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I am not sure what to make of this - Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas is being sued for failure to direct contributions to global missions as promised.
julieroys.com
The Gateway leadership was slime, but I am not aware of a body of case law that supports the principle that church members can successfully sue their congregation over an issue of this type. If the donors are able to get their money back, presumably they would have to file amended tax returns with the IRS, if they previously deducted their contributions. Maybe it's better to keep the deduction and move on.
Gateway Church is where Pastor Robert Morris recently resigned after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with a "young lady" who turned out to have been only 12 years old when Morris started molesting her. And, of course, it was claimed that the relationship was "consensual" and that the girl was "flirtatious." Don't all sex pervert preachers make those kinds of claims?
www.nbcnews.com
Gateway members should leave this wretched church and stop donating, but I don't know if it is practical to try to get their money back. This episode should be a lesson to all of us - if you want to support a ministry, send your money to them directly - don't give through your church. It's okay - John R. Rice wrote an entire booklet against the concept of "storehouse tithing."
Some preachers, IFB and non-IFB, take the position that "We can do whatever we want with your tithe money, we don't have to account for the money, and if you have a problem with that, then don't give to our church." A valid response to such a statement is to stop giving to that kind of church and preacher.
Christian Law Association (wrongly, in my opinion) takes the position that churches do not have any obligation to honor designations of gifts. They can divert the designated gift to any other purpose they want. The model church constitution of Christian Law Association states that "We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made." (Article 2, Statement of Faith and Covenant, U). Anyone who has a problem with that should not join a church which uses a CLA model constitution.
BREAKING: Lawsuit Accuses Gateway Church of Committing Fraud with Members’ Tithe Money
A group of members of Gateway Church have filed proposed class action lawsuit, alleging church committed to charitable giving it did not do.
julieroys.com
The Gateway leadership was slime, but I am not aware of a body of case law that supports the principle that church members can successfully sue their congregation over an issue of this type. If the donors are able to get their money back, presumably they would have to file amended tax returns with the IRS, if they previously deducted their contributions. Maybe it's better to keep the deduction and move on.
Gateway Church is where Pastor Robert Morris recently resigned after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with a "young lady" who turned out to have been only 12 years old when Morris started molesting her. And, of course, it was claimed that the relationship was "consensual" and that the girl was "flirtatious." Don't all sex pervert preachers make those kinds of claims?
Robert Morris warned sex abuse accuser she could be prosecuted for seeking compensation, emails show
Emails from 2005 released by Cindy Clemishire show how megachurch pastor Robert Morris responded after she asked for “restitution” for sex abuse she says began when she was 12.
www.nbcnews.com
Gateway members should leave this wretched church and stop donating, but I don't know if it is practical to try to get their money back. This episode should be a lesson to all of us - if you want to support a ministry, send your money to them directly - don't give through your church. It's okay - John R. Rice wrote an entire booklet against the concept of "storehouse tithing."
Some preachers, IFB and non-IFB, take the position that "We can do whatever we want with your tithe money, we don't have to account for the money, and if you have a problem with that, then don't give to our church." A valid response to such a statement is to stop giving to that kind of church and preacher.
Christian Law Association (wrongly, in my opinion) takes the position that churches do not have any obligation to honor designations of gifts. They can divert the designated gift to any other purpose they want. The model church constitution of Christian Law Association states that "We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made." (Article 2, Statement of Faith and Covenant, U). Anyone who has a problem with that should not join a church which uses a CLA model constitution.
