Morris founded Gateway Church in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2000, and it grew to more than 100,000 members. The pastor resigned last year, after Clemishire’s allegations went public.
Morris is suing Gateway for millions of dollars in deferred compensation, retirement benefits, and a severance payment. He has claimed that church elders knew the details of Clemishire’s allegations, including her age at the time.
Since going public with her story, Clemishire has become an advocate for sexual abuse survivors. In March, she testified at the Texas Capitol, opposing the use of non-disclosure agreements in child sex abuse cases.
When contacted by ChurchLeaders, a Gateway spokesperson declined to comment on the civil lawsuit.
