SOUTHLAKE (TX)
CBS News [New York NY]
November 4, 2024
By Doug Myers, Andrea Lucia, Amelia Mugavero
SOUTHLAKE – A private investigation into allegations that Gateway Church founder Robert Morris had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s has uncovered a massive failure involving former church leadership.
The investigation, which the church said now involves law enforcement, also revealed that others knew of Morris’ relationship with the underage girl and failed to ask additional questions.
“We must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that our culture allowed this truth to be buried for too long,” Tra Willbanks, an elder at Gateway Church, said during its regularly scheduled worship service Saturday.
Four church elders who had information about Morris’ relationship — Kevin Grove, Thomas Miller, Jeremy Carrasco and Gayland Lawshe — were removed following the investigation.
Willbanks called it a “massive governance and accountability failure.”00:0002:00Read More
“When a church becomes centered around one pastor alone, it’s lost its way,” Willbanks said. “And unfortunately, we have come to the realization over the last several months that at some point in the past, the culture at Gateway became one where power was centralized and the leader at the top was surrounded by people who wanted to protect him, some of them at all costs.”
Morris allegedly had a sexual relationship with a minor between 1982 and 1987, when he was a traveling evangelist in his early 20s. On June 14, Cindy Clemishire, whose parents had befriended Morris, publicly accused the pastor of repeatedly molesting her during that period.
“There was one group who knew without a doubt that Cindy was 12 when the abuse began, and there was a second group who knew of allegations of sexual abuse by Robert Morris, who had enough information that they should have led should have led them to ask more questions and inquire further, but they did not,” Willbanks said.
Willbanks said he couldn’t release additional details because of a continuing criminal investigation and ongoing litigation against Gateway Church, including what he said were financial demands from Robert Morris.
“But I can share that neither the church nor its current leadership are subjects of this criminal investigation,” Willbanks said.
Clemishire said she is aware of a criminal investigation. Neither she nor Gateway have offered additional details on who is investigating or what they’re investigating. No law enforcement has yet confirmed to CBS News Texas that it is involved. She said she is consulting her attorney before sharing any response to the church’s statement.
The Haynes Boone investigation involved 680 gigabytes of data, reviewing thousands of pages of documents and emails, and interviewing more than two dozen individuals, Willbanks said.
Six individuals, including Robert Morris, refused to meet with Haynes Boone, Willbanks said.
Willbanks said the law firm’s findings were presented to a three-member subcommittee.
“What happened to Cindy (Clemishire) was heartbreaking and vile, and we denounce any sexual abuse in all of its forms,” Willbanks said. “We feel deep sorrow for those who have been victimized by such despicable actions.”
Willbanks praised Clemishire for stepping forward, resulting in others who hadn’t come forward before sharing their stories.
The probe came after elders initially claimed they did not have all the facts relating to the alleged sexual assault, including Clemishire’s age at the time and the length of the abuse.
Willbanks said Robert Morris shared a version of his story that he was unfaithful in his marriage in his early 20s and that others who were aware covered it up.
Willbanks said the investigation concluded there were no other victims of Robert Morris other than Clemishire.
According to Willbanks, no one involved in the failure is still part of the church.
In March 2023, Gateway Church had 13 elders on its website. Today, only three are listed.
Since Clemishire’s claims in June, Robert Morris has resigned from his head position at Gateway. Morris’ son James Morris and his wife, Bridget, also stepped down from leadership roles within the church over the summer.
Meanwhile, Willbanks urged anyone with additional information to come forward, assuring them that their allegations would be held in the “strictest of confidence.”