The pastor of a Texas megachurch has resigned following accusations of sexual abuse dating back to the 1980s. Robert Morris, the senior pastor and founder of Gateway Church, stepped down after a woman, Cindy Clemishire, came forward with allegations that he had abused her starting when she was just 12 years old.
The church’s board of elders accepted Morris’s resignation and has initiated an independent review to fully understand the events that took place between 1982 and 1987. The allegations first surfaced on The Wartburg Watch, a religious watchdog blog, and were later shared with The Dallas Morning News.
Clemishire recounted that Morris, who was a traveling preacher at the time, had developed a close relationship with her family in Oklahoma. She stated that the abuse began in 1982 when Morris asked her to come to his room, where he proceeded to touch her inappropriately. The abuse allegedly continued for nearly five years.
In response to the allegations, Morris acknowledged that he had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young woman while in his early 20s. He described the encounters as involving kissing and petting, admitting that his actions were wrong and had occurred on multiple occasions over several years.
The church’s board expressed regret for not having full knowledge of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim prior to the allegations coming to light. They clarified that their previous understanding of Morris’s extramarital relationship did not involve the abuse of a 12-year-old child.
Gateway Church, located in the Dallas suburb of Southlake, was established by Morris in 2000 and has grown to host over 100,000 attendees across multiple locations. Morris, a prominent figure in the evangelical community, has been involved in political activities and was part of former President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisory board.
As the investigation into the allegations unfolds, Morris has not yet publicly commented on the situation. The resignation of such a high-profile pastor has sent shockwaves through the congregation and the community at large, raising questions about accountability and transparency within religious institutions. It serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing allegations of abuse with seriousness and compassion for the victims.