Why Is Robert Morris Stepping Down? What Did Pastor Morris Do?

The reason for Robert Morris’s resignation was the emergence of allegations involving a past inappropriate relationship with a 12-year-old girl, Cindy Clemishire. Clemishire’s account, first reported by the church watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch, detailed a pattern of abuse that began on Christmas Day in 1982 and continued until 1987. This disturbing revelation prompted immediate action from the church leadership.

The Gateway Church Board of Elders issued a statement expressing their profound regret and dismay upon learning the full details of Morris’s past conduct. They clarified that before June 14, they were not fully aware of the abusive nature of the relationship.

“The elders’ prior understanding was that Morris’s extramarital relationship, which he discussed many times throughout his ministry, was with a young lady’ and not an abuse of a 12-year-old child,” the statement read. They further conveyed their sorrow and heartfelt sympathy to Clemishire and her family, stating, “Even though it occurred many years before Gateway was established, as leaders of the church, we regret that we did not have the information that we now have.”

In his statement, Robert Morris admitted to the inappropriate behaviour during his early twenties, describing it as kissing and petting but stopping short of intercourse. He acknowledged that his actions were wrong and that they happened on multiple occasions over the years.

“When I was in my early twenties, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behaviour with a young lady in a home where I was staying. It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong,” Morris confessed.