The senior pastor and founder of Gateway Church in Texas, Robert Morris, has resigned following allegations of sexual abuse dating back to the 1980s. The church’s board of elders announced on Tuesday that they had accepted Morris’s resignation and initiated an independent review to investigate the claims.
Allegations and Response
The accusations surfaced after Cindy Clemishire, now 52, came forward, alleging that Morris sexually abused her multiple times between 1982 and 1987, starting when she was just 12 years old. According to Clemishire, Morris, then a traveling preacher, began the abuse when he stayed at her family’s home in Oklahoma.
In response to the allegations, Morris admitted to engaging in “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a young woman when he was in his early 20s. He described the behavior as “kissing and petting,” acknowledging that it was wrong and occurred on several occasions.
Church’s Reaction and Investigation
The board of elders stated that they were unaware of the full extent of the relationship between Morris and the victim until the allegations emerged. They emphasized the need for an independent review to understand the events comprehensively.
Gateway Church, established by Morris in 2000, has multiple locations in the Dallas area and claims a weekly attendance of over 100,000 people. Morris, known for his political activism, was involved in former President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisory board and hosted Trump at the church’s Dallas campus in 2020.
Conclusion and Further Developments
Morris’s resignation marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse. As the independent review progresses, more details are expected to emerge regarding the extent of the abuse and the church’s response.
Morris has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations and his resignation.
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