Gateway Church announces removal of 4 elders after investigation of Morris allegations
Gateway Church has removed four of its elders after an investigation into its founder’s alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl, leadership of the North Texas megachurch announced Saturday.
The four elders had some information or knowledge of former senior pastor Robert Morris’ conduct prior to public disclosure of the allegations this summer, but they did not take action, church elder Tra Willbanks said during a livestreamed Nov. 2 service.
There were “two groups” of elders: One group who knew victim Cindy Clemishire was 12 at the time the abuse began in the 1980s, and another group who knew of sexual abuse allegations against Morris but didn’t ask further questions, Willbanks said.
“We can report to you that as of today, no individuals in either group serves as an elder, is employed by or works at Gateway Church. They have been removed,” Willbanks said.
The removals come after an independent law firm hired by the Southlake-based church delivered a report of its findings to a church committee.
The church is cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation that does not involve the church or its current leadership, Willbanks said.
In addition to that investigation, the church is also the target of pending or threatened litigation, as well as financial demands from Robert Morris, according to Willbanks.
Willbanks said the church will not comply with Morris’ financial demands. Morris resigned from the church in June.
Elders Thomas Miller, Gayland Lawshe, Kevin Grove and Jeremy Carrasco had been removed from the church’s website as of Saturday afternoon, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Moving forward, Gateway will focus on its “internal systems,” and on improving its governance processes, Willbanks said.
“There was a massive governance and accountability failure here at Gateway Church,” Willbanks said. “We must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that our culture allowed this truth to be buried for too long.”
