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.
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.