The founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, Robert Morris, has been indicted on five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, according to an announcement by the Oklahoma attorney general’s office on Wednesday.
The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred in the 1980s.
Morris, who stepped down from his leadership role at Gateway Church last year, faces allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct with a then-12-year-old girl, Cindy Clemishire, in Oklahoma more than four decades ago.
“After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” Clemishire said in a statement following the indictment. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable. My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail.”
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond revealed that a multi-county grand jury investigation resulted in the five felony charges against Morris.
He condemned the former pastor’s alleged actions, emphasizing the seriousness of the case.
“There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” Drummond stated. “This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done.”
According to Drummond’s office, the statute of limitations does not apply in this case, as Morris was never a resident of Oklahoma.
In response to the legal proceedings, Gateway Church issued a statement to CBS News Texas, acknowledging the indictment and expressing support for those affected.
“We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions. We continue to pray for Cindy Clemishire and her family, for the members and staff of Gateway Church, and for all of those impacted by this terrible situation.”
Public scrutiny of Morris and Gateway Church intensified in June when Clemishire publicly accused him of sexually abusing her starting in 1982, when she was just 12. At the time, Morris was a young traveling evangelist in his early 20s and had developed close ties with her family.
Her allegations were first reported by The Wartburg Watch, a North Carolina-based church watchdog blog, before being picked up by The Christian Post. Clemishire disclosed that the abuse continued until 1987.
Morris had previously admitted to past sexual misconduct in a 2014 sermon, acknowledging that he had been “sexually immoral” in his youth.
In a statement to The Christian Post, he admitted to engaging in “inappropriate sexual behavior” but denied it involved intercourse.
“When I was in my early 20s, I was sexually immoral. I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a girl in a home where I was staying,” Morris said. “I was a young man who needed help.”
However, church elders later stated that while Morris had disclosed an extramarital affair to them, he had not revealed any allegations involving the abuse of a 12-year-old girl.
Following public pressure, Morris resigned from his role as senior pastor of Gateway Church on June 18. Clemishire later expressed mixed emotions about his departure.
“Though I am grateful that he is no longer a pastor at Gateway Church, I am disappointed that the Board of Elders allowed him to resign,” she wrote. “He should have been removed.”
She also criticized church leaders for allegedly embracing “the false narrative Robert Morris wanted them to believe” despite being aware of her allegations.
In response to the controversy, church members held a demonstration outside Gateway Church on June 23.
During the service that day, church elder Tra Willbanks addressed the congregation, acknowledging the severity of the situation.
“As an elder, I did not know the truth and, frankly, like many of you, my wife and I are shocked, devastated, and grieving,” Willbanks stated. “I’d like to say to Cindy Clemishire, I can’t imagine carrying this burden for so long, and I want to say to you that I’m sorry.”
As a result of the unfolding scandal, four members of Gateway Church’s Board of Elders, including Morris’ son, were placed on temporary leave on June 28 while an external legal team conducted an independent investigation into the allegations.
Gateway Church, which Morris founded in 2000, has grown into one of the largest megachurches in the United States, with approximately 100,000 attendees across nine campuses.
The church also broadcasts services online to a global audience spanning 190 countries.
Adding to the church’s legal troubles, Gateway Church recently settled a separate lawsuit involving child sex abuse allegations from 2020.
The lawsuit, which was resolved in April, accused multiple pastors of covering up the alleged sexual abuse of a child by a church member in 2018.
The victim’s mother, who filed the lawsuit in 2020, claimed church leaders failed to report the abuse and attempted to silence her.
The church denied any wrongdoing, stating that the abuse in question did not occur on church premises or at a church-related event but rather at a private sleepover.
It also asserted that the incident was reported to authorities within 48 hours after it was disclosed.
Despite Gateway Church’s insistence that it acted properly, the victim’s mother pursued legal action for years before a settlement was reached.
The church characterized the settlement as a strategic decision by its insurance provider to avoid prolonged litigation.
As legal proceedings move forward in Morris’ case, the former pastor now faces the possibility of conviction for crimes allegedly committed decades ago, crimes his accuser has long fought to bring to light.
