in the midterm elections, with additional races still being counted.

Calvary Chapel Chino Hills did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations Greater Los Angeles Area office condemned Hibbs' remarks in a statement released on Tuesday.

"We strongly condemn these hateful and irresponsible remarks targeting the Muslim community and questioning their participation in American civic life," Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said.

"Pastor Hibbs is contributing to a broader climate of fear and prejudice, encouraging his congregation to view their Muslim neighbors with suspicion and hostility. Such rhetoric is rooted in bigotry and perpetuates the false notion that Muslims are somehow less American or less deserving of a voice in our democracy."

Ayloush added that Muslims are taught to respect people of all faiths, including honoring Jesus and other prophets, and emphasized the importance of love, mercy and tolerance.

"It is deeply troubling to hear a religious leader promote intolerance and attempt to undermine the relationships we have worked to build across faith communities," he added.

New York Times columnist David French shared a video of Hibbs' sermon on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and criticized Hibbs' remarks, describing them as "deeply dishonest, extremely bigoted, and just plain dumb."

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Hibbs has been politically active in the Chino Valley for years. In 2024, watchdog organizations accused him of using his pulpit to endorse Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey.

Some of Calvary Chapel's members have been elected to the Chino Valley Unified School District board.

The Chino Valley Unified School District has waded into several politically divisive controversies in the past, including policies involving transgender students, and allowing books to be removed from school libraries.