(CP) The Board of Elders of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, announced Tuesday that the megachurch’s founder, Robert Morris, has resigned, they usually have retained a law firm to research a claim made by a lady who alleges Morris sexually abused her over multiple years within the Eighties starting when she was 12.
“Today, June 18, the Board of Elders of Gateway Church accepted the resignation of Robert Morris, the senior pastor. In addition, the Board has retained the law firm of Haynes & Boone, LLP, to conduct an independent, thorough, and skilled review of the report of past abuse to make sure we’ve got an entire understanding of the events from 1982-1987,” the board said in an announcement to The Christian Post.
Morris’ resignation comes after the girl, 54-year-old grandmother Cindy Clemishire, claimed that the megachurch pastor began sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, and continued with the abuse for four-and-a-half years after that.
Without naming Clemishire, Morris admitted to CP in an earlier statement that he had engaged in “inappropriate sexual behaviour with a young lady” while he was a pastor in his early 20s.
“When I used to be in my early twenties, I used to be involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a house where I used to be staying. It was kissing and petting and never intercourse, however it was mistaken. This behavior happened on several occasions over the subsequent few years,” Morris said.
“In March of 1987, this example was dropped at 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 point, I even have walked in purity and accountability on this area,” Morris added.
Elders at Gateway Church also told CP that Morris was transparent with them about his past they usually believed he had been biblically restored to ministry. In their latest statement, nevertheless, the elders said Morris didn’t reveal that he had abused a 12 yr old.
“Regretfully, prior to Friday, June 14, the elders didn’t have all of the facts of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age on the time and the length of the abuse. The elders’ prior understanding was that Morris’s extramarital relationship, which he had discussed over and over throughout his ministry, was with ‘a young lady’ and never abuse of a 12-year-old child,” the elders explained.
“Even though it occurred a few years before Gateway was established, as leaders of the church, we regret that we didn’t have the knowledge that we now have. We are heartbroken and appalled by what has come to light over the past few days, and we express our deep sympathy to the victim and her family,” the elders said.
“For the sake of the victim, we’re thankful this example has been exposed. We know many have been affected by this, we understand that you just are hurting, and we’re very sorry. It is our prayer that, in time, healing for all those affected can occur.”
