Gateway Church didn’t tackle allegations of previous abuse — or “ethical failure” — by its senior pastor, Robert Morris, when it gathered to worship this weekend, simply days after a lady who mentioned he molested her when she was 12 within the Eighties. shared his account on-line.
The Southlake, Texas-based megachurch made a last-minute change in order that its govt pastor, Kemtal Glasgow, may take the stage as a substitute of the visitor speaker, Albert Tate, who was scheduled to be a part of Gateway’s summer season sequence and who was himself. On depart final 12 months by his church in California for inappropriate textual content messaging.
Glasgow, who mentioned he was on his solution to church when he acquired the decision he would fill that day, preached on endurance, listening and ready on the Lord. His message was broadcast throughout Gateway’s 10 campuses, drawing about 25,000 folks every week. He didn’t point out Morris or any abuse allegations.
Morris, 62, based Gateway in 2000 and it has turn into one of many largest megachurches in the USA. He has a worldwide following for his applications broadcast on Christian TV and radio. Morris beforehand served as a religion advisor to President Trump and was an advisor to Mark Driscoll’s New Church.
Nondenominational and charismatic, Gateway is among the high producers of evangelical worship music. Singer Kari Jobe served as its earlier worship chief, and Gateway worship music was streamed 300 million instances final 12 months alone. On Sunday, the congregation opened with successful of its personal, singing “Reward the Lord.”
Southlake’s campus pastor, Lorena Valle, didn’t deliver up the scandal when she spoke to the congregation. A recording of Sunday’s service was posted on the church’s YouTube channel. Feedback have been disabled.
Gateway acknowledged the allegations in a press release to the media The Christian Put up, the church was conscious of the criticism. The elders wrote that Morris “spoke overtly and albeit a few ethical failure greater than 35 years in the past when he was in his twenties and earlier than beginning Gateway Church.”
The assertion comes after Oklahoma lady Cindy Klemishire shared her story with The Wartburg Watch on Friday. She mentioned on the weblog that Morris was along with her household in Tulsa whereas working as a youth preacher and preacher in her early 20s, and that he invited her into his room and touched her underneath her garments and underwear when she was 12 years previous.
Clemishire mentioned the conduct continued over a four-year interval and escalated to tried intercourse in his automobile when he was 16. Morris was married on the time and had one little one.
in a press release The The Christian Put up, Morris mentioned, “Once I was in my early twenties, I used to be concerned in inappropriate sexual conduct with a younger lady the place I lived. It wasn’t kissing and petting and intercourse, nevertheless it was fallacious. This conduct occurred on a number of events over the following few years.”
In keeping with Morris, he confessed and repented in 1987, whereas he was serving at Shady Grove Church, which later turned a part of Gateway. Gateway mentioned Morris underwent a two-year restoration course of, together with “skilled counseling and Independence Ministry counseling,” and has had “no different ethical failings” in his life for the reason that implementation of the accountability system.
Clemishire mentioned his father turned indignant with Morris when he advised him in regards to the scenario, and he demanded the younger pastor stop the ministry. In keeping with her story in The Wartburg Watch, she mentioned she later sought a settlement in 2005 to cowl counseling prices however rejected Morris’ lawyer’s supply as a result of it included an NDA.
A former pastor at Gateway spoke out at X to induce the church to look past Morris’ alleged conduct to a bigger sample of abuse by Christian leaders.
“The cycle is one that’s a lot larger image than simply debates about ‘ethical failure’ and ‘restoration’. It is an out-of-control energy dynamic, and a cycle of manipulation,” writes Bob Hamp, a licensed therapist who served as govt pastor of pastoral care at Gateway a decade in the past. “It is a cycle in regards to the church’s perception system and tradition that units us as much as assist abusive folks.”
Morris didn’t share a response in his congregation or on social media; He has not posted for the reason that Clemmyshire story was printed. CT has reached out to each Gateway and Morris for additional remark.
The Fort Value-area megachurch has not indicated that Morris shall be topic to extra assessment or self-discipline on account of Clemmyshire’s revelations. The elders believed “the matter has been correctly disclosed to the management of the church” and referred to it as an answer.
The allegations are just like latest allegations towards Mike Bickle, founding father of the Worldwide Home of Prayer in Kansas Metropolis. Earlier this 12 months, a lady got here ahead with allegations that Bickle started abusing her within the Eighties when she was 14 years previous. The ministry severed ties with Bikal in late 2023 and has since been closed.
In lots of locations, statutes of limitations forestall felony circumstances from continuing when victims disclose decades-old abuse, however extra states — comparable to Louisiana and Washington — are amending legal guidelines to permit civil fits from little one abuse victims.
Specialists say victims of sexual abuse typically blame themselves and will not see themselves as victims for years. Younger ladies and ladies have traditionally risked guilt for seducing ministers; Clemishire mentioned Morris’ spouse “forgave” him after the story was printed.
Nonetheless, youngsters can not consent to sexual exercise. And extra energy is ready in movement when clergy are concerned. Extra specialists see relationships that had been as soon as thought-about “affairs” as discordant and abusive.
In keeping with Hamp, a former Gateway pastor, the way in which we speak about abuse by pastors issues.
“Take these three dynamics: explicit leaders, the mismanagement of sin, and the minimization of misconstrued labels, and all the tradition will combat over who was fallacious and who ought to be forgiven, and the damaging dynamic at work stays. And it’ll occur once more. And it’ll occur once more. And it’ll occur once more,” he mentioned.
“Paul makes it clear that predators are to be put out of the church. He doesn’t distinguish what ought to and shouldn’t be carried out based mostly on place or recognition.
