Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks gave a significant update to the congregation over the weekend, providing details about the findings of an independent investigation into the church’s handling of past abuse allegations, including those against the church’s founder and former senior pastor, Robert Morris.
The investigation began in June after Morris resigned in disgrace amid allegations that he sexually abused a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s.
In his attempt to fulfill Gateway Church’s commitment to transparency, Willbanks provided details that he and fellow church elders, Dane Minor and Kenneth Fambro, were given by Haynes & Boone, LLP.
Gateway Church Investigation Reveals Some Leadership Knew of Robert Morris’ Alleged Abuse of 12-Year-Old
“First, what happened to Cindy Clemishire was heartbreaking and vile,” Willbanks reiterated to the congregation. Clemishire came forward with her allegations against Morris in June.
“We denounce sexual abuse in all of its forms, and we feel deep sorrow for those who have been victimized by such despicable actions,” Willbanks continued. “But I do want to take a minute and acknowledge her bravery in coming forward and telling her story to bring awareness to this issue.”
Willbanks disclosed that because of Clemishire’s “bravery…several people come up to us and tell us that they had their own stories where they were victims, and Cindy gave them the courage to come forward and seek help.”
“Robert Morris shared his version of this story that he was unfaithful in his marriage while in his early 20s,” Willbanks continued. Willbanks said that “according to [Morris’] version,” Morris “confessed his sin” in the 1980s, “he stepped down [from] ministry for two years, and then was restored back into ministry.”
Willbanks said that “we as a church knew what our former senior pastor shared publicly, and many people, including myself, simply believed his version of the story.”
Willbanks shared that on June 14, the day Clemishire’s story was released, Morris “directed Gateway employees to release a statement that was intended to minimize the severity of Cindy’s claims in a final attempt to conceal the truth.”
Following the release of Clemishire’s testimony, Willbanks said that over the course of two days, he and other elders “were able to independently verify critical elements of Cindy’s story, enabling us to move forward and swiftly confront Robert Morris.” Willbanks said that when the elders insisted on meeting with him, Morris “immediately resigned.”
The elders selected Haynes & Boone, LLP to conduct an investigation into Gateway Church and the firm, according to Willbanks, was “given full access to our staff and internal communications.”
