(CP) Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, which attracts an estimated 100,000 worshipers every week, pleaded responsible to “sexually inappropriate conduct with a younger woman” greater than 35 years in the past when he was a younger pastor's spouse. accused him of sexually abusing her over a number of years, beginning when she was 12.
“Once I was in my early twenties, I used to be concerned in inappropriate sexual conduct with a younger woman in the home the place I lived. It was kissing and fondling, not intercourse, but it surely was dangerous. This conduct occurred over the subsequent few years, Morris mentioned in a press release to The Christian Submit after Gateway Church was requested in regards to the allegations.
“In March of 1987 this example was delivered to gentle, confessed and repented of. I submitted to the Elders of Shady Grove Church and the younger woman's father. They requested me to depart the ministry and get counseling and freedom.” since then I’ve walked clear and accountable on this space,” Morris added.
He defined that he returned to ministry in March 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 for his or her forgiveness and so they 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 abusing her for 4 and a half years afterward. When contacted by CP on Saturday, the 54-year-old grandmother confirmed the main points within the report however insisted she was no “younger woman” when Morris started abusing her.
“I'm clearly appalled,” Clemishire informed CP Saturday of his description as a “younger woman.”
“I used to be 12 years previous. I used to be a bit lady. A really harmless little lady. And he was delivered to our home. He and his spouse Debbie and their little boy Josh and so they believed and preached within the church that my dad helped begin after which he began grooming us all , to try this, which took me many years to wrap my mind round as an grownup,” she mentioned.
“It went on for years. He says there was no intercourse, however he touched 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 touring evangelist. On the time, he was married to his spouse, Debbie, and so they had a son, Josh.
She mentioned Morris started preaching at her church usually on Sundays after being invited to a youth revival in her hometown of Hominy, Oklahoma. Her household and the Morrises grew to become quick associates. They have been invited to one another's houses and sometimes went on journeys collectively.
On Christmas Eve 1982, Clemishire mentioned the protection of her relationship with Morris and his household ended for her once they visited her at residence and he allegedly requested her to go to him in his room that night time.
Clemishire alleges that Morris abused her repeatedly in Texas and Oklahoma and sometimes informed his spouse that he was solely “advising” her through the abuse.
When she was 16, Clemishire mentioned Morris would take her exterior in his automotive and attempt to have intercourse together with her.
“On the time, Morris was the pastor at Shady Grove Church, which finally grew to become Gateway Church-Grand Prairie Campus,” The Wartburg Watch reported.
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 until Morris “resigned,” he would get the police concerned. This menace compelled Morris to depart for 2 years.
Morris will return to Homina together with his spouse and televangelist James Robison. They informed Clemishire's father that she wished to return to responsibility, and “at that time her father washed his fingers of Morris and had no additional communication with him,” The Wartburg Watch reported.
Clemishire made it clear to CP that Morris had not acquired his father's blessing to return to responsibility.
“My father by no means blessed Robert to return to the service! My father informed him he was fortunate he didn't kill him. I'm sorry he tells the world that my dad blessed! After all we forgive as a result of we name him to forgive biblically to those that have sinned towards us, however that doesn’t imply he ought to proceed with out penalties,” she mentioned.
Clemishire mentioned that when she employed a lawyer to file a civil lawsuit in 2005, Morris' lawyer advised that she self-inflicted the abuse as a result of she was “flirtatious.” She mentioned she requested for $50,000 to cowl her counseling prices stemming from the abuse. She mentioned she was supplied $25,000 if she would signal a nondisclosure settlement, however she refused.
For years, CP defined, she warned church buildings and pastors who would take heed to her story about Morris as a result of she didn't imagine she was the one one. She additionally claimed that he mustn’t serve within the ministry and will resign.
“I don't assume he ought to ever be allowed to be within the ministry. We might by no means enable somebody to go train a college… work in a nursery or be a physician if somebody did these issues.” it's very onerous to imagine I'm the one one,” Clemishire mentioned.
Elders at Gateway Church informed CP in a press release that Morris has been clear with them about his previous and so they imagine he has been biblically restored to ministry.
“Pastor Robert has been open and trustworthy in regards to the ethical failure he dedicated over 35 years in the past in his early twenties earlier than he based Gateway Church. From the pulpit, he publicly shared the right biblical steps he took in his lengthy restoration course of.” ” they mentioned.
“The 2-year restoration course of was fastidiously managed by the elders at Shady Grove Church and included him stepping out of ministry throughout that interval whereas receiving skilled counseling and freedom ministry counseling,” they mentioned.
“For the reason that decision of this 35-year-old matter, there have been no additional ethical lapses. Pastor Robert walked in purity and launched accountability measures and other people into his life. The matter was correctly disclosed to church management.” “
© The Christian Submit
