SOUTHLAKE (WBAP/KLIF News ) – The fallout continues after the victim of a North Texas megachurch pastor came forward with accusations of child sexual abuse that occurred decades ago.
54-year-old Cindy Clemshire of Oklahoma said Gateway Church Pastor Robert Morris started molesting her when she was twelve from 1982 to 1987.
She told our media partner WFAA TV she initially told a family friend, who convinced her to alert her parents.
“He didn’t come forward and confess, he was turned in and when someone is turned in…’What are they sorry for?’ Are they sorry because they got caught or are they truly repentant of what they did?’ she said.
In a statement issued Sunday, Morris admitted to that he was “involved in an inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady.” The statement did not reference the young girl’s age.
“It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” said Morris’ statement. “In March of 1987, this situation was brought to light, and it was confessed and repented of. I submitted myself to the Elders of Shady Grove Church and the young lady’s father. They asked me to stop out of ministry and receive counseling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area.”
After two years on counseling, Morris returned to Shady Grove in 1989 and resumed preaching. Clemshire said although her family forgave Morris, they did not agree to him returning to the pulpit.
Morris was a pastor at Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie when Clemshire told her parents about the abuse. Gateway Church joined with Shady Grove in 2013.
Gateway Church elders also issued a statement about the abuse. “Pastor Robert has been open and forthright about a moral failure he had over 35 years ago when he was in his twenties and prior to him starting Gateway Church,” said the statement. “He has shared publicly from the pulpit the properly Biblical steps he took in his lengthy restoration process.”
Clemshire recently shared her story with the Wartburg Watch, a blog which details allegations of sexual abuse within the church. Clemshire’s story was published on Friday.
The Christian Post published a story about the allegations on Saturday.
No criminal charges against Morris have been filed.
According to a bio on Gateway Church’s website; in February 2022, Morris had announced plans to turn over leadership to his son, James Morris, in spring 2025.
Robert Morris will continue as the primary speaker on the weekends.
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