Robert Morris Indicted on Child Sex Abuse Charges: A Timeline of Allegations, Resignation, and Legal Action
Robert Morris, the founder of the prominent Gateway Church, faces five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child, according to an indictment by an Oklahoma grand jury. The charges stem from allegations of sexual abuse that purportedly began in December 1982, involving a 12-year-old girl. The case has sent shockwaves through the church community and beyond, particularly given Morris’s high profile as a religious leader and his past involvement in political circles.
The indictment, announced by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, details that Morris’s alleged actions began around Christmas 1982 and continued for approximately four years. Attorney General Gentner Drummond emphasized the severity of the accusations, stating, "There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children. This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done."
The alleged victim, Cindy Clemishire, publicly revealed her allegations in June 2024 through the Wartburg Watch, a blog dedicated to exposing sexual abuse within religious institutions. Clemishire expressed relief that the law had finally caught up with Morris after nearly 43 years. She said in a statement, "After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child."
The Attorney General’s office clarified that the statute of limitations does not apply in this case because Morris was not a resident or inhabitant of Oklahoma during the period of the alleged crimes.
Clemishire’s Account of Abuse
In her blog post, Clemishire recounted how she and her family met Morris at a youth revival in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At the time, Morris, then 20 years old, was a traveling evangelist with his wife, Debbie. Morris preached at Clemishire’s church on Sundays and sometimes stayed at her family’s home with his wife and son. Clemishire stated that she initially perceived him as a safe and friendly figure.
The dynamic shifted drastically on Christmas 1982, when Morris, according to Clemishire’s account, asked her to visit him in his room that night. Clemishire, who was 12 years old at the time, said she didn’t initially suspect anything. However, once inside his room, she alleges that Morris sexually abused her and cautioned her to never tell anyone, warning that it would ruin everything. Clemishire said the abuse continued in Oklahoma and Texas until 1987.
She eventually confided in a friend and her parents, which she believes led to Morris stepping down from ministry for two years. Reflecting on her decision to come forward decades later, Clemishire told USA TODAY, "I’ve always just trusted that God’s timing would take it wherever it needed to go. Why hide?"
Gateway Church’s Response
Initially, Gateway Church appeared to support Morris when Clemishire’s accusations first surfaced. The church released a statement to WFAA-TV stating that Morris had been "open and forthright about a moral failure he had over 35 years ago" and that "there have been no other moral failures." Morris himself issued a statement acknowledging the situation, stating, "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 step 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."
However, in a later statement following Morris’s resignation, the church’s elders expressed regret for not having the full information and acknowledged the impact on the victim. "We regret that we did not have the information that we now have. For the sake of the victim, we are thankful this situation has been exposed," the elders stated. "We know many have been affected by this, we understand that you are hurting, and we are very sorry. It is our prayer that, in time, healing for all those affected can occur."
Subsequently, Gateway Church has distanced itself from Morris, even recommending the resignations of his son and daughter-in-law, James and Bridget Morris, who also held positions within the church. "Pastor James Morris is a man of integrity, and he has clearly stated that he had no knowledge of the true facts of this situation," the church said in a Facebook post. "However, because Pastor James Morris is related to Robert Morris, Haynes and Boone has recommended that Pastor James also take a temporary leave of absence from the Board of Elders and Pastor James has volunteered to do so to demonstrate his commitment to a truly independent and unbiased inquiry."
In November, Gateway Church removed several of its elders following an independent investigation by the law firm Haynes and Boone into the child sex abuse allegations against Morris. These departures followed the resignations of Morris, his son, his daughter-in-law, and executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow.
Independent Investigation and Ongoing Litigation
Tra Willbanks, an elder at Gateway Church, stated that the independent investigation involved reviewing thousands of documents, collecting 780 gigabytes of data, and interviewing dozens of individuals. However, Morris and five others declined to be interviewed. While the law firm did not uncover any other sexual assault allegations against Morris, Willbanks stated that Morris made "financial demands" following the investigation, leading to pending litigation between him and the church, which they are contesting.
Willbanks affirmed that Gateway Church is cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation but did not provide further details, emphasizing that neither the church nor its current leadership are subjects of the investigation.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties
The indictment was filed for prosecution in Osage County District Court in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Morris is expected to surrender his passport and turn himself in on Monday. His bond has been set at $50,000. If convicted on all five counts, Morris could face up to 100 years in prison.
Morris’s Background and Influence
Robert Morris founded Gateway Church, which has grown into a megachurch with multiple campuses. He previously had a television program broadcast in over 190 countries and a radio program aired in over 6,800 cities. His YouTube page, which is no longer online, had 80,000 subscribers and featured videos on topics such as forgiveness and God’s grace. He also served on President Donald Trump’s spiritual advisory board during his 2016 campaign and initial presidential term but did not have a role in the 2024 reelection effort.
