Robert Morris, founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Texas, resigned on Tuesday following allegations of sexual abuse involving a minor. Cindy Clemishire accused Morris of abusing her multiple times between 1982 and 1987, starting when she was 12.
The church’s board of elders, expressing heartbreak and outrage, announced they had been unaware of the full extent of the misconduct until recently. They had only known about an extramarital relationship Morris had referred to in the past without details about the victim’s age. The board has hired a law firm to investigate the allegations.
Morris acknowledged “inappropriate sexual behavior” with Clemishire during his early 20s but described it as “kissing and petting” without intercourse. He claimed to have confessed and sought counseling in 1987, returning to ministry with approval from Shady Grove Church leaders.
Clemishire, now 54, criticized the church for allowing Morris to resign rather than terminating him. She revealed that she had informed church officials about the abuse in 2005 and 2007, disputing the board’s claim of ignorance.
Morris’s leadership was removed from the church’s website, and his son, James, is now listed as the senior leader. Gateway Church, founded in 2000, has grown to over 100,000 members across multiple locations. Morris was also known for his involvement in an unofficial faith advisory group during the Trump administration.
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