In a shocking turn of events, the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church, Robert Morris, has tendered his resignation following allegations of sexual abuse. The accusations were brought forward by Cindy Clemishire, who claims the abuse occurred between 1982 and 1987 when she was a minor.

The board of elders at Gateway Church has accepted Morris' resignation, expressing their "heartbreak and appall" over the allegations. In an official statement, the church board mentioned that they were previously unaware of the extent of the inappropriate relationship and the victim's age during that time. However, they acknowledged their knowledge of an extramarital affair but believed it involved a "young lady."

Gateway Church has taken immediate action by hiring a law firm, Haynes and Boone, to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations. The church board emphasized their commitment to holding all parties involved accountable, stating, "For the sake of the victim, we are thankful this situation has been exposed."

As a result, Robert Morris' name has been removed from the church's leadership webpage, and his son James is now listed as the senior leader of the church. This shift in leadership comes amidst the ongoing investigation and the need to address the serious allegations.

In response to Morris' resignation, Cindy Clemishire expressed her gratitude that he is no longer a pastor at Gateway Church. However, she voiced her disappointment that he was not terminated and disputed the board's claim of unawareness regarding her age at the time of the abuse. According to Clemishire, she had previously disclosed the details of the events to a church official and a board member in 2005 and 2007.

Neither the board of elders nor the law firm hired to investigate the alleged abuses have issued a comment in response to the recent developments.

Robert Morris, when approached for comment, did not provide an immediate response. However, in a previous statement to the Christian Post, Morris confessed to engaging in inappropriate behavior with a young lady in his early 20s. He described the actions as "kissing and petting" but acknowledged their inherent wrongness. Morris claimed to have confessed, repented, and taken a break from ministry following the guidance of the elders of Shady Grove Church and the father of the young lady involved. He returned to ministry in 1989.

These allegations first emerged on the religious blog Wartburg Watch before being reported by the Dallas Morning News. Cindy Clemishire, who accused Robert Morris, stated that he had been a close family friend and a traveling preacher who stayed at her home in 1982. She alleged that on Christmas night of that year, Morris invited her to his room, where he touched her inappropriately and warned her against speaking out. The abuse supposedly continued for over four years.

Gateway Church, founded by Morris in 2000, has grown to become a prominent evangelical church with numerous locations and a significant attendance of over 100,000 each weekend.

Notably, Robert Morris was part of a faith advisory group for the Trump administration, consisting of evangelical pastors and leaders. Their role included attending briefings at the White House and posing for photos with the former president. It remains unclear what policy influence this group had, but their public image proved influential for conservative Christians who felt overlooked by previous administrations.

As the investigation into the allegations unfolds, the focus remains on bringing justice to the victim and holding all responsible parties accountable. The future of Gateway Church hangs in the balance as the community comes to terms with the shocking revelations.