Tainan, Taiwan — December 5, 2025
A dispute over church donations has ended in court, with the Tainan District Court ruling that a congregant cannot demand the return of more than NT$130,000 in tithes after being removed from a church LINE group chat.
The plaintiff, a church member identified as Mr. Zhou, began donating to the church at the end of 2023, contributing over NT$130,000 as part of his regular tithing. He claimed that in October, the senior pastor unexpectedly removed him and his wife from the church’s main LINE group. Zhou said he felt publicly humiliated and believed the action was equivalent to forcing him out of the congregation.
Zhou argued that tithing is tied to the church’s pastoral responsibilities. He claimed the church has an obligation to care for its members and provide transparency in its financial accounts, and that his donations constituted a “gift with obligations.” Because he felt the church failed in this pastoral duty, he sought to revoke his tithing and asked the court to order the church to return the funds.
The church, however, maintained that tithes are voluntary religious offerings — an expression of faith and personal conviction. Church representatives explained that while financial records are kept and can be provided internally, the act of tithing itself does not create a legal obligation or contractual relationship between the donor and the church.
After reviewing donation records, messages, and testimony, the Tainan District Court concluded that the evidence only showed that Zhou had voluntarily contributed to a public-welfare religious purpose. The court found no proof that the church had agreed to specific pastoral duties or detailed financial disclosures as a condition for receiving the donations.
The ruling also noted that biblical teachings cited by Zhou could not serve as legal grounds for rescinding the donations, as the Bible is not considered part of a contractual agreement under civil law. The court ultimately upheld a previous decision to dismiss the case, ruling that the donations cannot be reclaimed. The judgment is final and may not be appealed further.
Tithing, rooted in Old Testament tradition, involves giving a portion of one’s income to support religious work. In Taiwan, such contributions are generally treated as voluntary religious donations. Legal experts note that unless there is a written agreement outlining specific conditions or obligations, donors typically cannot demand refunds from religious organizations.