Texas

Allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced on a blog devoted to Christian survivor stories earlier this summer when several accusations pointed to a man who had risen to lead one of America's largest megachurches, CNN’s Nicole Chavez reported. Robert Morris, the founder and 25-year leader of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas—a tony suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth—stepped down in June following the emergence of the scandal. His resignation plunged thousands of evangelicals into a period of turmoil that has now stretched on for months. Just last week, another blow struck the congregation when a pastor overseeing all Gateway campuses departed due to an unspecified "moral issue." This resignation adds to a string of significant changes for the church: the cancellation of its annual conference, the departure of Morris's successor, the renaming of its Houston campus, and a noticeable exodus of worshippers. Each weekend, the congregation is reminded of the ongoing crisis. Interim or guest pastors often begin their sermons with apologies, discussions of grief, or messages of hope during challenging times. The absence of familiar faces—people who once sat and prayed alongside them—has become increasingly apparent. The church has experienced a significant drop in attendance, with weekend services seeing a decline of 17% to 19%, according to a church spokesperson. The ripple effects of this upheaval could be widespread. Gateway Church, which attracts approximately 100,000 attendees to its weekend services, employs over 560 staff members across nine locations in Texas, as well as two additional sites in Missouri and Wyoming. It ranks among America's largest megachurches, which are defined by a weekly attendance of 2,000 or more worshippers. The United States is home to nearly 1,800 such churches, according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Morris's influence extended beyond his congregation. In 2016, he was part of former President Donald Trump's Evangelical Executive Advisory Board. Trump even held a roundtable at Gateway's Dallas campus in 2020, where Morris led a prayer. The church's difficult period began in June when Cindy Clemishire's account of abuse was published on The Wartburg Watch, a blog that monitors church activity. Clemishire, now 54, revealed that Morris had molested her starting on Christmas Day in 1982, when she was just 12 years old. The abuse continued until she confided in her parents in 1987. Shortly after these allegations came to light, Morris admitted to "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" in the 1980s. Initially, Gateway Church stated that Morris had been "open and forthright about a moral failure" from his 20s while working at another church, followed by a two-year "restoration process." However, days later, Morris resigned. The church's Board of Elders revealed that they had not been fully informed about the nature of Morris's relationship with the victim, her age, or the duration of the abuse. The board explained that Morris had spoken about this issue several times but had not disclosed that the victim was a child. Tra Willbanks, one of the church's elders, expressed his shock and grief to the congregation, tearfully apologizing to Clemishire during a service in June. Since then, Gateway Church has engaged a law firm to "review the report of past abuse" and ascertain the facts. Clemishire believes she is not the only victim and has encouraged others to come forward, assuring them that they will be supported. The fallout has seen at least three other pastors depart Gateway Church since Morris's resignation, further deepening the uncertainty about the church's future. Morris's son, James Morris, who was slated to become the lead pastor next year, resigned alongside his wife, Bridgette, a month after the scandal broke. The couple agreed to step down from their roles, allowing Gateway to "have a fresh start," according to a church statement. When addressing the congregation for the last time, they focused on the joy and love they felt for the church while acknowledging their grief over leaving. Three current elders, who served on the board from 2005 to 2007, have also been placed on leave pending the law firm's review. They have stated that they were unaware of the true nature of the situation. Another pastor, Kemtal Glasgow, was recently dismissed due to an unspecified "moral issue." The church clarified that his departure was unrelated to Morris's situation. The repercussions of this scandal have extended beyond Gateway's Texas borders. Morris's son-in-law, who leads a church in Houston, announced that his congregation would rebrand from Gateway Church Houston to Newlands Church. Senior Pastor Ethan Fisher, who is married to Morris's daughter Elaine, emphasized that while his church had been supported by Gateway, it operates independently. Church members remain divided over whether to stay or leave. Longtime member Lou Comunale expressed appreciation for the church's transparency, while others, like Emily High, felt betrayed and decided to leave. As the search for a new pastor continues, interim pastors Joakim Lundqvist and Max Lucado have been sharing the duties. Lundqvist has drawn parallels to his own congregation's past crises, while Lucado has encouraged the Gateway community to look forward with hope. Despite the challenges, the interim leaders are focused on helping the congregation heal and stay united. Lucado expressed confidence that this difficult season will ultimately lead to a stronger and better church.

Texas

Texas’ Gateway Megachurch Abuse Scandal Sends Worshippers Flocking Elsewhere

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Texas’ Gateway Megachurch Abuse Scandal Sends Worshippers Flocking Elsewhere

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