Significant figures within Gateway Church are resigning following child sexual abuse allegations against former senior pastor Robert Morris, who has acknowledged having “improper sexual behavior” with a young girl 35 years ago.

Morris stepped down from the large Texas church in June, shortly after Cindy Clemishire, 54, made public claims that he started molesting her when she was just 12 and he was 21. While he minimized the matter, Morris confirmed the allegations.

Just a month later, his son and daughter-in-law, James and Bridget Morris, resigned from their pastoral positions in the church. More recently, the church announced the resignation of executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow over a vague “moral issue” that made him unfit to continue serving.

Here’s what we know regarding the series of resignations and allegations involving Gateway Church.

Cindy Clemishire’s allegations against Robert Morris from 1982

Clemishire first shared her experience with Wartburg Watch, a blog focused on sexual abuse in religious settings, stating that Morris began to abuse her on Christmas Day in 1982. She reported that the abuse persisted in Oklahoma and Texas up until 1987.

In response to the public accusations, both Morris and Gateway Church issued separate statements. Morris, now 62, remarked to local Dallas station WFAA-TV, “It was kissing and petting, not intercourse, but it was wrong. This behavior occurred several times over the ensuing years. I have since committed to purity and accountability in this area.”

The church’s board of elders released a statement acknowledging they had previously believed Morris had an “extramarital relationship” with a “young lady,” but insisted it was “not abuse of a 12-year-old child.” They expressed sorrow over the revelations, stating, “We are heartbroken and appalled by what has come to light, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the victim and her family,” as reported by CBS News and NBC News.

Robert Morris’s resignation from Gateway Church

In light of the uproar following the public statements from both the church and Morris, the pastor decided to resign shortly thereafter.

The elders of the church expressed regret after Morris’s resignation, stating that they regretted not having the full story sooner. They added, “We are thankful this situation has come to light for the sake of the victim.” They recognized that many within the congregation have been affected by the situation and voiced their condolences, expressing hope for healing for all involved.

Clemshire shared with YSL News that she had communicated her story regarding Morris to leaders of other significant churches over many years. Despite her transparency, Morris continued to remain in his ministry role.

She emphasized that her decision to go public was to motivate other victims of Morris to come forward and share their own experiences. “I urge any victims to speak up. I cannot believe I am the only one,” she stated.

James and Bridget Morris leave Gateway Church

The church publicly announced that James and Bridget Morris would be stepping down in July, providing the following statement to WFAA-TV:

“As Elders, we affirm that God has placed a desire in both Pastors James and Bridgette’s hearts to serve as senior pastors in a church at some point in the future,” stated the church. They expressed their love and gratitude toward James and Bridget for their significant contributions to Gateway Church throughout the years.

James Morris’s resignation occurred a year earlier than Robert Morris had planned to pass the church’s leadership to him. James has been part of the church since 2012, serving in multiple roles.

Before leaving, the church’s elders had consultative discussions with James Morris.

On June 28, the church proposed that Pastor James Morris take a temporary leave of absence, following advice from their legal counsel at Haynes and Boone law firm.

The church stated on Facebook, “Pastor James Morris is a person of high moral standards, and he has made it clear that he was unaware of the real details surrounding this matter. Nonetheless, due to his ties to Robert Morris, Haynes and Boone has suggested that Pastor James also take a temporary leave from the Board of Elders. Pastor James has graciously agreed to this to show his dedication to a thorough and impartial investigation.”

Kemtal Glasgow Resigns from Gateway Church

Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks announced the resignation of executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow in a statement on the church’s YouTube channel on Wednesday.

The megachurch expressed, “It has recently come to our attention that Kemtal Glasgow experienced a moral setback, so we have asked him to resign from his position at Gateway and focus on his marriage and family.” They added, “Even though his employment is coming to an end, we remain committed to supporting Kemtal and his family.”

While Glasgow’s profile has been removed from Gateway’s website, an archived biography notes that he was responsible for leadership and oversight across all of the church’s locations. In a statement to CBS News Texas, Gateway reaffirmed, “Our greatest wish is for every staff member to live with integrity in both personal and professional realms.”

The church clarified that “this decision regarding Kemtal is unrelated to Robert Morris’s departure or any associated issues.”