When Tithes Meet the Courts: Understanding Leach v. Gateway Church and the First Amendment Shield
Can a church member sue their church if tithes and offerings are allocated differently than promised in a sermon or on a website? Can a donor demand a refund based on a pastor’s pulpit pledge? A ruling from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas offers answers to these questions. In Katherine Leach et al. v. Gateway Church, Robert Morris, and Steve Dulin (Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-885, decided June 23, 2026), District Judge Amos L. Mazzant dismissed a class-action lawsuit brought by church members seeking refunds of their tithes. Grounding its decision in the constitutional First Amendment and recent Fifth Circuit precedent, the court reaffirmed a foundational doctrine of American law: civil courts cannot step inside the sanctuary to police how churches allocate donated tithes or evaluate statements made from the pulpit.
