Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris resigned his position Wednesday after a woman recounted her sexual abuse that began at the age of 12.
The resignation of Robert Morris was accepted by the church’s board of elders. The board released a statement saying it is “heartbroken and appalled” by the allegations raised by Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 when the alleged abuse began in 1982. The church has now hired a law firm to investigate the allegations.
Morris is the latest high-profile pastor to confess to sexual abuse. Scandals have touched not only churches but high-profile national ministries like Kanakuk Kamps where hundreds of former campers have alleged sexual abuse at the hands of camp counselors.
While the pastor attempted to downplay his actions ove the weekend, his victim was having none of the excuses.
Morris attempted to downplay the actions telling a media outlet he was in his early 20s and “was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying,”
“In March of 1987, this situation was brought to light, and it was confessed and repented of. I submitted myself to the elders of Shady Grove Church and the young lady’s father. They asked me to step out of ministry and receive counseling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area. I asked their forgiveness, and they graciously forgave me.”
Cindy Clemshire, his victim, said Morris began sexually abusing her during a time when her family and his family became friends. The abuse continued for four-and-a-half years after that. Morris eventually stepped down from ministry in 1987 when Clemishire brought the allegations to light, first to a close friend and then to her family. Her allegations re-emerged on the religious blog Wartburg Watch on Friday.
Clemishire, now 54, said she was “just appalled” concerning his description of her as a “young lady.”
“I was 12 years old,” she said. “I was a little girl, a very innocent little girl. And he was brought into our home. He and his wife, Debbie, and their little boy, Josh, and trusted and preached at the church that my dad helped start and then began grooming all of us to do this, which took me decades to wrap my brain around as an adult.”
Clemishire also denied Morris’ claim that he received her father’s blessing to return to ministry.
“My father never ever gave his blessing on Robert returning to ministry!” she said. ”My father told him he’s lucky he didn’t kill him. I am mortified that he is telling the world my dad gave his blessing! Of course we forgive, because we are called to biblically forgive those who sin against us. But that does not mean he is supposed to go on without repercussions.”
Elders at Gateway Church said Morris has been transparent about his past sins and maintained that he has been biblically restored to ministry.
“Regretfully, before Friday, June 14, the elders did not have all the facts of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age at the time and the length of the abuse,” the board said, adding that the elders had known about an extramarital relationship but thought it was with a “young lady.”
James Morris, son of Robert Morris, has taken over leadership. His wife Bridgette serves as executive pastor of the church leading some to question accountabilty procedures when multiple family members are in ministry together.
In a statement, Clemishire, 54, said she was disappointed that he was not terminated immediately and the church allowed him to serve until this week. She also disputed the board’s assertion that it had not been aware of her age at the time of the alleged abuse, saying she had told a church official and a board member details of the events in 2005 and 2007, according to the Washington Post.
“Gateway had the information but intentionally decided to embrace the false narrative Robert Morris wanted them to believe,” Clemishire said.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
