A Megachurch Forcing Staff to Tithe Ten Percent (04.13.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week I’m joined by Kristofer Gardana, and we’re talking about a megachurch that is facing a lawsuit because they were forcing staff members to tithe 10% of their wages to the church. Not only does this story bring up the issue of tithing to the church, it also gives us an opportunity to discuss how the church conducts its “business” – whether as a business or as a local community of Christians.

STORY – Judah Smith’s Megachurch Faces Class-Action Lawsuit for Forcing Staff to Tithe 10% of Wages

“Pastor Judah Smith’s megachurch called ‘Churchome’ faces a class-action lawsuit for requiring staff to donate 10 percent of their wages back into the church.

“The suit claims the church’s policy violates two Washington state laws. The defendants named in the suit are Churchome, pastors Judah and Chelsea Smith, and CEO David Kroll. It was filed in King County Superior Court last week.

“‘Together, these Defendants have engaged in a systemic scheme of wage and hour abuse against their employees, including the requirement that all employees rebate ten percent of their gross earned wages back to Defendants in the form of tithes on a monthly basis or face actual or threatened pressure, discipline, or termination,’ the suit states.

“The suit alleges Judah Smith confirmed employees were ‘fired because they were not tithing.’ The law firm that filed the suit claims it has recorded audio of the videoconference in which Smith said this.

“‘I’ll be very honest: people have already been transitioned and moved on and fired because they were not tithing,’ Smith allegedly said in a videoconference with Churchome staff.

“Smith allegedly said ‘tithing’ is ‘more important than communion.’ He allegedly told employees to ‘sell their “possessions and belongings” rather than fail to rebate ten percent of their paychecks back to Churchome,’ the suit reads.

“One employee, the plaintiff, says she received a written reprimand for not giving 10 percent of her wages to the church.” (Not the Bee)