Former members of Gateway Church seek to revive tithe lawsuit dismissed on ecclesiastical abstention doctrine grounds

Former members of Gateway Church, based in Southlake, Texas, are seeking to revive their lawsuit concerning the church’s handling of millions of dollars in tithe contributions. The case was initially dismissed by a federal judge in June, citing the First Amendment’s ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which generally prevents courts from adjudicating internal religious matters.
The original legal action alleged that church leaders, including the then-lead pastor Robert Morris, led the congregation to believe donations would be used for specific purposes like international missionary work and support for Jewish ministry partners, but failed to appropriate the funds as promised. Plaintiffs claimed a portion of the money designated for these uses might have been diverted improperly.
Attorney Bill Mateja, representing Morris, indicated confidence in the initial dismissal but acknowledged the church’s stance on stewardship. Morris, who resigned from the church in June 2024 after pleading guilty to related charges from decades-old sexual abuse allegations involving a minor, has publicly stated that tithe monies were “faithfully and properly stewarded” during his tenure, asserting no misdirection occurred.
Despite Morris’s assertions, the former members are pressing their case through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which is expected to review the lower court’s decision. The appeal’s outcome remains pending.

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