Pastor and best-selling author Max Lucado preached at Gateway Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this past weekend, giving a sermon titled, “You’ll Get Through This.” Gateway has been dealing with fallout over the past month following allegations that founding Pastor Robert Morris, who has since resigned, abused Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s when she was 12 years old.
“You have welcomed us into your worship service many times over the last decade, yet of all the occasions that we have been here, none are we more honored and grateful than we are today,” said Lucado after being received onstage with a standing ovation from the congregation. “It is a genuine blessing to be in your presence.”
Lucado’s wife, Denalyn, joined the pastor on the stage. “I know the last few weeks have been hard. I know you’re walking an uphill path, and you’re feeling the wind in your face,” Lucado told the people of Gateway Church. “But I also know that God is still on the throne and that he loves with a deep and abiding affection. And Jesus is building his church. He’ll get you through this. Indeed, that’s the theme of my message: You’ll get through this. Let’s pray, and then we’ll get to work.”
Max Lucado Returns to Embattled Gateway Church
On June 14, a woman named Cindy Clemishire published allegations on The Wartburg Watch that Gateway Church’s Pastor Robert Morris had sexually abused her from 1982 to 1987, starting when she was 12 years old and he was in his 20s.
Clemishire says the abuse did not stop until she told her parents about it. After her father allegedly called Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, where Morris was serving as a pastor at the time, Morris stepped away from ministry for two years.
Clemishire’s father reportedly did not tell authorities about the abuse, and Morris returned to ministry after the two years were over. He founded Gateway in 2000, and the church has since grown to an attendance of over 25,800.
Gateway elders initially responded to Clemishire’s allegations by saying that Morris had already previously acknowledged “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady” in his 20s and that he had done everything necessary to repent of that sin and be restored. According to Morris, “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.”
Morris said the father gave his blessing for Morris to return to ministry, something that Clemishire vehemently denies. She also says that in 2005, when she sought $50,000 from Morris for counseling costs related to the alleged abuse, the pastor offered her $25,000 on condition she sign a non-disclosure agreement. She refused.
Clemishire says that she has tried to tell her story over the years, but people have not been interested in it until now. On June 18, Gateway elders announced that they had accepted Morris‘ resignation and that they had not previously understood the “inappropriate” relationship to have been abusive.
They said they would be conducting an investigation into events within the timeframe Clemishire gave for the alleged abuse. Morris also resigned as an overseer at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama.
Clemishire, who has hired attorney and abuse survivor advocate, Boz Tchividjian, says (and a leaked email shows) that Gateway knew in 2005 that Morris’ “inappropriate relationship” involved a minor. She believes that Gateway should have fired Morris instead of allowing him to resign. Moreover, Clemishire has expressed concerns about Gateway’s investigation, including the fact that it does not cover Morris’ tenure at the church.
