Federal Judge Dismisses Class-Action Lawsuit Against Gateway Church Over Donations Citing First Amendment Protections

A federal judge recently dismissed a class-action lawsuit against Gateway Church, which was brought by four former members. The lawsuit alleged that the church, along with founding Pastor Robert Morris and former elder Steve Dulin, misappropriated millions of dollars in donations. The plaintiffs claimed that the church did not allocate the promised funds to its local, national, and global ministries, and that Morris had assured donors they would receive their money back.

Chief District Judge Amos Mazzant ruled that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, a First Amendment protection for churches, applied in this case. The doctrine prevents courts from adjudicating internal church matters, which often involve religious beliefs. Judge Mazzant stated that determining whether the church’s expenditures aligned with its charitable purposes would require the court to delve into internal church controversies and define the church’s mission and outreach efforts, which are deemed unfit for judicial review.

In his decision, Mazzant emphasized that evaluating the church’s use of funds would implicitly require the court to interpret terms like “global missions” and “Jewish ministry partners,” which are tied to religious beliefs. This interpretation would involve the court in matters of faith, thus falling under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine.

Responding to the court’s decision, Pastor Robert Morris expressed gratitude for the dismissal of the lawsuit. He assured that during his tenure as senior pastor for over two decades, all tithes were properly managed and used to advance the church’s mission. Morris highlighted that every donation was directed toward the church’s charitable purposes, including global missions and support for Jewish ministry partners.

Attorney Ronald Breaux, representing Gateway, also praised the court’s decision, emphasizing that the plaintiffs’ claims sought to question the church’s beliefs and decisions regarding its tithes. The dismissal underscores the legal boundaries in place to protect religious organizations from judicial interference in their internal matters. This case serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between accountability and the autonomy of religious institutions, echoing the biblical principle of justice and stewardship found in Proverbs 11:1.

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