What Did Gateway Church Pastor Robert Morris Do?
Robert Morris is the founder of Gateway Church, a Megachurch in Southlake, Texas. He served as their senior pastor for over two decades, and under his leadership, the church grew into one of the largest congregations in the country.
In October 2025, Morris pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges involving a 12-year-old girl. The plea followed decades of silence surrounding the alleged abuse, which reportedly began when Morris was a pastor in the 1980s.
Robert Morris sexual abuse allegations claim he:
- Began abusing 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in 1982, when he was in his 20s
- Touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions
- First abused her when he was a traveling evangelist invited into the Clemishire's Oklahoma home on Christmas Day
- Sexually assaulted Clemishire for 4 years in both Oklahoma and Texas
- Used his position of authority in the Church to groom her and gain her family's trust
- Framed the abuse as consensual and manipulated Clemishire to stay silent
"You did not just harm me as a child — you stole my innocence, the most sacred possession a child has, and you murdered the future woman, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend I was meant to become."
– Cindy Clemishire, Church Sexual Abuse Survivor
Survivors may be able to file a sexual assault lawsuit against Robert Morris and Gateway Church to seek justice for the harm they've endured. Compensation can help cover medical bills, therapy, lost wages, and more.
At Sokolove Law, we have decades of experience helping survivors of abuse hold powerful individuals and institutions accountable. Let us fight for you.
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Gateway Church Robert Morris Update: November 2025
In October 2025, Pastor Robert Morris pleaded guilty to 5 counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child before a judge in Osage County, Oklahoma. The plea represents an acknowledgment of wrongdoing after years of silence.
Learn about the timeline in the Gateway Church sexual abuse scandal:
- June 16, 2024: Morris is accused of sexually abusing Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s.
- June 18, 2024: He resigns as head of Gateway Church. His wife and son also resign from their positions in the Megachurch, and 3 Church elders take a leave of absence.
- October 3, 2024: Cindy Clemishire testifies in a hearing before a Texas House Committee that she rejected a nondisclosure agreement and a $25,000 settlement that would have kept the alleged abuse secret.
- March 12, 2025: The former clergy member is indicted on 5 charges of lewd or indecent acts with a child in Oklahoma.
- May 9, 2025: In his first court appearance, Morris pleads not guilty to the charges against him.
- June 13, 2025: Clemishire sues Morris and Gateway for defamation, alleging that Morris and Gateway made statements that minimized the abuse. The lawsuit also claims that Morris and the Church benefited financially from concealing information related to the abuse.
- October 2, 2025: Morris pleads guilty to child sex abuse and is ordered to pay Clemishire $270,000 in restitution.
Morris was given a 10-year sentence, but will only serve 6 months in Osage County Jail in Oklahoma. He will also be required to register as a lifetime sex offender.
The criminal trial involving Clemishire has ended, but survivors of Gateway Church pastor sexual abuse can still seek justice by filing a sex abuse civil lawsuit. A civil lawsuit allows survivors to seek compensation for the trauma suffered.
"There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children. This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done.”
– Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma Attorney General
Gateway Church Statement on Robert Morris Scandal
Gateway Church has released multiple public statements addressing Pastor Robert Morris's actions. Church elders claim Morris told them that he'd had an extramarital affair, but did not reveal that his conduct involved a 12-year-old child.
However, Clemishire maintains that Church elders knew about the abuse as early as 2005 when she sent an email to Morris at Gateway and a former Gateway elder responded to her message.
Find out about Gateway Church news and response to the scandal below:
- In June 2024, the Board of Elders accepted Senior Pastor Robert Morris's resignation instead of terminating him when evidence of the abuse first surfaced.
- The Board retained a law firm to investigate the Robert Morris sexual abuse allegations.
- Three Church elders took voluntary leaves of absence based on the firm's recommendations. Morris's wife and son also stepped down from Church leadership.
- In November 2024, Gateway Church head elder Tra Willbanks announced that an internal investigation found multiple church members and staff had known about the abuse allegations for years but failed to investigate or report them.
- The Church issued a public apology to Cindy Clemishire "for the pain she has endured" and for characterizing the abuse as "an inappropriate relationship."
"We want to clarify that we believe the incident was in fact sexual abuse of a child, and any description falling short of that does not reflect our or Gateway Church’s position."
– Gateway Congregation Elders
Cases like the Gateway Church Southlake scandal highlight a troubling pattern within many religious institutions, where leaders prioritize protecting the church’s reputation over protecting those who have been harmed.
Gateway Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Gateway Church and leadership members, alleging sexual abuse, cover-ups, and failures to protect minors within the community.
These cases involve both former staff and congregants, raising serious questions about how Church leaders responded to reports of abuse and whether they fulfilled their legal duty to report suspected crimes.
Clemishire Files Robert Morris and Gateway Church Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Survivor Cindy Clemishire filed a lawsuit against Robert Morris, his wife, and Gateway Church, accusing them of defamation and failing to report her sexual abuse when she was a child.
The complaint cites Morris’s public statement acknowledging the abuse allegations, in which he referred to Clemishire as a “young lady.” The defendants concealed information about the sexual abuse for financial gain, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint includes claims for defamation, libel, slander, failure to report, civil conspiracy, and infliction of emotional distress.
Family Secures Gateway Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlement
In April 2025, the family of a teenager who was allegedly sexually abused by a congregant in March 2018 received compensation from a Gateway Church lawsuit settlement.
The child’s mother claimed that Church leaders failed to report the abuse, discouraged others from supporting her, and attempted to discredit her allegations.
Pastors knew about the abuse and spoke with the accused congregant but didn’t notify law enforcement, according to the complaint.
Survivor Files Gateway Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Involving Youth Group
In August 2024, a woman filed a lawsuit against Gateway Church and a former youth group member, alleging that pastors and counselors failed to prevent or report her sexual abuse when she was 13.
The woman claims she was groomed and sexually assaulted in 2016 and 2017 by an 18-year-old high school senior who attended Gateway’s youth group. The alleged abuser is now serving prison time for another assault involving a minor.
The assaults reportedly occurred at The King’s University in Southlake, Texas, where Gateway held weekly youth meetings for about 200 children with little to no adult supervision. The lawsuit claims the Church failed to act despite nearby surveillance cameras and alleges that other children may have also been harmed.
Who Can File a Robert Morris and Gateway Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
We know how deeply painful sexual abuse can be and how overwhelming it may feel to come forward. Our team can help you understand your rights, hold those responsible accountable, and take meaningful steps toward healing.
Filing a Robert Morris and Gateway Church lawsuit may be an option if you:
- Were sexually abused or assaulted by Robert Morris
- Are the parent or guardian of a minor whom he abused
Survivors of abuse deserve to have their voices heard. By holding Robert Morris and Gateway Church accountable, you can seek financial support to help you move forward toward healing and recovery.
Call (800) 995-1212 now to see if you can file a Robert Morris sexual abuse lawsuit. It costs nothing to speak with us.
How to Pursue a Robert Morris Settlement
At Sokolove Law, we understand that a Robert Morris settlement can't erase the trauma of what happened, but it may make the road ahead easier. Compensation can help cover medical bills, counseling, emotional trauma, and more.
Our sexual abuse lawyers can handle the entire legal process on your behalf if you have a case, so you can prioritize your health and well-being.
Steps to seeking a Robert Morris and Gateway Church sexual abuse settlement include:
Clemishire said it took her decades to understand that what happened to her was both abuse and a crime — a delay that’s common among survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Many victims need years to process the trauma, which is why some states have extended or temporarily lifted their statutes of limitations to give survivors more time to come forward.
File a Pastor Robert Morris Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Robert Morris’s guilty plea has brought attention to the issue of sexual abuse within faith organizations. Survivors who were harmed by pastors or Church leaders may have legal options to seek justice and accountability.
At Sokolove Law, we’re dedicated to helping survivors of sexual abuse pursue the justice they deserve. Our experienced sexual assault attorneys can guide you through the legal process with care and compassion.
Our sexual abuse lawyers offer:
- Compassionate legal support with no upfront costs or hourly fees
- More than $10.1 Billion total recovered for clients nationwide
- Over 45 years of experience helping those harmed through no fault of their own
While no amount of money can change what happened, taking legal action can be an important step toward healing and holding those responsible accountable.
Call (800) 995-1212 right now or get a free case review to see if we may be able to help you pursue justice.
Gateway Church & Robert Morris Sexual Abuse Lawsuit FAQs
Who is Robert Morris of Gateway Church?
Robert Morris is the founder and former senior pastor of Gateway Church, a Megachurch he launched in 2000 that now has over 100,000 members and multiple campuses across Texas, Wyoming, and Missouri.
Morris rose to national prominence after joining Donald Trump’s evangelical advisory committee in 2016 and later hosting President Trump at Gateway Church.
In 2024, Morris resigned from his leadership role after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her when she was 12 in the 1980s. He later pleaded guilty to 5 counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child in an Oklahoma court.
What happened to Robert Morris of Gateway Church?
Robert Morris, the founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to child sexual abuse charges involving a 12-year-old girl.
Morris is accused of using his position as a pastor to gain the trust of the victim and her family and sexually abusing the child over a 4-year period in both Oklahoma and Texas. The abuse allegedly began in the 1980s, when Morris was serving as a traveling evangelist.
If you were sexually abused by a pastor, clergy member, or church leader, you are not alone. We can help you understand your legal rights and guide you through the next steps toward justice. Get a free case review now.
Did Pastor Robert Morris resign from Gateway Church?
Yes. Robert Morris resigned from his role as senior pastor of Gateway Church in June 2024 after church leaders began investigating allegations that he had sexually abused a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s.
At the time, Gateway’s Board of Elders described his departure as a “moral failure.” The church later clarified that the conduct involved child sexual abuse, not an affair or consensual relationship. Morris had served as Gateway’s senior pastor since its founding in 2000.
How many sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against Robert Morris?
At least one lawsuit has been filed against Robert Morris of Gateway Church following his guilty plea to child sexual abuse charges. Other survivors may still be eligible to take legal action.
If you or someone you love experienced abuse involving Robert Morris or Gateway Church, our legal team can review your case at no cost to help you understand your options. Call (800) 995-1212 now to learn more.
How much does it cost to file a Robert Morris sexual abuse lawsuit?
At Sokolove Law, survivors pay no upfront costs or hourly fees to pursue a case. We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you only pay if we successfully recover compensation for you.
This way, every survivor has access to justice — no matter their financial situation.
