Disgraced Pastor Robert Morris has demanded from Gateway Church a lifetime retirement package worth millions of dollars, the church claims in a court filing.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Morris, who founded the Texas megachurch in 2000, resigned as its senior pastor in 2024 after decades-old allegations of child sex abuse came to light.
Morris had actually spoken openly about the alleged abuse in the past, referring to it as “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady.” What was previously unknown to most is that the young lady in question was then 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire.
RELATED: Gateway Church Members File Financial Fraud Lawsuit Against Robert Morris, 3 Other Pastors
Clemishire has alleged that Morris sexually abused her while staying with her family as he worked as a traveling evangelist. Morris was in his early 20s at the time of the alleged abuse.
Morris, 63, now faces criminal charges in Oklahoma, where the alleged abuse occurred, and he could face up to 100 years in prison if convicted.
According to WFAA, Gateway Church has now requested that a judge put a halt to an arbitration process initiated by Morris regarding financial compensation. The church claims that Morris has demanded a $1 million payout, an annual retirement salary of $800,000 until he turns 70, and an annual retirement salary of $600,000 every year thereafter for the remainder of his life.
Morris is also reportedly seeking to obtain the intellectual property rights to his books, sermons, social media accounts, and the web addresses pastorrobert.com and PSRobert.com.
The church is arguing that in light of the accusations, and now criminal charges, against Morris, his contract with the church has been disqualified, and Gateway is not obligated to Morris.
