Texas Megachurch Pastor Resigns Amid Allegations of Sexual Abuse Dating Back to the 1980s

The founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Texas, Robert Morris, has resigned from his position after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced. The allegations date back to the 1980s, where a woman, Cindy Clemishire, came forward stating that she was sexually abused by Morris on multiple occasions, starting when she was 12 years old. The abuse reportedly continued for about four-and-a-half years.

The board of elders at Gateway Church has confirmed the acceptance of Morris' resignation and has taken steps to conduct an independent review of the events that occurred between 1982 and 1987. The purpose of the review is to ensure a complete understanding of the situation.

Response from Robert Morris

When asked about the allegations, Morris admitted to inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a statement to The Christian Post. He clarified that the behavior involved kissing and petting, but not intercourse. He acknowledged that the actions were wrong and had occurred on several occasions over the span of a few years.

The board of elders stated that prior to the recent revelations, they were not fully aware of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age at the time and the duration of the abuse. They emphasized that the understanding of an "extramarital relationship" that Morris had previously discussed did not account for the abuse of a 12-year-old child.

Church Background

Gateway Church, established by Morris in 2000, is located in the Dallas suburb of Southlake and has multiple locations in the area with a significant weekly attendance of over 100,000 people. Morris, known for his political involvement, was part of former President Donald Trump's evangelical advisory board and hosted Trump on the church's Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy.