The founder of Texas megachurch Gateway Church, Robert Morris, has been accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. A private investigation conducted by the law firm Haynes & Boone revealed that others within the church were aware of the abuse but failed to intervene. As a result, four church elders were removed from their positions.
During a worship service, elder Tra Willbanks acknowledged the failure of the church’s culture to address the abuse and emphasized the need for governance and accountability. The investigation found that Morris allegedly abused the girl over a five-year period when he was in his early 20s.
Morris resigned as head of Gateway Church in June, and his son and daughter-in-law also stepped down from leadership roles. Gateway Church, founded in 2000 and one of the largest congregations in the nation, has faced multiple lawsuits related to sexual abuse and harassment, including recent settlements of lawsuits in 2020 and 2023.
The church has settled cases where victims alleged sexual abuse and harassment by pastors, leading to questions about the church’s handling of such incidents. Going forward, the church is expected to implement changes to prevent similar situations in the future. For more information or to share a story with Newsweek, contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
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