Latest news with #GatewayChurch
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Dispute over former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris's retirement cash heads to court
Millions of dollars allegedly promised to the founder and former pastor of Gateway Church will be discussed in court on Thursday. Robert Morris, or at least his attorneys, will be in a Tarrant County civil court Thursday morning, along with attorneys from the church to discuss the lawsuit over Morris' retirement package. Morris, 63, is demanding millions of dollars in payments and retirement benefits from the church following his resignation last year. Morris stepped down after allegations resurfaced that he sexually abused a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. Church lawyers wrote in the court filing that "amid the chaos of his conduct had unleashed upon Gateway and his community, Morris was laser-focused on securing his financial future." On Sept. 25, 2024, just over three months following Morris's resignation, his attorney sent a letter to church lawyers with various demands, including more than $1 million that had accrued in Morris's retirement account. The letter also claimed that church elders had verbally promised Morris a retirement benefit of $800,000 per year until he turns 70, and $600,000 per year for as long as he or his wife are living. However, according to a retirement compensation agreement included in the court filing, the church would pay Morris $170,000 per year for 20 years following his retirement. The agreement also included a provision that the retirement benefit is not payable if Morris is fired or resigns for failing to adhere to church policies and causing harm to the church. The church argued that if Morris is convicted of the criminal charges he faces in Oklahoma, it would have grounds to withhold the money. Morris claims that in the meeting at Gateway last June when he was forced to resign, he specifically asked and was "assured... he would receive his retirement benefits" but that the church "may need to 'get creative' with how he was going to be paid" and that Morris "would not have agreed to the termination" otherwise. In an earlier letter, Morris's attorney warned that if the church doesn't cooperate, "Pastor Robert will be forced to make clear that he was transparent with the board" about his sexual encounters with an underage girl."
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials say hundreds of homes damaged in Ruidoso flooding
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – Ruidoso officials and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham held a news conference in Ruidoso Thursday morning to give an update on Ruidoso flood response efforts. Ruidoso residents begin long road to recovery following historic flooding Gov. Lujan Grisham says that she is in talks with the feds about how much money may be made available for aid distribution. Authorities have been assessing the flood damage, and the number of damaged homes continues to rise, with officials saying 200 to 400 homes have been damaged. Officials said they had approximately 65 swift water rescues with people getting stuck in homes, cars, and trees. Many in the village are experiencing water outages as utility workers assess the damage. Drinking water is available at the Gateway Church, Wingfield Park, and at the Humane Society. Floodwaters reached as high as 20 feet hit the Village of Ruidoso Tuesday, and claimed the lives of three people, including two children. Gov. Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration Tuesday night in response to the flooding in Ruidoso. The emergency declaration requests federal response teams and repair resources to Ruidoso immediately. Areas hit the hardest include the Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, Cedar Creek, and Paradise Canyon. With more rain expected in the region, state leaders are urging residents to stay vigilant. 'We will protect New Mexicans. But if you live here in Ruidoso, follow the emergency evacuation orders. We cannot lose another life,' said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-New Mexico). President Donald Trump signed an emergency declaration for New Mexico, which will help bring in millions of dollars to the region for flooding recovery and response efforts. There is a disaster recovery center set up at ENMU-Ruidoso, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There, case managers can help with replacing documents, finding resources, and answering insurance questions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Gateway Church names new executive pastor as it cuts services, staff
After a months-long search, Gateway Church on Friday named a new executive pastor to handle day-to-day operations and assist in the transition following the resignation of founding Pastor Robert Morris last year. Nic Lesmeister had been the church's executive pastor for global outreach and led the Gateway Center for Israel. "This is an important and joyful moment, as we're promoting one of our own — someone who has already been instrumental over the past year in building a culture of restoration, healing and unity in our church," lead elder Tra Willbanks said in a video statement. Nic Lesmeister Gateway Church Lesmeister's selection came after an extensive review involving a national search firm, Willbanks said. Pastor Daniel Floyd, who was named Gateway's new senior pastor in May, approved the decision. "Through that process and in close collaboration with Pastor Daniel Floyd, it became clear that the right person for the job was already here," Willbanks said. The announcement comes just days after the church revealed it is canceling Saturday services at most of its campuses due to declining attendance. Gateway has also said it is implementing staff layoffs. That process is expected to be completed by the end of the month, church leaders said. Morris left Gateway last year after allegations surfaced that he had sexual relations with a 12-year-old girl 40 years ago. Since then, the church and Morris have been involved in three court cases. Morris was charged with child sexual abuse in Oklahoma and has another court hearing in that case scheduled for September.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gateway megachurch announces it is cutting services as it continues to face blowback from Robert Morris sex-abuse allegations
A Texas megachurch that has been losing members and facing mass layoffs amid allegations that its pastor sexually abused a young girl for years, announced it would be cutting services. Gateway Church, which once regularly drew over 100,000 worshippers, says it will be cutting Saturday services at nearly all of its locations, excluding its main Southlake campus. "As we continue to strengthen our relationship with the Gateway Church family and community, we're making a shift at several of our DFW campuses by hosting our church services on Sundays only," a church spokesperson told WFAA. "This adjustment will allow us to minister to and love our congregation well while prioritizing the needs of our individual campus communities. Throughout all our locations, our commitment to loving God and loving people remains unchanged." The church, one of the largest American megachurches, has previously acknowledged decreased attendance and financial issues, which it said last month would soon amount to mass layoffs of staff. The church did not specify how many people would lose their jobs. Turmoil at the church comes after a grand jury indicted its pastor, Robert Morris, in March on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. Morris, who founded Gateway Church 25 years ago, is currently out on bond while awaiting trial. The pastor has pleaded not guilty but stepped down from his role at the church in June 2024. Morris' alleged abuse began in 1982 when his accuser, Cindy Clemishire, was 12 years old and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. Clemishire alleges that the abuse spanned years. She filed a lawsuit last month against Morris, seeking at least $1 million for slander, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress in the years following his abuse. Morris has acknowledged he had been 'sexually immoral' when he was younger, but in the past year has continued to claim his alleged abuse of Clemishire was an 'extramarital affair.' The former pastor, who served on President Donald Trump's spiritual advisory board in 2016 during his first presidential campaign, has filed a lawsuit against Gateway for over $1 million in deferred compensation and intellectual rights to his books, sermons and social media.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Gateway megachurch announces it is cutting services as it continues to face blowback from Robert Morris sex-abuse allegations
A Texas megachurch that has been losing members and facing mass layoffs amid allegations that its pastor sexually abused a young girl for years, announced it would be cutting services. Gateway Church, which once regularly drew over 100,000 worshippers, says it will be cutting Saturday services at nearly all of its locations, excluding its main Southlake campus. "As we continue to strengthen our relationship with the Gateway Church family and community, we're making a shift at several of our DFW campuses by hosting our church services on Sundays only," a church spokesperson told WFAA. "This adjustment will allow us to minister to and love our congregation well while prioritizing the needs of our individual campus communities. Throughout all our locations, our commitment to loving God and loving people remains unchanged." The church, one of the largest American megachurches, has previously acknowledged decreased attendance and financial issues, which it said last month would soon amount to mass layoffs of staff. The church did not specify how many people would lose their jobs. Turmoil at the church comes after a grand jury indicted its pastor, Robert Morris, in March on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. Morris, who founded Gateway Church 25 years ago, is currently out on bond while awaiting trial. The pastor has pleaded not guilty but stepped down from his role at the church in June 2024. Morris' alleged abuse began in 1982 when his accuser, Cindy Clemishire, was 12 years old and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. Clemishire alleges that the abuse spanned years. She filed a lawsuit last month against Morris, seeking at least $1 million for slander, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress in the years following his abuse. Morris has acknowledged he had been 'sexually immoral' when he was younger, but in the past year has continued to claim his alleged abuse of Clemishire was an 'extramarital affair.' The former pastor, who served on President Donald Trump's spiritual advisory board in 2016 during his first presidential campaign, has filed a lawsuit against Gateway for over $1 million in deferred compensation and intellectual rights to his books, sermons and social media.
