Members of David Platt's McLean Bible Church have filed a lawsuit against the church, claiming that leadership violated the church's constitution and used church dollars for controversial financial purchases.
Six people are part of the lawsuit, including both members and former members. The group has also reportedly filed other complaints against the church in recent years.
A statement from church leadership released to The Christian Post said that the church was aware of the lawsuit.
"We are aware of yet another recent lawsuit filed by this same small group, which again seeks to 'make changes to the church and its leadership,'" the statement from church leaders reads. "And just as before, we will respond to the suit as a unified church committed to our future direction."
Church officials also said that prior complaints had been dismissed.
"[W]e are grieved that our brothers and sisters are still choosing to file lawsuits rather than meet with us, our prayer is that we are soon nearing a day where this kind of thing is behind us for good," the statement said.
The complaint says that elders inappropriately transferred at least $375,000 to the Southern Baptist Convention and other SBC entities even though the Church's constitution says the Church cannot join any denomination.
Previously, Platt served as the SBC's International Mission Board president.
"Upon information and belief, the Church made additional transfers of large amounts of funds to SBC entities and agencies, in amounts specifically unknown to Plaintiffs at this time," the complaint said, according to Capstone Report.
"This misuse of Plaintiffs' charitable donations, in violation of the Constitution, is a breach of the contract between the Church and Plaintiffs. The only remedy is to fully disclose this information to the membership of the Church so that they can review the information and make, as needed, any necessary changes to the Church and its leadership."
In 2021, the executive director for the SBC Executive Committee wrote in a letter to the church's board that McLean was a "partnering" church, not a member of the SBC.
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Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
