SOUTHLAKE (TX)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
July 26, 2024
By Julie Roys
James Morris, who was slated to take over leadership of Dallas-area Gateway Church, has resigned in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving his father, Robert Morris.
In a statement released to media, Gateway said its elders met earlier this week with Associate Senior Pastor James Morris and his wife, Gateway Executive Pastor Bridgette Morris. At that meeting, “they collectively made the decision” that the couple would step down.
“We as Elders affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in both Pastors James and Bridgette’s hearts to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future,” the statement said. “. . . They have faithfully and honorably served our congregation and this community through all the years that they have been part of Gateway Church.”
Gateway said pastor and best-selling author Max Lucado has agreed to serve as an interim teacher at the church. It added that Swedish pastor Joakim Lundqvist has been added to Gateway’s staff.
The news comes in the wake of allegations that Gateway founder Robert Morris sexually abused a woman in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12 years old. Days after the allegations first surfaced on June 14, the elder Morris resigned from Gateway, one of the largest megachurches in the country.
On June 28, Gateway announced that James Morris and three other elders would take a leave of absence from the church while a law firm, Haynes & Boone, investigated the allegations. In its June 28 statement, Gateway said James Morris “had no knowledge of the true facts” of his father’s alleged abuse but had volunteered to take a leave to ensure “a truly independent and unbiased inquiry.”
Prior to the scandal involving Robert Morris, Gateway had announced that James Morris would become lead pastor of the church in 2025.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Gateway stated that its elders would have “a few important updates” this weekend and encouraged people to attend one of the church’s services.
“We love you, we’re praying for you, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of our church family,” the post said.