Pastor Of Gateway Church, Robert Morris, Confesses ‘Inappropriate Sexual Behavior With A Young Lady

After being accused of continuously molesting a family friend, beginning when she was just 12, a Texas megachurch pastor has confessed to previously having “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady.”

The pastor in question is the founder of a Gateway Church in Southlake and one-time spiritual advisor to Donald Trump, Robert Morris. He made the admission after Cindy Clemishire reported that she was groomed for abuse that lasted until she was 16.

“When I was in my early twenties, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying,” he said.

“It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” stated the pastor who has 100,000 worshippers at his church each week.

“This behavior happened on several occasions over the next few years.”

He added that abuse came out in 1987, and “it was confessed and repented of.”

Morris says that he “submitted” to church elders and Clemishire’s father, who was head of the church he attended at the time. They had “all asked me to step out of ministry and receive counseling and freedom ministry which I did.”

“Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area,” he stated.

Clemishire has reported that she was shocked by Morris’s description of her as a “young lady.”

“I was 12 years old. I was a little girl. A very innocent little girl. He was brought into our home,” said the now 54-year-old grandmother.

“I was an innocent 12-year little girl who knew nothing about sexual behavior,” she stated.

Clemishire was also appalled at the suggestion that her dad had given Morris his approval to return to ministry.

“My father never ever gave his blessing on Robert returning to ministry,” she stated. “My father told him he’s lucky he didn’t kill him. I’m mortified that he is telling the world my dad gave his blessing!”

She says that Morris continuously abused her in both Texas and Oklahoma. He told his wife that he was only giving her counseling during the abuse. She said that Morris only stepped away for two years after a friend told her father what had been going on. He had then threatened to contact authorities.

“Of course, we forgive because we are called to be able to forgive those who sin against us. But, that does not mean he is supposed to go on without repercussions,” Clemishire said.

In 2005, she attempted to sue Morris. However, his attorney stated that she had caused the abuse because she was “flirtatious.”

Eventually, she declined a $25,000 offer that required her to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

“Pastor Robert has been open and forthright about a moral failure he had over 35 years ago when he was in his twenties and prior to him starting Gateway Church. He has shared publicly from the pulpit the proper biblical steps he took in his lengthy restoration process,” the elders at the church reported.

“Pastor Robert has walked in purity, and he has placed accountability measures and people in his life. The matter has been properly disclosed to church leadership,” the church added.