Once a towering figure in evangelical Christianity, Robert Morris built Gateway Church into one of the largest megachurches in the United States. With over 25,000 weekly attendees, a multi-campus expansion, bestselling books, and a national radio program, Morris was among the most influential religious leaders of his time.
Gateway Church
But in 2024, shocking allegations surfaced, leading to his resignation and, by March 2025, a criminal indictment for lewd acts with a child. Now, the once-revered pastor faces the weight of the justice system, while his church struggles to recover from a series of scandals, lawsuits, and leadership shakeups.
Born on July 29, 1961, in Marshall, Texas, Robert Morris founded Gateway Church in 2000, holding its first service at a Hilton Hotel in Grapevine. His vision was ambitious—he wanted to create a non-denominational megachurch that would grow beyond Texas and reach a global audience.
Pastor Robert Morris's Wife and Kids
By 2003, the church had moved to Southlake, and by 2010, it opened a massive 64-acre campus. Under Morris’s leadership, Gateway expanded to multiple locations, launched a nationally syndicated radio program, and produced chart-topping worship albums.
Morris also became a bestselling author, penning books such as The Blessed Life and Truly Free, which offered teachings on faith and prosperity. By 2023, Gateway Church ranked as the 9th largest church in the U.S., drawing over 25,000 attendees each week.
Morris's success extended beyond the pulpit. His estimated net worth of $117 million reflected not just his church’s prosperity but his personal financial acumen.
But in June 2024, everything changed.
On June 15, 2024, Robert Morris made a startling admission:
“I engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying.”
He described it as "kissing and petting", but the allegations went much further.
Cindy Clemishire on Christmas Day 1982.
His accuser, Cindy Clemishire, publicly accused Morris of sexually abusing her for over four years, starting in December 1982, when she was just 12 years old. The alleged abuse continued until she was 17, with Clemishire stating it escalated to "rape by instrumentation" (a legal term referring to penetration that is not intercourse).
gateway church
Morris had previously confessed to an "extramarital relationship", but church elders claimed they did not know the full extent of his actions—including the victim’s age and the long duration of abuse.
Cindy Clemishire
Clemishire, however, revealed emails from 2005, proving she had contacted Gateway Church leadership nearly two decades earlier. In these emails, a former Gateway elder acknowledged her allegations but did not act on them.
As public pressure mounted, Morris resigned as senior pastor in June 2024.
By March 2025, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office announced a grand jury indictment against Morris, charging him with five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a firm statement:
“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.”
While Morris was not in custody at the time of the indictment, legal proceedings were underway to secure his surrender and trial in Osage County, Oklahoma.
But Morris wasn’t the only scandal linked to Gateway Church.
The backlash was swift and severe. Gateway Church membership plummeted by 20,000 members—nearly 25% of its congregation—following the scandal.
gateway church 114 campus
Meanwhile, Gateway’s leadership faced turmoil:
In response to the growing crisis, Christian broadcaster Daystar Television Network pulled all Robert Morris programming from its lineup.
Following Morris’s departure, Gateway Church sought to stabilize itself, appointing well-known pastor Max Lucado as interim teaching pastor alongside Swedish pastor Joakim Lundqvist.
Despite these leadership changes, the church continues to face an uphill battle, both legally and reputationally.
Morris, now indicted and awaiting trial, has become a cautionary tale—a once-revered figure whose influence crumbled under the weight of long-buried abuse allegations.
For Gateway Church, the road to redemption remains uncertain. Once a respected spiritual leader, Robert Morris built one of the largest megachurches in the U.S., influencing millions through his sermons, books, and TV programs.
