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Gateway Church announced the dismissal of multiple elders who were reportedly aware of abuse allegations against its founder, Reverend Robert Morris. The Southlake, Texas-based church also confirmed its cooperation with an ongoing criminal investigation related to these claims.

Morris resigned in June following allegations from Cindy Cleminshire, who accused him of sexual abuse that allegedly occurred between 1982 and 1987, beginning when she was just 12 years old.

Cleminshire, now 54, stated that she informed Gateway Church leaders about the abuse on multiple occasions. Despite this, the church's board of elders initially claimed they were unaware that the accuser was a minor at the time.

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Gateway Church Investigation

To determine what church leaders knew about the allegations before Morris’s resignation, Gateway Church enlisted the Haynes and Boone law firm.

 During the investigation, it was revealed that six individuals, including Morris, declined to participate. 

The law firm’s findings indicated that certain church elders and employees were aware Cleminshire was 12 at the time of the alleged abuse, while others knew of the allegations but failed to question further.

As a result, the church dismissed elders who fell into either group and barred any staff members aware of the situation from becoming future elders. 

Gateway Church leaders admitted the investigation exposed a “failure of culture” within the organization.

“We must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that our culture allowed this truth to be buried for too long,” said Elder Tra Willbanks.

“At some point in the past, the culture of Gateway became one where power was centralized and the leader at the top was surrounded by people who wanted to protect him. Some of them at all cost.”

The church is now implementing governance changes, including revised bylaws, to prevent similar issues in the future. It noted that no other allegations of sexual misconduct against Morris had been found.

Morris is not currently facing criminal charges, but a criminal investigation is ongoing, and the church assured its full cooperation.

“You also need to know that Gateway Church is currently and fully cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation, the details of which we can’t share with you at this time,” said Willbanks.

Gateway clarified that neither the church nor its current leadership is under investigation. It also mentioned that Morris had made financial demands, which the church declined.