The son of Gateway Church founder Robert Morris and three members of the church’s Board of Elders have taken a temporary leave of absence in light of an ongoing independent investigation into child sex abuse allegations against Morris. In a statement issued by the Board of Elders, Gateway Church appointed the law firm Haynes and Boone to conduct an impartial investigation and recommended that any elder with potential conflicts of interest, particularly those related to events between 2005 and 2007, step down temporarily.
Kevin Grove, Steve Dulin, and Gayland Lawshe, three current elders who were also on the Board at that time, have taken leaves of absence in light of the investigation. The Christian Post reports that all three elders said they were unaware of the incidents.
Meanwhile, Morris’ son, Pastor James Morris, also agreed to a temporary leave due to his familial connection with Morris, not because he was an elder.
Despite stepping down, the Board of Elders said that the affected elders will still maintain their roles as staff members at Gateway Church, contributing to its mission and community services.
Last month, 54-year-old grandmother Cindy Clemishire first alleged to The Wartburg Watch that Morris sexually abused her for about four-and-a-half years during the 1980s, starting when she was 12 years old. At the time, Morris was serving as an evangelist in his 20s.
After the allegations were revealed, Morris resigned from ministry in 1987 and was restored two years later.
Clemishire also confronted Morris about the situation in 2005, but he accused her of trying to blackmail him. She also demanded that he would pay $2 million in restitution. Morris, however, never paid her even when he had previously asked her to give him a price.
Morris resigned from Gateway Church on June 18 following Clemishire’s allegations.
Ethan Fisher, senior pastor of Gateway Church and Morris’s son-in-law, shared last Sunday that his family faced a “nightmare” week after Clemishire went public with the allegations.
Following Morris’ resignation, Fisher said he was also removed as the apostolic and overseeing elder of Gateway Church Houston.
“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,” Fisher told his congregants.
Related Articles:
- Senior Pastor Jimmy Evans Denies Knowledge of Morris' Sin
- Gateway Church Elder Apologizes to Robert Morris Victim Cindy Clemishire
- Televangelist James Robinson Denies Meeting Victim and Her Family with Robert Morris
- Daystar Television Cuts Ties with Robert Morris After Sex Abuse Allegations
- Victim of Gateway Church Pastor Robert Morris Says Church Was Aware of His Crime
- Pastor Robert Morris Resigns Post Board of Elders Announcement
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Gateway Church
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.