Robert Morris, a former pastor at Gateway Church, indicated that he spent two years away from ministry seeking counseling and forgiveness after being accused of molesting a teenager. However, questions were raised about this claim based on his own book, “From Dream to Destiny,” which stated that he resumed working for a televangelist one month after stepping out of ministry. Morris did not elaborate on the circumstances that led to his departure from ministry in his book.
The accusations were made by Cindy Clemishire, who claimed that Morris had molested her from 1982 until 1987, starting when she was 12 years old. Clemishire’s father demanded Morris’s removal from the pulpit. Morris described his removal from ministry as being humbling and attributed it to his prideful behavior in his book.
In response to the allegations, James Robison, a popular televangelist, released a statement expressing shock at the accusations against Morris and stating that he was not aware of the nature of the crimes until recently. Morris resigned as senior pastor of Gateway Church following the publication of Clemishire’s story by The Wartburg Watch.
Clemishire shared partially-redacted emails she exchanged with Morris, in which she demanded restitution for the emotional damage she suffered due to the alleged abuse. Morris responded by expressing care for Clemishire and stating that he confessed his past actions to her family 18 years ago. He also mentioned that paying her money under a threat of exposure could lead to criminal prosecution.
The story gained attention after being shared by Clemishire, who had attempted to bring her allegations to light in the past, without success. The case highlights the issue of sexual abuse in religious institutions and raises questions about accountability and transparency.
Source
Photo credit www.wfaa.com