SOUTHLAKE (TX)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
July 9, 2024
By Angela Peacock
Two speakers have pulled out of preaching at Gateway Church’s summer series following child sex abuse allegations against church founder Robert Morris.
Joyce Meyer and Dr. Ben Carson were both scheduled to speak at the Dallas-area megachurch as part of a series titled “Let’s Dive In,” but have since cancelled. A source close to Meyer cited solidarity with abuse victims, and Carson said it was to allow for the church’s “healing process to take place.”
Morris resigned from the church’s top position on June 18, following Cindy Clemishire’s bombshell allegations she was sexually abused by Morris in 1982 when she was 12 years old.
For multiple years, Meyer has been a regular speaker at Gateway Church, with the most recent message in May. A person close to Joyce Meyer Ministries shared anonymously late Monday night that Meyer has decided to stop teaching at Gateway Church in light of recent allegations against Morris.
“I can confirm that Joyce Meyer has decided to withdraw from teaching at Gateway Church. The ministry has not made any public statements about this matter. But there are many examples readily available of Joyce Meyer strongly condemning all types of abuse and her compassion for survivors,” the spokesperson told The Christian Post.
Meyer has been very public about the childhood sexual abuse that came at the hands of her father and has said that he must have raped her over 200 times before she turned 18.
Renowned neurosurgeon and former Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson was slated to preach on July 6 and 7.
A spokesperson for Carson told The Christian Post, “Given the circumstances, the church asked us to cancel our earlier commitment in order to allow for the healing process to take place. We are praying for their community during this difficult time.”
Gateway Church has retained the law firm Haynes and Boone to investigate the allegations against Morris.
Earlier this month, four Gateway Church elders, including Robert Morris’s son, James Morris, temporarily stepped down from their positions at the megachurch. Their actions stem from the law firm’s recommendation that any elder with a potential conflict of interest voluntarily step down.
Morris founded Gateway Church in 2000. At last count, more than 100,000 people attended each weekend at its nine sites and online.
Josh Shepherd contributed to this article, a version of which originally appeared at CHVN Radio.
Journalist Angela Peacock is a news writer and on-air host at CHVN in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.