SOUTH LAKE – Private investigation into allegations of misconduct by Gateway Church founder Robert Morris Sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s Revealing massive failures involving former church leaders.
CBS News Texas
The investigation, which the church has now announced also involves law enforcement, also revealed that others knew about Morris’ relationship with the underage girl but did not ask additional questions.
“We have to be honest with ourselves and admit that our culture has buried this truth for too long,” Gateway Church elder Tora Wilbanks said Saturday. He spoke at a regular worship service.
Four church elders who had information about their relationship with Morris were eliminated as a result of the investigation: Kevin Grove, Thomas Miller, Jeremy Carrasco, and Gayland Roche.
Wilbanks called this a “massive failure of governance and accountability.”
“When a church becomes centered around one pastor, it loses its way,” Wilbanks said. “And unfortunately, we’ve realized in recent months that at some point in the past, the culture at Gateway was one where power was concentrated and a leader at the top was surrounded by people who were trying to protect him. . No matter what.
Morris is said to have had a sexual relationship with a minor between 1982 and 1987, when he was in his early 20s and an itinerant preacher. June 14th, Cindy KremischerMorris’ parents were friends with Morris, but publicly accused the pastor of repeatedly sexually abusing her during that period.
“There was one group that knew without a doubt that Cindy was 12 years old when the abuse began, and there was a second group that knew of the sexual abuse allegations by Robert Morris. They had enough information that should have led them to ask more questions or investigate further, but they didn’t,” Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks said he could not release further details due to the ongoing criminal investigation and litigation against Gateway Church, including financial demands from Robert Morris.
“However, I can share that neither the church nor its current leadership is a target of this criminal investigation,” Wilbanks said.
Kremischer said he was aware of the criminal investigation. Neither she nor Gateway have provided additional details about who is investigating or what they are investigating. No police have yet confirmed to CBS News Texas that they are involved. She said she was consulting a lawyer before revealing her response to the church’s statement.
The Haynes Boone investigation included 680 gigabytes of data, reviewed thousands of pages of documents and emails, and interviewed more than 20 individuals, Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks said six people, including Robert Morris, refused to meet with Haynes Boone.
Wilbanks said the law firm’s findings were presented to a three-member subcommittee.
“What happened to Cindy (Klemisher) was heartbreaking and despicable, and we condemn all forms of sexual abuse,” Wilbanks said in a statement. “My deepest sympathies go out to the victims of this despicable act.”
Mr Wilbanks praised Klemisher for coming forward, which led to others who had not previously come forward to share their stories.
The investigation came after elders initially claimed they did not know all the facts about the alleged sexual assault, including Kremischer’s age at the time and the length of the abuse.
Wilbanks said he shared his story of how Robert Morris was unfaithful in his marriage in his early 20s, but others who knew about it covered it up.
Wilbanks said the investigation concluded there were no other victims of Robert Morris other than Kremischer.
Wilbanks said those involved in the failure are not yet members of the church.
In March 2023, Gateway Church’s website listed 13 elders. There are currently only three listed.
Since Kremischer’s allegations in June, Robert Morris has stepped down as head of Gateway. Morris’ son James Morris and his wife Bridget also stepped down from leadership roles within the church over the summer.
Meanwhile, Mr Wilbanks called on anyone with additional information to come forward, assuring them their claims would be treated in the “confidential” manner.
