On Wednesday (March 12), an Oklahoma grand jury indicted Gateway Church founder Robert Morris on five charges stemming from his alleged sexual abuse of 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Morris founded the Fort-Worth, Texas, megachurch in 2000. He resigned as Gateway’s senior pastor on June 18, 2024, after Clemishire accused him of repeatedly sexually abusing her between 1982-1987.
The 63-year-old Morris publicly confessed to his relationship with Clemishire on multiple occasions during his time at Gateway Church, but he described the incident as “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady.” He never disclosed that Clemishire was a child.
RELATED: Robert Morris Resigns as Gateway Church’s Senior Pastor Following Sexual Abuse Allegations
Morris has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 44 years and has three children, all of whom are married. He has nine grandchildren.
Morris has now been charged with five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The first count listed in the indictment is a result of an incident that allegedly took place on Dec. 25, 1982. The indictment graphically details Morris’ alleged sexual abuse of Clemishire.
The alleged abuse took place in Hominy, Oklahoma, while Morris was a traveling evangelist. He would oftentimes stay with Clemishire’s family while preaching at their church.
Following the indictment, Clemishire 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. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”
“My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail,” Clemishire added.
, an Oklahoma grand jury indicted Gateway Church founder Robert Morris on five charges stemming from his alleged sexual abuse of 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s.){kind=link}