Gateway Church, a prominent Megachurch in Texas, has named Daniel Floyd as its new lead pastor. This is, as they put it, a pivotal moment—”a page-turning day”—marking the start of a new chapter without disregarding the past.
In a recent post on social media, the church celebrated Floyd’s installation, describing it as a “historic moment.” They expressed their excitement about entrusting the leadership to Floyd and his family, highlighting the kindness of God towards their community as they look ahead.
“Above all, we give glory to Jesus for His faithfulness throughout this season,” the church stated, quoting Psalm 100:5, which speaks to God’s everlasting goodness and love.
Floyd brings over two decades of pastoral experience, having founded LifePoint Church and LifePoint College. He holds a doctorate from Southeastern University and two master’s degrees from the Freedom Seminary. He and his wife, Tammy, have four children together.
This change comes in the wake of former pastor Robert Morris’s resignation last year due to serious allegations of child sexual abuse. Morris is accused of having abused Cindy Kremisher, who alleged that the abuse occurred when she was a minor back in the 1980s.
Currently, Morris faces several child sexual abuse charges in Osage County, Oklahoma.
Additionally, Gateway Church is dealing with various lawsuits, including a class-action suit from members alleging misappropriation of funds. There’s also a defamation lawsuit against both the church and Morris from Kremisher, claiming significant damages as she seeks over $1 million. The lawsuit disputes the portrayal of Morris’s actions as a consensual “relationship,” insisting it was abuse.
In June, the church announced staff cutbacks due to a notable decline in tithes and donations, tied to the ongoing challenges related to the scandal last year. They acknowledged the difficult but necessary steps they had to take while remaining committed to healing as a community.
Nickles Meister, the church’s Global Outreach pastor, emphasized in a March address that Morris no longer holds any official ties to the church. He noted that the church leadership had decided to move forward, drawing a clear line regarding the past incidents and distancing themselves from the ongoing legal issues.
