Posted on 10/13/2024 7:49:10 PM PDT by Morgana
SOUTHLAKE — New developments have emerged in the class-action lawsuit filed against Southlake-based Gateway Church last week.
The lawsuit filed Friday demands Gateway refund donations, known as tithes, made by church members.
Lawyers in the class-action suit report significantly more Gateway members are now seeking refunds of their tithes.
"This case is about two things. It's about fraud and breach of contract," said Micha Dortch, lead legal counsel for the class-action suit. "To not let us see the books and to bring this new defense of 'it's not legal to return the money,' it's just absurd."
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of significant issues faced by the North Texas megachurch in 2024. The video player is currently playing an ad.
Former senior pastor Robert Morris was accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s, leading to his resignation in June. Following his departure, several prominent members of Gateway Church, including his son and daughter-in-law, also stepped down. Executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow resigned due to an unspecified "moral issue." Additionally, the church is contending with new lawsuits, including one involving allegations of child sex abuse by a youth group member.
"Some of you have raised concerns about Gateway's financials and stewardship," Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks said at a church service on Saturday.
In the sermon, Willbanks announced the church hired a new agency to look into its financial ethics — the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Willbanks also claimed the church has audited its records for years.
"Gateway has had independently audited financial statements since 2005," he announced.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
They can demand all they want. They are not going to get.
Donations are not membership dues, where you can indeed demand a refund if an organization does not fulfill a contract, but fall under the category of "gift".
It would have to be an outright scam, (they say they are going to plant trees with the money, they instead took a trip to Aruba) with no moneys going to what they said before you would have any chance and even that is questionable.
My tithes are between the Lord and I. The church is just the vehicle through which I offer my tithe. If I believed the church was improperly using my tithes, I would change churches.
I see your point but at the same time I’m glad these people are doing this as it’s holding this church accountable.
My mom listened to Pastor Morris’s t.v. Broadcast a lot on Sundays when I was visiting her. He preached on tithing more than almost any minister I ever heard.
I knew he was a huckster.
Usually when their sermon is 90% “give me your money” you know they are a grifter.
>> My tithes are between the Lord and I. The church is just the vehicle through which I offer my tithe. If I believed the church was improperly using my tithes, I would change churches.
^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^
So Morgana, have you ever in your career here at FR ever posted about a church that you consider worthy? In your Christian walk, have you ever found one? Or do you consider digging up the dirt to be your Christian mission?
Religion is free... I donate to charities not the Vatican.
Donations are not membership dues, where you can indeed demand a refund if an organization does not fulfill a contract, but fall under the category of "gift".
You are probably correct here.
But if the church did return tithes, the IRS might get very interested if they had claimed those donations to the church as charitable donations on their taxes.
I, for one, am glad to see Miss Morgana exposing the grifters, perverts, and frauds who masquerade as Christian ministers whilst abusing We the Faithful. Anyone who wants to hide their misconduct is, IMO, a bit suspect ...
How very John 17 Christian of you! ❤️✝️
But amidst your innuendo, neither of you found the voice to answer my legitimate request for a Christian tribe (denomination) and/or outpost (congregation) that you deem worthy of the Lamb’s Sacrifice. Can you help? Dare you help?
We all (well, those of use who pay attention) learned long ago that covering up for the grifters, perverts, and frauds who masquerade as Christian ministers whilst abusing We the Faithful simply leads to more grifting, more perversion, more fraud, and more abuse.
Anyone who objects to exposing them is (perhaps inadvertently) part of the problem.
Don’t be part of the problem.
Still crickets on what is righteous... except that you are.
Okay, fairasee. Whatever. I’ll pray for your eyesight. Have a blessed day.
I reject the premise of your question, so it gets no answer.
Grifters, perverts, frauds, and abusers can either be exposed, expelled, and prosecuted ... or they can be given aid and comfort.
I know you don’t want to give aid and comfort to the enemy ... nobody on FR would want to do THAT ... so your purpose here is a mystery.
The church is a hospital for the healing and forgiveness of repentant sinners. It is NOT to be a playground for grifters, perverts, frauds, and abusers.
I’ll pray for your soul.
Thank you, brother. I appreciate that. And I, in turn, will pray for your soul.
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