Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Morris, who served in Donald Trump’s faith advisory board, has admitted to engaging in “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a young woman in the 1980s after a woman accused him of molesting her when she was 12 years old.
The pastor of Gateway Church acknowledged the misconduct, describing incidents of kissing and petting that occurred over several years in a statement. While not specifying details such as the girl’s name or age, Morris publicly addressed the matter after Cindy Clemishire came forward to WFAA, recounting abuse that began on Christmas Day in 1982.
“When I was in my early twenties, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying. It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong. This behavior happened on several occasions over the next few years,” the pastor said in his statement.
Morris stated that the victim’s family forgave him when the abuse came to light in 1987, prompting him to seek counseling and step away from ministry as advised by elders. He emphasized his commitment to accountability and purity since then, noting a meeting with the survivor’s family in 1989 where he sought and received forgiveness.
“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 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,” Morris said in his statement, adding he and his wife met with the survivor and her family in 1989.
“I asked their forgiveness, and they graciously forgave me,” he said.
Gateway Church confirmed the allegations, disclosing a two-year “restoration process” Morris underwent after a moral failure in his twenties. The church detailed that this process included professional counseling and was overseen closely by church elders.
“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. He has shared publicly from the pulpit the proper Biblical steps he took in his lengthy restoration process,” the church’s statement said.
“The two-year restoration process was closely administered by the Elders at Shady Grove Church and included him stepping out of the ministry during that period while receiving professional counseling and freedom ministry counseling,” the statement continued. “Since the resolution of the 35-year-old matter, there have been no other moral failures.”
The pastor’s son, James Morris, is slated to assume senior pastor duties in 2025 according to the church’s plans, while Robert Morris will continue as a primary speaker.
In related news, Dallas pastor Dr. Tony Evans, founder of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, announced his departure from the church he established in 1976. Citing personal shortcomings, Evans expressed regret for not meeting the high moral standards he espouses, though he did not specify the nature of his transgressions.
Both Morris and Evans’ disclosures underscore ongoing discussions within religious communities regarding accountability and moral conduct among their leaders.
