Robert Morris, pastor of a pro-Israel megachurch in Dallas, resigns after being accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl

DALLAS, TEXAS — Robert Morris, one of the best-known megachurch pastors in the United States and one of the country’s most outspoken pro-Israel pastors, resigned Tuesday after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused a 12-year-old girl and continued the abuse until she was 16.

The Council of Elders of the Gateway Church – with nine locations and some 100,000 visitors on the weekend – issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that Morris, 62, had resigned from his position as senior pastor of the church.

The story is making big headlines here in Dallas, across Texas and across the country, sending shockwaves among Christians who loved his teachings and deeply valued his ministry over the years.

Gateway founder Morris does not deny the allegations.

“When I was in my early twenties, I experienced inappropriate sexual behavior toward a young lady in a home where I lived.” Morris confessed to the Christian Post on Saturday after the allegations became public.

“It was kissing and fondling and not sexual intercourse, but it was wrong,” Morris added.

“This behavior occurred several times over the next few years.”

The Associated Press reported that Morris’ accuser is called Cindy Clemishire.

Clemishire said The Dallas Morning News In an interview published Saturday, she said: “She met Morris in 1981 when he was an itinerant preacher and began preaching at her family’s church in Oklahoma. She said Morris, his wife and young son became close to her family. She said he was staying at her home in 1982 when he asked her to come to his room. He told her to lie down on his bed and then began touching her inappropriately, said Clemishire, now 54.”

“She said the abuse continued for about four and a half years. The Associated Press does not typically name people who claim to have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Clemishire did,” the AP noted in its article.

“I was 12 years old,” Clemishire told the Christian Post on Saturday.

“I was a little girl,” Clemishire said. “A very innocent little girl. And he was brought into our house.”

She said she and her parents trusted Morris, who “preached at the church my father helped found.”

“It went on for many years,” Clemishire added. “He says there was no sexual intercourse, but he touched every part of my body and inserted his fingers inside me, which I now understand is considered a form of rape by instrumental intervention. I was an innocent 12-year-old little girl who knew nothing about sexual behavior.”

Gateway elders said they have hired an attorney to fully investigate the allegations.

Morris is widely known for his Pro-Israel Biblical attitude and teachings and for financial donations to Israeli Christian and Messianic missionary organizations.

On Tuesday evening, Morris’ name and biography REMOVED from the church website.

Here is the full statement from the elders:

“Today, June 18, the Board of Elders of Gateway Church accepted the resignation of Robert Morris, senior pastor,” the church said in a statement.

“In addition, the Board has retained the law firm of Haynes & Boone, LLP, to conduct an independent, thorough and professional review of the report on past abuse to ensure that we fully understand the events of 1982 to 1987.”

“Unfortunately, prior to Friday, June 14, the Elders did not have all the facts regarding the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age at the time and the duration of the abuse,” the statement continued.

“The elders previously assumed that Morris’ extramarital affair, which he had often discussed during his tenure, involved a ‘young lady’ and not the abuse of a 12-year-old child.”

“Although it happened many years before Gateway was founded, we as Church leaders regret that we did not have the information we have now,” the elders noted.

“We are deeply shocked and appalled by what has come to light over the past few days and we extend our deepest condolences to the victim and her family. On behalf of the victim, we are grateful that this situation has been exposed. We know that many are affected by this, we understand that you are suffering and we are very sorry. We pray that in time healing can occur for all those affected.”