Dallas megachurch faces new questions as disgraced founder’s son announces abrupt departure

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The son and daughter-in-law of a disgraced Texas megachurch pastor who left in disgrace last month following allegations of sexual abuse of a pre-teen girl have also resigned from their leadership positions within the congregation.

James and Bridgette Morris, executive senior pastor and executive pastor of ministerial experience, communications and women’s ministry at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, met with church elders this week and, after being “diligent in prayer” about the situation, “have collectively made the decision” to resign, according to a statement released by Gateway officials Thursday night.

“As elders, we affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in the hearts of Pastors James and Bridgette to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future,” the statement said.

Pastor Robert Morris, who founded the 100,000-member congregation nearly a quarter-century ago and also served as a religious adviser to former President Donald Trump, resigned June 18 after an Oklahoma woman accused him of luring her into a five-year sexual relationship that began when she was 12 and Morris, now 62, was in his early 20s.

The abuse began on Dec. 25, 1982, when Morris was evangelizing across the country as an itinerant preacher, Cindy Clemishire, now 54, revealed in explosive allegations posted June 14 on a Christian watchdog blog.

Morris admitted to the congregation that he had been “involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young woman,” but did not specify that the “lady” was actually a little girl.

In 2007, Clemishire hired a lawyer and threatened to sue Morris for what he allegedly did to her 25 years earlier. Morris’s lawyer responded by accusing Clemishire of being “flirtatious” as a child.

According to Clemishire, she was still wearing pink pajamas to bed and playing with Barbie dolls at the time of the alleged abuse. Morris, who had befriended Clemishire’s parents, and his family were staying at their home while he hosted a youth revival event in town.

At Christmas, Morris asked Clemishire to “visit” him in his bedroom that night. It was there, Clemishire said, that he first sexually assaulted her.

According to Clemishire, the abuse continued until March 1987. Her father continued to donate to Morris’ ministry, unaware of what the trusted family friend was doing to his daughter. When he finally learned what was happening, Clemishire’s father reported it to the church elders, and Morris retired for two years before returning to the pulpit.

Morris went on to found Gateway Church in 2000 and grow it into one of the largest evangelical churches in the country. The church said on social media earlier this week that the elder board had “some important updates that they will share during this weekend’s services.”