An elder at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, said the founder Robert Morris He sexually abused her for four and a half years starting when she was 12 in the 1980s.
“First, I want to express my personal sympathy to Cindy Cremischer. I cannot imagine carrying such a heavy burden for so many years. I want to say I am so sorry, Cindy. My heart goes out to everyone else in this room and listening to this story. [has] Wilbanks said he was abused. The Christian Standt.
“I know that there are many in this room on other campuses and many watching online who have their own horrific stories of abuse. I want to say to you: I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I cannot imagine the pain and emotions that have arisen in your hearts over the past week, the betrayal you have felt. On behalf of the elders, I apologize,” he continued.
Morris, who had been a pastor for more than 40 years, resigned from his position as pastor after publicly reporting that on Dec. 25, 1982, Cremischer had begun sexually abusing him.
Gateway Church elders announced Morris’ resignation. Said They did not know all the facts about Creminsher’s alleged abuse, which Creminsher claims they have known about for years and that there are likely other victims of abuse.
“Gateway leadership was actually made aware of this crime in 2005 when I emailed Robert Morris directly to his Gateway email address. Former Gateway elder Tom Lane received my email and responded, acknowledging that the sexual abuse began on Dec. 25, 1982, when I was 12 years old,” Klemischer said. statement She was released by her lawyer, Boz Tchividjian, last Tuesday night.
Cindy Klemischer’s full statement in response to today’s announcement: translator. pic.twitter.com/NRcQNffgqB
— BozLaw PA (@bozlawpa) June 19, 2024
“As recently as 2007, my then-attorney, Gentner Drummond (now Oklahoma Attorney General), wrote Robert Morris asking him to help compensate me for the thousands of dollars I spent on counseling as a result of this abuse. His attorney also acknowledged the dates and attempted to shift the blame for the abuse onto me,” she alleged. “At least the pastor and at least one elder at Gateway had specific knowledge that I had been sexually abused beginning at the age of 12. Gateway had the information but knowingly accepted the false narrative that Robert Morris wanted to believe.”
Wilbanks, who has served as a non-staff elder at Gateway Church since 2014 and attended the church with his family for 18 years, maintained he was unaware that Morris had been accused of child sexual abuse.
“I want to speak to you from my heart today, which is why I have written down my thoughts to help me communicate exactly what I want to say. My wife, Shelley, and I have seven children, six girls. As a father, I am shocked by what has happened and, like many of you, I am experiencing a range of emotions. As an elder, I did not know the truth and, frankly, like many of you, my wife and I are shocked, devastated and heartbroken,” Wilbanks said.
“As I said before, I am a father of six daughters and this past week has been difficult to explain to them. Our family, like all of you, has had tears, heavy conversations and deep prayers this past week. We have prayed for Cindy Cremischer. We have prayed for her family. We have prayed for the entire Morris family. We are praying for you and for our staff and our entire church family,” he added.
In announcing Morris’ resignation, Gateway Church elders said: Haynes & Boone Law Firm“We will conduct an independent, thorough and expert investigation of past abuse reports to fully understand the events between 1982 and 1987.”
Elder Wallbanks assured the congregation that the church is cooperating with the investigation and will report the results to the church when they are ready. While the future of the church remains unclear, he pointed out to the congregation how the church has been responsive to their needs.
“So what does the future hold for our church? Frankly, this past week I’ve just been trying to get through each day, but there’s a lot of unknowns,” Wilbanks said.
“The truth is, I don’t know what God’s plan is, but I’m going to continue to worship the Lord, and I’m going to worship the Lord in this place. Jesus said I’m going to build my church,” he added.
“I want to remind everyone that this is the Lord’s church. This is Jesus’ church, and the elders are humbly and firmly submissive to what the Lord wants to do in this church.”
Related article:
Photo credit: ©YouTube/Gateway Church
