A local megachurch pastor is making headlines over admitted sexual encounters he had with a child some 30-plus years ago.
Robert Morris, the lead pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, acknowledged first molesting a 12-year-old girl back in 1982. Cindy Clemishire, now 54, claimed the abuse went on until 1987. She said she informed her parents after being encouraged to do so by a friend.
Gateway Church was founded in 2000. It emphasizes large-scale worship services and outreach efforts. The church hosts numerous services and events throughout the week, including small group gatherings, outreach programs, and mission initiatives.
Here’s a bit of what WFAA is reporting about these developments:
“‘It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,’ Morris said in a 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.’
“Clemishire says she’d told her story for years and tried to sue Morris in 2005, but her actions did not generate much attention.
“She says a pastor recently advised her to share her story with The Wartburg Watch, a blog which calls attention to instances of alleged sexual abuse in the church. The website published Clemishire’s account Friday.”
Although the Dallas Police Department does not include a specific category for child sex crimes in its crime analytics dashboard, the data on violent crime victims, which includes victims of sexual assaults, shows that 916 of the 10,666 total logged this year as of May 30 were aged 16 and under.
To read more about the fallout, please click HERE.