Gateway Church announces removal of 4 elders after investigation into Morris allegations

Gateway Church has removed four of its elders after an investigation into the founder’s alleged sexual abuse by a 12-year-old girl, the leadership of the North Texas megachurch announced Saturday.

The four elders had some information or knowledge of former senior pastor Robert Morris’ behavior prior to the public disclosure of the allegations this summer, but they did not take action, church elder Tra Willbanks said during a live-streamed service Nov. 2.

There were “two groups” of elders: one group who knew the victim Cindy Clemishire was 12 when the abuse began in the 1980s, and another group who knew about allegations of sexual abuse against Morris but did not make further inquiries question, Willbanks said.

“We can report to you that today there are no individuals in either group who serve as elders, are employed by or work at Gateway Church. They have been removed,” Willbanks said.

The removals come after an independent law firm hired by the Southlake-based church submitted 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 lawsuits 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.

Elder 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.

Going forward, Gateway will focus on its “internal systems” and on improving its governance processes, Willbanks said.

“There was a massive failure of governance and accountability here at Gateway Church,” Willbanks said. “We need to be honest with ourselves and recognize that our culture allowed this truth to be buried for too long.”