Update:
9:36 p.m. July 27, 2024: This story was updated with comment from the accuser's attorney.
Gateway Church apologizes at service for statement calling Morris accuser a ‘young lady’
Church elder also said James Morris and his wife had resigned from the church and two prior statements about Robert Morris accuser were “incorrect.”
By Matt Kyle
A Gateway Church elder openly apologized to Robert Morris’ accuser during Saturday’s service for the church’s past statements calling her alleged abuse by Morris an “inappropriate relationship” and referring to her as a “young lady.”
Gateway elder Tra Willbanks, who previously apologized to the congregation at the first service after Morris’ resignation, took the stage early in the service and directly addressed Cindy Clemishire, an Oklahoma woman who came forward in June to report that Morris had sexually abused her between 1982 and 1987, beginning when she was 12 years old.
A statement from the church sent to staff around the time Clemishire first came forward included a quote from Morris, in which he called the alleged abuse a “moral failure.” In the statement, Morris said he had been involved in “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a “young lady” early in his marriage and ministry.
Another statement from Gateway referred to the abuse as an “inappropriate relationship.” At the service, Willbanks apologized for the language and said it was incorrect.
“Cindy, in case you are watching, we want to again apologize to you on behalf of our entire church for the years of pain that you have endured,” Willbanks said. “We are sorry for our initial communication, which was clearly incorrect. You were a child, not a young lady. Additionally, two weeks ago, Gateway released a statement saying that this was an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ This statement was not correct either.”
Willbanks said Gateway believes the incident is sexual abuse of a child. He also said the church is not attempting to cover up or minimize the situation.
“Any description falling short of that does not reflect our position,” Willbanks said. “I’m sorry that we got that communication wrong.”
Willbanks also thanked Clemishire for coming forward, and told congregants the church plans to increase communication with them “in the coming days” and to deliver to them the findings of an independent review conducted by Haynes & Boone, a law firm the church hired.
Boz Tchividjian, Clemishire’s attorney, said Clemishire acknowledged the apology, but said Gateway leadership has not yet reached out to her directly to apologize and learn how the abuse impacted her life.
“Public apologies by institutions are easy as they are celebrated by the public while not requiring personal and often difficult engagement with the victim,” Tchividjian said. “To this day, there are still too many unanswered questions that Gateway must answer if it is committed to the truth about Robert Morris, the offenses he has committed and the leaders who protected him. We remain hopeful these questions will be answered and that there will be a day that Gateway will demonstrate authentic repentance to Cindy Clemishire for keeping the truth hidden in darkness for so many years.”
Gateway leadership previously said the church did not have “all the facts” about Morris’ alleged abuse of Clemishire, and that said elders believed Morris engaged in a consensual affair. The church said it did not know Clemishire’s age at the time of the alleged abuse.
Willbanks also informed congregants of the resignations of James Morris and his wife, Bridgette Morris, which staff were told of Thursday. Willbanks said elders met with the couple earlier this week and both parties made the collective decision for them to step down from their positions and from leading Gateway in the future. Robert Morris and the elders had chosen James Morris in 2022 to lead the church beginning in 2025.
The Morrises then took the stage as church attendees stood and clapped. Willbanks called the couple “amazing servants” and said their decision to step down is an example of their commitment to the church.
Willbanks said Gateway elders supports James and Bridgette Morris’ desire to plant a church in the future, and said elders believe the couple will accomplish this.
“We love them, we believe in them, and I want to thank them for pouring out, to you, to our staff, in the time that they’ve served here at Gateway,” Willbanks said. “Our hearts are with you, and we pray that you will be able to take the time to rest, process, pray, and uncover what God has for you.”
The couple told the congregation that they love them.
“It truly has been an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity to share with you, to pray with you, to pray for you, to baptize people,” James Morris said. “And, so, it’s just been such an honor to have this time to lead in this season. And thank you. Thank you for letting us do that.”
“I feel like it’s the ending of one season for us and the beginning of a new one,” Bridgette Morris said. “So the Lord is giving us vision for the future. But we do grieve. Grieve not being here with you.”
James Morris said God has plans for Gateway.
“We are very excited about the future, the future of Gateway, the future of what God has for all of us, and even for us as we now go and we pray and we seek to God to plant a church,” James Morris said. “Now with that, I will say, even though we’re pastoring a different church, we are all the body of Christ, we are called to walk in unity, we are called to walk with each other.”
Willbanks also told congregants that Max Lucado, a San Antonio-based pastor and Christian author, and Joakim Lundqvist, a Swedish pastor, will be stepping into roles at Gateway. Lucado will become the interim teaching pastor and will preach at Gateway about twice a month, Willbanks said. Lundqvist will share preaching duties with Lucado and will take on a pastoral role with staff, Willbanks said.
Both Lucado and Lundqvist have preached at Gateway in the past. Lucado led the service Saturday and said he and his wife, Denalyn, are excited to be coming to Gateway.
“We’re feeling at once the twin emotions of sadness over what has brought us here and yet excitement over what is about to happen,” Lucado said. “We consider it a high and holy privilege to walk with you in this journey.”
