Gateway Reduces Number of Services, Hires Executive Pastor
Two more resignations at New Life Church related to knowledge of Morris’ alleged abuse
The Dallas-area Gateway megachurch is reducing the number of services at its campuses each weekend.
Gateway Church (photo via Gateway website) / Insert of new Executive Pastor Nic Lesmeister
According to a Gateway spokesperson, it will be cutting Saturday services at all of its campuses, except its flagship Southlake campus.
This comes as part of the continued fallout after allegations sexual abuse surfaced against its founding pastor Robert Morris. Cindy Clemishire says Morris began abusing her in the 1980s when she was just 12 years old. He is currently facing a related indictment in Oklahoma.
“As we continue to strengthen our relationship with the Gateway Church family and community, we’re making a shift at several of our DFW campuses by hosting our church services on Sundays only,” a church spokesperson told WFAA.
“This adjustment will allow us to minister to and love our congregation well while prioritizing the needs of our individual campus communities. Throughout all our locations, our commitment to loving God and loving people remains unchanged,” the spokesperson added.
Gateway lists nine Texas campuses on its website and one in Wyoming.
In June, MinistryWatch reported that Gateway was planning to lay off some church staff because of financial challenges due to reduced tithing income.
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An evaluation of the church’s finances revealed “it has become clear that restructuring our staffing is necessary, requiring the tough but necessary step of staff reduction,” church elders wrote in the email, according to the Fort Worth Report.
In spite of budget challenges, Gateway has named a new executive pastor — Nic Lesmeister — who has been on staff since 2020 and led the church’s Gateway Center for Israel and outreach ministries.
Lesmeister’s appointment was announced after a nationwide search.
According to the job description, the executive pastor is a senior pastor position and “is responsible for providing spiritual guidance, mentoring other pastors, and overseeing various ministries within the church.” He will also work closely with the newly named senior pastor Daniel Floyd “to ensure the overall vision and mission of the church are fulfilled.”
“This is an important and joyful moment, as we’re promoting one of our own,” Elder Tra Willbanks said in a news release. “Someone who has already been instrumental over the past year in building a culture of restoration, healing, and unity in our church.”
New Life Church Asks for Two More Resignations
In related news, two more leaders at New Life Church in Colorado Springs have been asked to resign, according to reporting by the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Lance Coles, the executive pastor of adult discipleship, and Brian Newberg, chief financial officer, both were part of the search committee that hired Brady Boyd to lead the church in 2007.
Boyd resigned his position in June after it became clear he misled the congregation regarding his knowledge of Morris’s alleged abuse of Clemishire when he was on staff at Gateway.
According to the church, no other pastors who currently work at New Life knew about the situation involving Morris, outside of Coles and Newberg.
To find more MinistryWatch articles about the turmoil involving Gateway Church and Robert Morris, click here.
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