Texas-based megachurch Gateway Church announced Wednesday that its senior pastor, Kemtar Glasgow, has been fired due to “moral issues.”
“Effective Monday of this week, Chemtar Glasgow has terminated his employment with Gateway. Last week, we were informed of moral issues that make us believe he is unfit to serve in the role he has held at Gateway as an elder,” said Tora Wilbanks, a longtime elder at Gateway Church. Video Announcements On YouTube.
“We love his family. We love his wife and children. We are with them during this difficult time and want to help them find the recovery and healing that they need as a family,” he added. “As a church, we ask that you all pray for them as well.”
Wilbanks added that Adana Wilson, campus pastor at Gateway Church Frisco, will take over Glasgow’s role.
When asked to clarify Glasgow’s “moral issue”, Gateway Church executive director Lawrence Swisgood insisted it had “nothing to do with Robert Morris’ departure or any of that.”
“At Gateway, it is our greatest desire that all staff live lives of integrity in both their personal and professional lives. Given the recent evidence that Chemtar Glasgow has failed morally, he has asked to step down as pastor at Gateway and devote his time to marriage and family,” Swisgood said. Christian Post On Thursday.
“While his employment will be terminated, we remain committed to caring for Chemtar and his family. To be clear, this decision regarding Chemtar is in no way related to Robert Morris’ departure or related to those circumstances,” he added. “We pray for God’s grace and love for Chemtar and his family during this time.”
Morris, founder of Gateway Church, resigned as the church’s senior pastor on June 18 after Cindy Klemischer, 54, alleged that Morris began sexually abusing her in the 1980s when she was 12 years old.
Following Morris’ resignation, Gateway Church launched its own investigation into the allegations against Morris.
Additionally, other leaders of Gateway Church left the church after Pastor Morris was fired, including founding elder Steve Dulin, who was fired for alleged financial abuse and bullying. Pastor Morris’ son, James Morris, and his wife, Bridget, resigned last month after the allegations emerged, just weeks after Morris succeeded his father as senior pastor.
Gateway Church elders said they sought the “counsel of many respected pastors and clergy” about their decision to sever ties with Morris, whom they believed would serve in senior church leadership in the future.
“We, the elders, affirm and believe that God has placed in the hearts of Pastor James and Bridget a desire to serve as senior pastors of the church in the future,” the elders said in a statement. “We love Pastor James and Bridget and their children, and we care deeply for them and are so grateful that they have dedicated their lives to Gateway Church. Since becoming part of Gateway Church, they have served our congregation and this community faithfully and honorably.”
WATCH: Elder Update from Tora Wilbanks | Gateway Church | August 21, 2024 |
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