Gateway Church Removes Elders After Investigation of Robert Morris Sexual Abuse Allegations

SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Gateway Church says it has removed several elders who knew about abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris. The Southlake-based church is also cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation.

Morris resigned from the church in June after a woman, Cindy Cleminshire, came forward with allegations that Morris sexually abused her between 1982 and 1987, starting when she was 12 years old.

Cleminshire, now 54, said she raised her allegations more than once to Gateway Church leaders.

When the allegations became public, the Southlake church’s board of elders said they were unaware that the “young lady” in question may have been 12 years old.

The church hired the law firm Haynes and Boone to investigate what church elders knew about the allegations before June.

The church says six people refused to talk to investigators, including Morris.

The law firm says it found there was a group of staff and elders who knew Cleminshire was 12 at the time of the reported abuse, and another group who knew about the allegations against Morris but didn’t ask further questions .

The church says elders who were in both groups were let go and that other employees who knew will not be allowed to become elders.

Gateway leaders say the investigation revealed a “cultural failure” at the church.

“We have to be honest with ourselves and recognize that our culture allowed this truth to be buried for too long,” said Tra Willbanks, a Gateway Church elder. “At some point in the past, the Gateway culture became one where power was centralized and the leader at the top was surrounded by people who wanted to protect him. Some of them at any cost.”

The church says it is rewriting bylaws and changing management structure to prevent similar problems in the future.

Gateway said it found no other sexual assault allegations against Morris.

Morris is not currently facing any charges related to the sexual abuse allegations, but the church revealed that a criminal investigation is underway.

“You should also know that Gateway Church is currently and fully cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation, the details of which we cannot share with you at this time,” Willbanks said.

Gateway says neither the church itself nor the current leadership is subject to the criminal investigation.

The church says it has received financial demands from Morris, but they have refused.