Gateway Church Elders Removed Over Abuse Scandal

Gateway Church has removed four elders after an investigation revealed they had prior knowledge of sexual abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris and failed to take appropriate action. The allegations, brought to light by Cindy Clemishire, indicate Morris abused her starting when she was 12 years old in the 1980s. The church hired the law firm Haynes and Boone to conduct an independent inquiry, which found that some elders were aware of Clemishire's age at the time of the abuse, while others knew of the allegations but did not investigate further. The church is cooperating with a criminal investigation, although neither the church nor its current leadership are targets. Gateway Church is also revising its governance structure to prevent similar failures in the future. Church elder Tra Willbanks praised Clemishire for her bravery and condemned Morris's actions during a service, emphasizing the church's commitment to addressing the issue and supporting the victim.