DALLAS (TX)
USA Today [McLean VA]
August 24, 2024
By Jonathan Limehouse
Four church leaders have stepped down since June, when senior pastor Robert Morris left over allegations he abused a 12-year-old girl while he was a married 21-year-old
Prominent members of Gateway Church continue to resign or step down following child sex abuse allegations against former senior pastor Robert Morris, who publicly admitted to having “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady” 35 years ago.
Morris resigned from the Texas megachurch in June, four days after 54-year-old Cindy Clemishire went public with allegations that the pastor began molesting her when she was 12 and he was 21. Though he downplayed them, Morris acknowledged the allegations.
A month after Morris’ resignation, his son and daughter-in-law, James and Bridget Morris, stepped down as pastors of the Dallas-based church. And on Wednesday, the church’s leadership announced that executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow resigned due to an unspecified “moral issue” that “disqualifies him from serving.”
Here is what we know about the turnover and allegations at Gateway Church.
Cindy Clemishire alleges Robert Morris abused her in 1982
Clemishire first shared her story with the Wartburg Watch, a blog about sexual abuse within the church, and said that Morris began sexually abusing her on Christmas in 1982. She said the abuse continued in Oklahoma and Texas until 1987.
After Clemishire’s accusations went public, Morris and Gateway responded in separate statements.
“It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” Morris, 62, said in a statement to local Dallas news station WFAA-TV. “This behavior happened on several occasions over the next few years. … Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area.”
In a statement issued to members of the news media in June, the church’s board of elders said they previously understood that Morris had an “extramarital relationship” with a “young lady,” citing the pastor’s words − “not abuse of a 12-year-old child.”
“We are heartbroken and appalled by what has come to light over the past few days, and we express our deep sympathy to the victim and her family,” according to the statement, obtained by CBS News and NBC News.
Robert Morris resigns from Gateway Church
Days after the church and Morris released statements, the pastor announced his resignation amid a public outcry.
In a follow-up statement, the church elders said that they “regret that we did not have the information that we now have.”
“For the sake of the victim, we are thankful this situation has been exposed,” the church said. “We know many have been affected by this, we understand that you are hurting, and we are very sorry. It is our prayer that, in time, healing for all those affected can occur.”Stories worth knowing.Unlock all the stories for as low as $4.99 per month.Subscribe Now
Before Morris’ resignation, Clemishire told USA TODAY that she shared her story with leadership in “very large and high-profile” churches and organizations for decades. Despite her openness, no one took Morris out of the ministry or pulpit.
Clemshire also said she came forward publicly to encourage others who may be victims of Morris to tell their stories.
“Any and all victims, come forward … I just don’t believe that I’m the only person,” she said.
James and Bridget Morris step down from Gateway
Gateway announced James and Bridget Morris’ departures in July when it released the following statement to WFAA-TV:
“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. “We love Pastors James and Bridgette and their children − we deeply care about them and sincerely thank them for investing their lives here at Gateway Church. They have faithfully and honorably served our congregation and this community through all the years that they have been part of Gateway Church.”
James Morris’ resignation came a year before Robert Morris intended to turn over the leadership of the church to him, according to the TV station. The younger Morris has been employed by the church in various positions since 2012.
Before stepping down, the church’s elders asked James Morris to take a temporary leave of absence. The church’s suggestion came on June 28 and was under the advice of their attorneys at the Haynes and Boone law firm.
“Pastor James Morris is a man of integrity, and he has clearly stated that he had no knowledge of the true facts of this situation,” the church said in a Facebook post. “However, because Pastor James Morris is related to Robert Morris, Haynes and Boone has recommended that Pastor James also take a temporary leave of absence from the Board of Elders and Pastor James has volunteered to do so to demonstrate his commitment to a truly independent and unbiased inquiry.
Pastor Kemtal Glasgow leaves Gateway
Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks announced that executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow’s departure Wednesday in a statement posted on the church’s YouTube page.
“It recently came to light that Kemtal Glasgow had a moral failure so we’ve asked him to step down as a pastor at Gateway and devote time to his marriage and family,” the megachurch said. “Although his employment is ending, we are devoted to still caring for Kemtal and his family.”
Glasgow’s information is no longer visible on Gateway’s website, but an archive biography page says he was head of leadership and oversight at all of the church’s campuses. In a statement to CBS News Texas, Gateway said that “it’s our deepest desire for every staff member to lead a life of integrity, both in their personal and professional lives.”
The church’s statement continued to say that “this decision regarding Kemtal had nothing to with the departure of Robert Morris nor related to those circumstances.”