Texas pastor Robert Morris resigns after sexual assault allegations. Watch how we got here.

North Texas pastor Robert Morris resigned from Gateway Church after Cindy Clemishire accused him of sexually assaulting her for years, starting when she was 12 years old. See chapters below.

Clemishire says Morris began sexually assaulting her in 1982 while he and his wife were staying with her family in Oklahoma. She says it continued until 1987, when he was a traveling evangelical preacher. Morris admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a “young lady,” however church leaders say they didn’t have all the details.

Morris founded the evangelical church in 2000, with over 100,000 members and 10 campuses in North Texas.

00:00 06-17-24 CBS News Texas Morning - Robert Morris sexual assault allegation
02:10 06-17-24 CBS News Texas at 5: Survivor Cindy Clemishire speaks
04:30 06-18-24 CBS News Texas at 4: Robert Morris resigns
07:44 06-18-24 CBS News Texas at 10: Resignation fallout
11:17 06-20-24 CBS News Texas at 4: Statute of limitations
13:40 06-21-24 CBS News Texas at 10: Former Gateway pastor Bob Hamp
17:03 06-22-24 CBS News Texas at 10: Congregation returns to Gateway
20:21 06-24-24 CBS News Texas at 10: Words matter

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Twitter: @CBSNewsTexas

[BobDacat-pyso]

He was 20+ and she was 12. The abuse went on for years. It is not inappropriate sexual relationship. It was and is child molestation. He is a child molester.

[nenar]

What’s the most irritating is the way that it stated by him to make light of the situation. He engaged in inappropriate behavior with a young lady. No dude, you molested a kid. How different it would have sounded if he had been on the pulpit confessing it as it actually is than the white washed version of it.

[corinnecepeda]

When are we going to STOP putting these people on a That's the first step.

[bobbydardy]

No surprise at all from these charlatans!

[juliedeane]

A 12 yo is a child!!!
Shame on these men who shut the females up & did not have pure ♡♡♡.

[itsapassion]

Who is paying for Gateway’s legal team? My tithes were not meant to support immoral behavior. This is on the elders who allowed Robert Morris to return to the pulpit, ignored Cindy’s accusations and swept it under the rug.

[patricialarson]

Statute of limitations should be lifted for child sexual abuse, nationwide.

[fulanichild]

Her parents are also to blame. Instead of allowing the church to "handle it internally", meaning no consequences for the molester, they should have gone directly to the police.

[precious]

Never ever leave your kids alone with the clergy .

[SolisSolaris]

We are called to forgive those who sin against us, we are never given permission to forgive CRIMES committed against innocent children. That’s for the law to handle. May justice prevail.

[Encourager-Purpose-Destiny]

The sad part about this, he told his members he went after "girls" who didn't have strong father figures or were vulnerable. He taught them how to do it by saying how he did it. So, he had to be lying when he said it was only one woman (a 12-year-old girl). It had to be more young girls he violated or abused because he said he went after "girls" not one girl.

[adabee]

How shocking. An evangelist abuses a young girl, and his worshippers continue to worship him

[shelleybuerer]

He should’ve been fired. The church should close.

[Teetech]

I am leary of any church that allows an outgoing pastor to “appoint” his successor. They should form a pastor search committee, find a good interim pastor than can guide the church through that process (normally about a year), and then trust the process.

[xavierestrada]

He needs to be labeled a sexual predator

[Viosified]

That predator Morris is a real wolf in sheep's clothing.

[diannebass]

Well it’s about time he should have never ever been allowed up in a church leader position again, after that and the church knew about it !! He could be forgiven but never ever should have been allowed any senior position even again !!!

[mikeandi]

Please do not address him pastor. Is he in hiding?

[calebborgman]

Let He or She who has no sin cast the first stone. Morris knows in his heart wether or not he has truly repented. God knows all things, imparts righteousness and mercy. Let's pray for the victim and for Robert.

[Kalsoum-zmpb]

And people would still go to that church! Give me a break.