The son of Gateway Church founder Robert Morris has resigned after previously being anointed to lead the megachurch, the organization said.
Gateway said in a statement Thursday that church elders earlier this week met with James Morris and his wife, Bridgette, and made the decision for Morris and his wife to step down from their current positions and from leading the church in the future.
“We as Elders affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in both Pastors James and Bridgette’s hearts to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future,” the statement said.
“We love Pastors James and Bridgette and their children — we deeply care about them and sincerely thank them for investing their lives here at Gateway Church. They have faithfully and honorably served our congregation and this community through all the years that they have been part of Gateway Church,” the statement said.
James and Bridgette Morris did not immediately respond to voicemails left Thursday night seeking comment.
James Morris, 39, had previously been chosen to become the lead pastor at Gateway starting in 2025, succeeding his father, Robert Morris. The elder Morris founded the church in 2000 and led the Southlake-based church to become one of the largest megachurches in the country.
Robert Morris resigned from his position as senior pastor in June, several days after an Oklahoma woman said Robert Morris had sexually abused her from 1982 to 1987, beginning when she was 12 years old.
Morris, 62, has not been criminally charged, and the statute of limitations for a criminal or civil case may have passed.
James Morris was one of several elders who took a voluntary leave of absence from elder duties in June following a recommendation from Haynes and Boone, the firm the church hired to investigate the circumstances surrounding Robert Morris’ alleged abuse. James Morris and the three other elders remained involved with their staff duties at the church, a June Gateway statement said.
Gateway also said in Thursday’s statement that Max Lucado, a Christian author and minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, will step into an interim teaching pastor role at the church. Lucado has preached at Gateway several times.
Gateway said Joakim Lundqvist, a Swedish pastor, would also be taking on a pastoral role with staff. Lundqvist was a featured guest pastor at the first service after Robert Morris’ resignation.
A Thursday post on Gateway’s Facebook page said the church planned to share several “important updates” with the congregation during services this weekend.
