Robert Morris, Founding Pastor Gateway Church A Southlake, Texas pastor recently confessed to having engaged in “inappropriate sexual conduct with a young woman” as a youth pastor more than 35 years ago after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her for several years, beginning when she was 12 years old. “When I was in my early 20s, I engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with a young woman in a home where I was staying. It was kissing and petting, not intercourse, but it was wrong. This behavior occurred several times over the next few years,” Morris said in a statement. The Christian Standt After Gateway Church was questioned about the allegations.
“In March of 1987 this situation was brought to light, confessed and repented. I submitted to the elders of Shady Grove Church and the young woman’s father. They asked me to resign from my ordination and seek counseling and the ordination of freedom, which I did. I have remained clean and responsible in this area ever since,” Morris added.
“I asked them for forgiveness and they graciously forgave me,” Morris said.
Cindy Klemischer said Wartburg Watch Morris began sexually abusing Cindy Cremisher on December 25, 1982, while her family was friends with Morris’ family. The abuse continued for another four and a half years. Morris resigned from his pastorate in 1987 after Cremisher came forward with allegations, first to close friends and then to Morris’ family.
Two years later, Pastor Morris was reinstated to the pastorate in March 1989 with the blessing of the church elders and the survivor’s father. Pastor Morris added that he and his wife met with the survivor and her family in October 1989.
Ms Cremischer, now 54, told CP on Sunday she was “simply appalled” that she had been described as a “young woman”.
“I was 12 years old, a little girl, a very innocent girl, and he was brought into our home. He and his wife, Debbie, and their little son, Josh, believed in the church my father had helped start, preached there, and then started to get all of us to do it. It took me decades as an adult to understand that,” she said.
“This went on for years. He claims there was no intercourse but he touched every part of my body and inserted his fingers. I now understand that it is considered a form of instrumental rape. I was an innocent 12-year-old girl who knew nothing about sex.”
Mr Cremischer also denied allegations that Ms Morris had received permission from her father to return to the pastorate.
“My father never gave his blessing to Robert to return to the pastorate. He told him he was glad he didn’t kill Robert. I’m embarrassed that he’s telling the world that my father gave his blessing. Of course, we are called to forgive those who sin against us according to the Bible, so we do, but that doesn’t mean he can go unpunished,” she said.
Cremischer tried to sue Morris in 2005, but Morris’ lawyers argued she was responsible for the abuse because she had been “unfaithful.” She reportedly demanded $50,000 in counseling fees after the abuse and was offered $25,000 if she signed a non-disclosure agreement, but refused.
She told CP that Morris has likely abused others and should step down from his pastoral duties.
“I think he should never have been allowed to be a priest. If someone did that, we would never allow them to teach school, work in a nursery, be a doctor. And I have a lot of trouble believing I’m the only one,” Klemischer said.
Meanwhile, elders at Gateway Church told CP that Pastor Morris has not hidden his past sins and maintains that he has been reinstated to the pastorate in accordance with the Bible.
“Pastor Robert has spoken openly and honestly about the moral failings he made more than 35 years ago in his 20s, before starting Gateway Church. He has spoken publicly from the pulpit about the appropriate, biblical steps he has taken during his long process of recovery,” they said.
“The two-year restoration process was closely managed by the elders of Shady Grove Church, during which he retired from pastorate and underwent professional and free-service counseling,” they said. “Since this 35-year matter was resolved, there have been no moral failures. Pastor Robert has walked with integrity and has had responsible steps and people in his life. The matter has been appropriately disclosed to church leadership.”
Photo credit: ©Facebook/Robert Morris
