Gateway Church Report Uncovers Criminal Probe, Major Leadership Failures in Morris Abuse Allegations

SOUTHLAKE – An independent investigation into allegations that Gateway Church founder Robert Morris had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s has uncovered significant failures among former church leaders. The investigation, now involving law enforcement, revealed that some leaders knew of Morris’s alleged relationship with the minor but failed to question it further.

During a Saturday service, church elder Tra Willbanks acknowledged that the church’s culture allowed these issues to be buried. “We must be honest with ourselves and admit that this culture enabled the truth to remain hidden for too long,” he said. Following the investigation, four elders—Kevin Grove, Thomas Miller, Jeremy Carrasco, and Gayland Lawshe—were removed from their positions due to their roles in this “massive governance and accountability failure,” as Willbanks put it.

Willbanks expressed regret over the centralization of power around Morris, stating, “When a church centers solely around one pastor, it’s lost its way.” Morris allegedly engaged in the relationship between 1982 and 1987 when he was a young traveling evangelist. The victim, Cindy Clemishire, whose family had been close to Morris, accused him of repeated abuse starting when she was 12.

Willbanks added that the investigation couldn’t disclose more details due to an ongoing criminal inquiry and litigation against Gateway Church, though he confirmed that neither the church nor its current leadership are subjects of the criminal investigation.

The investigation, conducted by Haynes Boone, involved reviewing extensive data, thousands of documents, and interviews with over two dozen individuals. Six people, including Morris, declined to meet with investigators.

Willbanks condemned all forms of sexual abuse, expressing deep sorrow for Clemishire and others affected. He commended her for her courage in coming forward, which led others to share their stories as well. The probe determined that Clemishire was the only victim identified in the investigation.

Following Clemishire’s allegations in June, Morris and his son, James, along with his wife, Bridget, resigned from their leadership roles. Gateway Church’s elder board, once 13 members strong, now lists only three. Willbanks urged anyone with further information to come forward, promising strict confidentiality.

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