EGN NEWS DESK
(CP) Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, which attracts an estimated 100,000 worshippers weekly, has confessed to “inappropriate sexual behaviour with a younger girl” greater than 35 years in the past whereas he was a younger pastor after a lady accused him of sexually abusing her over a number of years starting when she was 12.
“When I used to be in my early twenties, I used to be concerned in inappropriate sexual habits with a younger girl in a house the place I used to be staying. It was kissing and petting and never intercourse, but it surely was fallacious. This habits occurred on a number of events over the following few years,” Morris mentioned in a press release to The Christian Post after Gateway Church was requested concerning the allegations.
“In March of 1987, this case was dropped at gentle, and it was confessed and repented of. I submitted myself to the Elders of Shady Grove Church and the younger girl’s father. They requested me to step out of ministry and obtain counseling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that point, I’ve walked in purity and accountability on this space,” Morris added.
He defined that he returned to ministry in March of 1989, two years after his abuse was uncovered with the blessing of the survivor’s father and the elders of his church. He additional famous that he and his spouse met with the survivor and her household in October 1989.
“I requested their forgiveness, they usually graciously forgave me,” Morris mentioned.
Morris’ accuser, Cindy Clemishire, first informed The Wartburg Watch that he started sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, and continued with the abuse for four-and-a-half years after that. When contacted by CP on Saturday, the 54-year-old grandmother confirmed the main points within the report however insisted she was no “younger girl” when Morris started abusing her.
“I’m, in fact, simply appalled,” Clemishire informed CP on Saturday about his description of her as a “younger girl.”
“I used to be 12 years outdated. I used to be slightly woman. A really harmless little woman. And he was introduced into our residence. He and his spouse, Debbie, and their little boy, Josh, and trusted and preached on the church that my dad helped begin after which started grooming all of us to do that, which took me a long time to wrap my mind round as an grownup,” she mentioned.
“It went on for a few years. He says there was no sexual activity, however he did contact each a part of my physique.”
Clemishire informed The Wartburg Watch that she and her household first met Morris at a youth revival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1981 when he was a 20-year-old travelling evangelist. At the time, he was married to his spouse, Debbie, they usually had their son, Josh.
She mentioned Morris started preaching at her church usually on Sundays after he was invited to do a youth revival in her hometown of Hominy, Oklahoma. Her household and the Morrises rapidly turned buddies. They have been invited into their residence and sometimes went on journeys collectively.
On Christmas evening in 1982, Clemishire mentioned the protection of the connection with Morris and his household ended for her after they visited her residence and he allegedly requested her to go to him in his room that evening.
Clemishire claims Morris repeatedly abused her in Texas and Oklahoma, and he usually informed his spouse that he was merely “counselling” her in the course of the abuse.
When she turned 16, Clemishire mentioned Morris would take her out in his automobile and attempt to have sexual activity.
“By this time, Morris was a pastor at Shady Grove Church, which might finally change into Gateway Church-Grand Prairie Campus,” The Wartburg Watch report mentioned.
Clemishire finally confided in an in depth good friend, who inspired her to inform her household. When her father came upon, he informed the lead pastor at Shady Grove Church that if Morris didn’t “get out of ministry,” he would get the police concerned. That risk pressured Morris to step away for 2 years.
Morris would return to Hominy together with his spouse and televangelist James Robison. They informed Clemishire’s father that he wished to return to ministry, and “at that time, her father washed his palms of Morris and not interacted with him,” The Wartburg Watch mentioned.
Clemishire made it clear to CP that Morris didn’t get her father’s blessing to return to ministry.
“My father by no means ever gave his blessing on Robert returning to ministry! My father informed him he is fortunate he did not kill him. I’m mortified that he’s telling the world my dad gave his blessing! Of course, we forgive as a result of we’re referred to as to biblically forgive those that sin towards us. But that doesn’t imply he’s presupposed to go on with out repercussions,” she mentioned.
Clemishire mentioned that when she retained an legal professional in 2005 to file a civil lawsuit, Morris’ legal professional instructed she induced the abuse on herself as a result of she was “flirtatious.” She mentioned she requested for $50,000 to cowl the price of her counselling stemming from the abuse. She mentioned they supplied her $25,000 if she signed a non-disclosure settlement, however she refused.
For years, she defined to CP, she has been warning church buildings and pastors who would hearken to her story about Morris as a result of she doesn’t consider she is the one one. She additionally argued that he shouldn’t be serving in ministry and may step down.
“I do not suppose he ever ought to have been allowed to be within the ministry. We would by no means enable somebody to go train in a college … work in a daycare or be a physician if anyone had carried out these items. And I’ve a really troublesome time believing I’m the one one,” Clemishire mentioned.
Elders at Gateway Church informed CP in a press release that Morris was clear with them about his previous they usually consider he has been biblically restored to ministry.
“Pastor Robert has been open and forthright a few ethical failure he had over 35 years in the past when he was in his twenties and previous to him beginning Gateway Church. He has shared publicly from the pulpit the right biblical steps he took in his prolonged restoration course of,” they mentioned.
“The two-year restoration course of was intently administered by the Elders at Shady Grove Church and included him stepping out of the ministry throughout that interval whereas receiving skilled counselling and freedom ministry counselling,” they mentioned.
“Since the decision of this 35-year-old matter, there have been no different ethical failures. Pastor Robert has walked in purity, and he has positioned accountability measures and folks in his life. The matter has been correctly disclosed to church management.”
© The Christian Post
