HOUSTON (TX)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
August 20, 2024
By Sylvia St. Cyr
Gateway Church Houston is rebranding as Newlands Church in the wake of the sex scandal involving Robert Morris, founder of the main Gateway Church in north Texas. The change was announced last Sunday by Morris’ son-in-law and Gateway Houston’s Senior Pastor Ethan Fisher, who described the name-change as a call from God.
“I believe that during this season, as a church, that God is once again calling us into something new, and I simply want to follow,” said Fisher, the husband of Morris’ daughter, Elaine.
The move comes after shocking allegations in June that Morris had sexually molested a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s, when he was a young pastor. This quickly led to Morris’ resignation as lead pastor.
Morris’s son, James Morris, became lead pastor of Gateway after the confession. However, Gateway elders announced in July that James Morris and his wife Brigette would be stepping down from the pulpit. It was simultaneously announced that well-known Christian author and speaker Max Lucado would be the interim pastor as the church tried to gain its bearings.
According to Fisher, Gateway Houston is an autonomous church, though it had previously operated as campuses of Gateway Church in Dallas-Fort Worth. Prior to June, Robert Morris had served as the apostolic and overseeing elder of Gateway Houston. But Fisher said in June that after Morris resigned, Gateway Houston removed Morris from leadership at the Houston church.
At that time, Fisher said, “Elaine and I, we’re processing it, obviously, as family. Elaine is a daughter, and I’ve done my best to be there for her. Me, as a son-in-law, we’re processing the pain in real-time in the same way I know many of you are.”
On Sunday, Fisher struck an optimistic tone as he described the church’s next steps.
“We believe the Lord has given us a new name,” Fisher said. “This next chapter is about obedience and stepping out in faith to be who God has called us to be. In Scripture, when God changed a name He was speaking prophetically to who that person was to become. I believe today God is speaking to us to look forward to who we are to become. I am excited to announce that Gateway Houston is becoming Newlands Church. I am full of hope and expectation that God has amazing things in store for you, your family, and our church, and I believe the best is yet to come.”
As the signage starts to change over the coming months, Fisher said he is looking forward to a bright future at their location.
“As God’s people, He is calling us to be not mere spectators but participators in this journey of faith. Every path we have walked has been following the voice of God as He builds His Church. I’m excited for the future and all that God is going to be doing.”
Julie Roys contributed to this article, which was originally published at CHVN Radio.