Gateway Church report reveals criminal investigation and massive governance failure over alleged abuse by founder Robert Morris

SOUTHLAKE – A private investigation into allegations that Gateway Church founder Robert Morris Sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s has revealed a massive failure of the former church leadership.

The investigation, which the church said now involves law enforcement, also found that others knew of Morris's relationship with the underage girl and failed to ask further questions.

“We must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that our culture has allowed this truth to be buried for too long,” Tra Willbanks, an elder at Gateway Church, said during Saturday’s regularly scheduled service.

Four church elders who had information about Morris's relationship – Kevin Grove, Thomas Miller, Jeremy Carrasco and Gayland Lawshe – were fired following the investigation.

Willbanks called it a “massive failure in governance and accountability.”

“When a church focuses on one pastor, it loses its way,” Willbanks said. “And unfortunately, over the last few months, we have come to the realization that at some point in the past, the culture at Gateway has become one in which power is centralized and the leader at the top is surrounded by people who want to protect him , some of them at any cost.”

Morris allegedly had a sexual relationship with a minor between 1982 and 1987, when he was a traveling evangelist in his early 20s. On June 14th Cindy Clemishirewhose parents had become friends with Morris, publicly accused the pastor of repeatedly abusing her during this time.

“There was a group who knew without a doubt that Cindy was 12 years old when the abuse began and there was a second group who knew about the allegations of sexual abuse by Robert Morris, who had enough information to which she should have led.” “They asked more questions and inquired more, but they didn't,” Willbanks said.

Willbanks said he could not release further details due to ongoing criminal investigations and ongoing litigation against Gateway Church, including financial claims from Robert Morris.

“But I can report that neither the church nor its current leadership are the subject of this criminal investigation,” Willbanks said.

The Haynes Boone investigation involved 680 gigabytes of data, reviewing thousands of pages of documents and emails and interviewing more than two dozen people, Willbanks said.

Six people, including Robert Morris, refused to meet with Haynes Boone, Willbanks said.

Willbanks said the law firm's findings were presented to a three-member subcommittee.

“What happened to Cindy (Clemishire) was heartbreaking and despicable, and we condemn all sexual abuse in all its forms,” Willbanks said. “We feel deep sadness for those who have fallen victim to such despicable acts.”

Willbanks praised Clemishire for his push, which led to others who had not come forward to share their stories.

The investigation came after the elders initially claimed they did not have all the facts surrounding the alleged sexual assault, including Clemishire's age at the time and the duration of the abuse.

Willbanks said Robert Morris told a version of his story that he had been unfaithful in his marriage in his early 20s and that others who were aware of it had covered it up.

Willbanks said the investigation concluded there were no other victims of Robert Morris other than Clemishire.

According to Willbanks, no one involved in the failure is still part of the church.

Since the Clemishire claims in June, Robert Morris has resigned from his executive role at Gateway. Morris' son, James Morris, and his wife, Bridget, also stepped down from their church leadership positions over the summer.

Meanwhile, Willbanks urged anyone with additional information to come forward, assuring him that his allegations would be treated in the “strictest confidence.”