Gateway Church in Texas Removed Elder, Aids in Criminal Investigation

On By Littum

The Gateway Church in Texas announced the removal of several of its elders and staff following a law firm’s investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse against former senior pastor Robert Morris.

A Texas megachurch has announced the removal of several of its elders following a law firm’s independent investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse against former senior pastor Robert Morris, who publicly admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady” 35 years ago.

Tra Willbanks, an elder at Gateway Church, gave the update to members during a live streamed service Sunday. He said Haynes and Boone, the law firm hired by the church, delivered the results of its investigation into 54-year-old Cindy Clemishire’s allegations against Morris before a subcommittee “that was formed to receive and act on that information.”

“What happened to Cindy Clemishire was heartbreaking and disgusting,” Willbanks said during his update. “We condemn sexual abuse in all its forms and we feel deep sorrow for those who have fallen victim to such despicable acts.”

Willbanks praised Clemishire for her bravery in coming forward and speaking about the alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Morris, which began in 1982 when she was just 12 years old. The abuse continued until 1987, Clemishire told USA TODAY in June.

“(Clemishire) has impacted countless lives, and because of her (Elders) courage, more people have come up to us and told us they had their own stories where they were victims,” ​​Willbanks said. “We continue to pray for healing not only for her, but for those who have been abused and are part of our family.”

Morris and Clemishire could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

Robert Morris admitted to ‘sexual affair’ in the late 1980s, excluding Cindy Clemishire’s age

Willbanks discussed Morris’ previous accounts of his actions, including the former senior pastor telling the church he was unfaithful in his marriage while he was in his early 20s. Morris also confessed his sin to apostolic leaders in the late 1980s, many years before Gateway Church was formed, according to Willbanks.

Although Morris stepped down from the ministry for two years in the 1980s, he was reinstated in the ministry by the same apostolic leaders, Willbanks said.

“We as a church knew what our former senior pastor shared publicly and many people, including myself, simply believed his version of the story,” according to the elder. “However, on June 14 of this year, Cindy Clemishire shared her story publicly, clearly stating that she was the one being referred to in Robert Morris’ story, which he had described as a sexual affair.”

Tra Willbanks: ‘They have been removed’

During the independent investigation, Haynes and Boone collected 780 gigabytes of data, reviewed thousands of pages of documents and interviewed dozens of people, except for Morris and five others who declined to sit down with the law firm, Willbanks said.

The law firm was not made aware of other allegations of sexual assault against Morris, according to Willbanks.

“At this time, as far as we know, there are no other victims of Robert Morris other than Cindy Clemishire,” the elder said, adding that anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a Gateway Church elder should report it to the police and then share it with him and other leaders.

The investigation revealed that various Gateway Church elders and staff knew about Morris’ alleged actions before June 14, including that Clemishire was 12 when the sexual abuse began, Willbanks said. The elder further explained how there were two groups, one group that knew without a doubt that Clemishire was 12 during the abuse, and another that had enough information about Morris’ actions but didn’t bother to ask more questions.

“Both groups are fundamentally wrong and simply cannot and will not be tolerated in this church,” Willbanks said. “We can report to you that today there is no one in either group serving as an elder, employed by or working at Gateway Church. They have been removed.”

Gateway Church is cooperating in criminal investigation

The elder said he could not elaborate on the removal of the elders because of pending lawsuits against the church, including from Morris, who has made “financial demands.”

“To be clear, we reject,” Willbanks said of Morris’s financial demands.

Gateway Church is cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation, Willbanks confirmed, but he declined to share more details at this time. He added that the church or its current leadership is subject to this investigation.

Willbanks called the entire situation the result of a “massive government failure” and “an accountability failure” at Gateway Church.

“When the church becomes centered around one pastor alone, it has lost its way,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’ve come to the realization over the last few months that the culture here at Gateway had at some point in the past become 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 price.”

Gateway Church resigns in wake of allegations against Robert Morris

Aside from Morris and the removed elders, Gateway Church experienced three other significant departures in the past few months.

The church announced the departures of James and Bridget Morris in July when it released the following statement to WFAA-TV:

“We as elders affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in the hearts of both Pastors James and Bridgette to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future,” the statement said. “We love Pastors James and Bridgette and their children – we love them very much and sincerely thank them for investing their lives here at Gateway Church. They have faithfully and honorably served our congregation and this community throughout the years they have been part of Gateway Church.”

According to the broadcaster, James Morris’ resignation came a year before Robert Morris intended to hand over leadership of the church to his son.

Willbanks announced managing pastor Kemtal Glasgow’s departure the next month through a statement posted on the church’s YouTube page.

“It recently came to light that Kemtal Glasgow had a moral failing, so we have asked him to step down as pastor at Gateway and devote time to his marriage and family,” the megachurch said. “Although his employment is ending, we are dedicated to continuing to care for Kemtal and his family.”

It is unclear whether Kemtal Glasgow or James and Bridget Morris spoke with Haynes and Boone during the company’s investigation.