Gateway Church Deals With Declines, Lawsuits
Previously, Gateway Church spokesperson Lawrence Swicegood said attendance dropped more than 20% from June to October 2024, to about 19,000 worshipers weekly. He also said tithing had declined but didn’t provide figures.
One month later, in a video that leaked to social media, a Gateway elder revealed that giving was down by up to 40%. Also in November, some church members sued Gateway to recoup their tithes, citing financial fraud.
Although Gateway indicated last fall that it was joining the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), it is not yet listed as a member. Upon joining, the church will be required to provide audited financial records upon written request.
In the 2024 Outreach 100 list, Gateway ranked as the eighth-largest church in America, with average weekly attendance of 28,766. Sources indicate it had 750 full-time staff members at one point.
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.
Clemishire, meanwhile, filed a civil lawsuit last week against Morris, his wife, and various current and former Gateway leaders. Clemishire and her father allege that the defendants spread “knowingly false” statements to mislead the public and to benefit financially.
RELATED: 1 Year After Robert Morris’ Sex Abuse Scandal, Gateway Church Names New Senior Pastor
In May, Gateway Church announced that its new senior pastor will be Daniel Floyd, who currently leads Lifepoint Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is expected to begin serving at Gateway in August.
This article has been updated with a statement from Gateway Church.
