“The revelations surrounding Morris shocked Gateway and the broader DFW community, particularly given the close-in-time moral failures of other local church leaders,” Gateway said in court documents. “Yet, amid the chaos his conduct had unleashed upon Gateway and his community, Morris was laser-focused on securing his financial future.”
“Shortly after the troubling revelations about his past conduct came to light last year, Robert Morris reached out to Gateway Church with a series of substantial financial demands,” the church said. “Gateway Church has chosen not to meet those demands.”
Gateway is also alleging that Morris bypassed an agreement to begin compensation negotiations through mediation and initiated arbitration to force the church’s hand. Thus, Gateway is asking a judge to halt the process and is seeking compensation for attorney fees related to the matter.
Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks previously alluded to Morris’ demands for money from the church in a June 2024 update to the congregation.
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Late last week, Morris made his first court appearance in his criminal case. He faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
