(UPDATE) In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through the religious community, Robert Preston Morris, the former pastor and founder of Gateway Church in Texas, has turned himself in to authorities to face charges of child sexual abuse.
According to Charisma News, Morris surrendered to authorities on March 17, 2025, following an indictment in Oklahoma on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The charges stem from accusations made by Cindy Clemishire, who alleges that Morris sexually abused her starting in 1982 when she was just 12 years old.
The abuse reportedly continued for four years. Clemishire, now 55, expressed relief at the legal action, stating, “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”
NBC News also covered the story, noting that Morris, 63, was indicted earlier in March 2025 by Oklahoma’s attorney general.
The allegations first gained widespread attention in June 2024 when Morris resigned from Gateway Church, one of the largest megachurches in the United States, just days after admitting to what he described as “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady.”
Clemishire has publicly rejected this characterization, insisting that the encounters constituted abuse, given her age at the time.
Morris’s initial admission last year came after a leaked memo to Gateway Church staff, reported by Protestia in June 2024, described the incidents as involving “kissing and petting.”
However, the severity of the allegations and Clemishire’s persistence in sharing her story with friends, family, and the public over the decades have now culminated in formal charges.
Posts on X reflect a mix of outrage and disbelief, with users labeling Morris a “fake Christian” and expressing shock at the revelations about a figure once revered in evangelical circles.
The case has reignited discussions about accountability in religious institutions.
Gateway Church, which Morris founded and grew into a multi-campus ministry with tens of thousands of attendees, has faced scrutiny over how it handled the initial allegations.
Some saw Morris’s resignation in 2024 as an attempt to mitigate damage, but the legal proceedings now underway suggest that the matter is far from resolved.
As reported by Charisma News, the indictment in Oklahoma represents a significant step toward justice for Clemishire, who has long sought recognition of her ordeal.
The charges of lewd or indecent acts with a child carry serious implications, and Morris’s decision to turn himself in indicates that he will now face the judicial process head-on.
Details of his arraignment and potential trial dates remain forthcoming, but the case is already drawing comparisons to other high-profile scandals involving religious leaders.
