The aftermath of fallen Gateway pastor Robert Morris continues as the church’s leadership team transitions its ministries without him.
Pastor Robert Morris applauds during a roundtable discussion at Gateway Church Dallas Campus, June 11, 2020, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Elders of Gateway Church—a Texas megachurch claiming 100,000 worshippers per week—and overseers of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries said they are canceling all future radio and television broadcasts upon learning that Morris’ “moral failure” involved a minor.
“We are heartbroken and grief-stricken for this woman who has carried this burden of abuse for decades,” the letter says.
“Pastor Robert’s sin and his lack of transparency to the church’s elders and leadership has disqualified him from continuing in his role as senior pastor at Gateway Church and as leader of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries. As a result, all future radio and television broadcast ministry from Pastor Robert Morris Ministries has been cancelled.”
On June 18, Morris’ resigned as lead pastor of Gateway after allegations broke that he sexually abused an underage girl in the 1980s, starting when she was 12.
The alleged victim, Cindy Clemishire, now 54, shared her story on June 16 with WFAA Dallas, following an initial report by Wartburg Watch on June 14. Morris was 21 years old, married, and a pastor at Shady Grove Church when the alleged abuse occurred.
In an internal statement released to Gateway staff on June 14, Morris admits he was involved in “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady,” though he avoided referencing her age.
“It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” Morris said. “In March of 1987, this situation was brought to light, and it was confessed and repented of. I submitted myself to the elders of Shady Grove Church and the young lady’s father. They asked me to step out of ministry and receive counseling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area.”
In a statement to the congregation, Gateway’s elders claim that prior to the Wartburg Watch story, they did not know Morris’ moral failure involved the abuse of a minor. “Regrettably, prior to Friday, June 14, the current Elders did not have all the facts,” it said.
It is unclear how much Morris, who is worth an estimated $117 million, was being paid by Gateway Church prior to his resignation. The Internal Revenue Service only requires that churches report income from unrelated trade or businesses.
According to IRS 990 filings, Robert Morris’s compensation from the Robert Morris Evangelistic Association ranged from $100,000 to $350,000 annually between 2011 and 2022.
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After terminating all future radio and television broadcasts, Gateway Media Executive Director Lawrence Swicegood told The Christian Post Morris did not receive any kind of severance package from Gateway Church.
Gateway has also retained the Haynes and Boone law firm to conduct an independent review.
In response to the law firm’s recommendation, four Gateway leaders, including Morris’ son, temporarily stepped down from ministry at the Texas megachurch, citing a potential conflict of interest.
The other three elders were Kevin Grove, Steve Dulin, and Gayland Lawshe, whom Gateway called “men of integrity” who have served Gateway Church with “distinction.” It added they were not employed by Gateway Church in 2005 but were on the Board of Elders during the time period of 2005–2007.
Gateway said the three are “wholly committed” to doing what is best for the church.
Additionally, the letter said Haynes and Boone had recommended that Pastor James Morris, Robert Morris’ son, also take a temporary leave of absence. James Morris is Gateway’s newest elder and was not an elder between 2005 and 2007.
In 2007, Clemishire sought $50,000 in restitution from Morris to cover therapy bills she had accrued because of the abuse, but negotiations fell apart when Morris’s lawyer offered $25,000 with a nondisclosure agreement, which she denied. According to NBC News, Morris’ attorney at the time blamed Clemishire for “initiating” inappropriate behavior by entering Morris’ bedroom and getting in bed with him.
Clemishire has retained Boz Tchividjian, an attorney known for litigating hundreds of sexual abuse cases. The case has spurred Texas legislators to revisit the statute of limitations for sexual offenses against minors.
The unfolding of Morris’ story has spurred a wave of new lawsuits against Gateway, including one in which the mother of a minor claims her daughter was sexually assaulted by a member of the church. She says the church tried to cover it up. Gateway has denied the claims.
Since his resignation, several ministries have distanced themselves from Morris and/or Gateway Church, including: Daystar Television Network, James Robison Evangelistic Association (JREA) (now Life Outreach International), Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, The King’s University, and Church of the Highlands (COTH).
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on sex crimes? These stories are tough to read and sometimes even tougher to report, but we think they are vital to our mission to bring transparency, accountability, and credibility to the evangelical church. To read more about why and how we report these stories, read “Why MinistryWatch Reports On Sex Crimes.” You can find that story here.