Latest news with #GatewayChurch
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gateway Church ex-pastor Robert Morris wants to force arbitration of pay dispute
Lawyers for Robert Morris, the former lead pastor of Southlake's Gateway Church, have asked a Tarrant County court to compel the church to arbitrate a dispute over his retirement pay, according to court records. Morris' attorneys argue that Gateway leaders were aware of Morris' 'highly inappropriate relationship' with Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 years old when Morris allegedly began sexually abusing her in the 1980s, according to court documents the lawyers filed on Friday. Gateway Church, Morris' lawyers claim, is using the Clemishire case to avoid honoring financial commitments it made to the former pastor. 'While Morris is certainly deserving of the victim's punches, Morris is tired of being the punching bag of Gateway's current leadership as it tries to play its game of blame-shifting,' Morris' attorney Bill Mateja told the Star-Telegram in a statement. 'Our filings demonstrate that Morris was fully transparent with Gateway's leadership – full stop.' Included in the May 30 filing are pages of emails and documents that Morris' lawyers say demonstrate that elders and other officials at the North Texas megachurch knew about the sexual abuse allegations for at least 17 years before Morris was forced to resign in 2024. The documents include a 2007 letter from Gateway executive senior pastor Tom Lane. 'We discussed the past events involving Robert and Cindy Clemishire,' Lane wrote in the letter to the church's elders. 'Robert retold his account of the things that took place leading up to 1987 and the process of repentance and restoration he walked through from 1987-1989.' Gateway Church was founded in 2000 with Morris as its lead pastor. Four of Gateway's elders were removed last fall after an investigation revealed they had some information or knowledge of Morris' conduct prior to its public disclosure, the Star-Telegram previously reported. 🚨 More top stories from our newsroom: → Is Texas banning all THC products? → 900 tips led to arrests in fatal Grapevine Lake crash → 3-alarm fire damages Fort Worth mansion [Get our breaking news alerts.] Morris' counter-suit to force arbitration comes weeks after the church rejected his demands for millions of dollars in retirement pay following his resignation, the Star-Telegram previously reported. Morris had asked for an initial payment of $1 million and an annual retirement package of $600,000 to $800,000 for the rest of his and his wife's lives, plus other benefits. In the church's petition to the court about two weeks ago, lawyers for Gateway argued that any dispute related to Morris' contract had to go through mediation first. According to the church, 'Morris's agreements with Gateway preclude him from future retirement benefits if he resigns or is terminated due to certain immoral or criminal conduct,' which Gateway's elders believe would include the charges against him. In the response filed Friday, lawyers for Morris argue Gateway Church failed to 'honor its promises' made in Morris' benefit plan and employment agreement. His lawyers also argue that Gateway 'mischaracterized' Morris as combative and unwilling to reconcile. Morris' lawyers also say that he has always been ready to mediate the case, but that Gateway failed to provide him with the proposed mediators, according to the response. Morris resigned from Gateway Church nearly a year ago after he made a statement acknowledging the abuse of Clemishire, the Star-Telegram previously reported. Since then, Morris has been criminally indicted on related child sexual abuse charges in Oklahoma, where Clemishire and her family lived at the time. In April, Morris filed a demand for arbitration of the financial dispute with the Institute for Christian Conciliation, which bills itself on its website as a provider of 'court-approved Christian arbitration.' Lawyers for Gateway argued that the church should not be compelled to arbitrate before the ICC because the entity that previously owned it has ceased to exist, according to court documents. Because the ICC itself still exists, the court should compel Gateway to arbitrate, Morris' lawyers argue in the filing. Morris also motioned for Gateway attorney David Middlebrook to be removed from the case. Middlebrook previously represented Morris in matters related to the abuse allegations, which should disqualify him from the case under a Texas conflict-of-interest rule, Morris' lawyers said. Middlebrook has not yet filed a response to the motion. Officials with Gateway Church could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Gateway Church welcomes new senior pastor amid ongoing controversy
Gateway Church has a new senior pastor, Daniel Floyd, who delivered his first sermon Saturday after relocating from Virginia. "I just want to say a big thank you to our elder team — just men of humility, character, integrity, and impatience, because we had a lot of questions, a lot of meetings, and a lot of prayer," Floyd said during the service. Gateway Church has a new senior pastor, Daniel Floyd, who delivered his first sermon Saturday after relocating from Virginia. CBS News Texas The leadership transition comes nearly a year after Gateway founder Robert Morris stepped down following allegations of child sexual abuse. Newly obtained court documents, reported Friday by CBS News Texas, reveal that Gateway's leadership was aware of Morris's alleged inappropriate behavior "as early as 2005 and most certainly by August 2007." The allegations stem from incidents in the 1980s in Hominy, Oklahoma, when Morris was a traveling preacher. Cindy Clemishire, who says she was 12 years old at the time, is among the accusers. "Really, the only thing that kept going through my mind was all the way back to when we first met him, thinking, 'This isn't how it was supposed to turn out.' Like, he should never have done that and ruined everything," Clemishire said. Robert Morris Gateway Church The court filings also include a proposed 2011 announcement, written by Morris, that was never shared with the congregation. In a letter to the board of elders, Gateway's president advised that Morris "should not mention the family or Cindy specifically by name as this would violate their privacy." Gateway Church responded to the latest developments, stating: "We have consistently and publicly said that there were elders and employees at Gateway who knew about this issue before it became public — and either didn't take action or didn't inquire further. That was fundamentally wrong. The church elders took action, and none of those individuals are a part of Gateway Church today." Morris's attorney disputes the church's narrative, claiming it falsely portrays Morris as lacking transparency. The attorney also noted that Gateway continues to work with the same law firm that was aware of the allegations.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
New documents reveal what Gateway Church may have known before abuse allegations
New court documents that were filed Friday are shedding more light on what Gateway Church may or may not have known well before the child abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris. CBS News Texas obtained court documents, filed in Tarrant County, related to a lawsuit against the church over retirement payments. Pastor Robert Morris applauds during a roundtable discussion at Gateway Church Dallas Campus, Thursday, June 11, 2020, in Dallas. A statement issued on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, said that Morris has resigned after a woman said he had abused her on multiple occasions in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12. Alex Brandon / AP They include a proposed announcement that he was going to make to the congregation, but it was never made public. According to Morris' attorney, the proposed announcement was written by Morris in 2011. In it, Morris admits to "inappropriate behavior" with an underage girl, but did not name Cindy Clemishire, who publicly accused Morris of sexually abusing her when she was 12 years old. That 2011 announcement was never made public because, in a letter in 2007 to the board of elders, the president suggested Morris "should not mention the family or Cindy specifically by name as this would violate their privacy." On Friday, Gateway Church released a statement that read, in part: "We have consistently and publicly said that there were elders and employees at Gateway who knew about this issue before it became public - and either didn't take action or didn't inquire further. That was fundamentally wrong - the church elders took action, and none of those individuals are a part of Gateway Church today." Meanwhile, Morris is currently facing five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child in Oklahoma. The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between 1982 and 1985 in Hominy, Oklahoma, while he was a traveling preacher staying with Clemishire's family.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas bans nondisclosure agreements in sex abuse cases
The Brief A bill that would ban nondisclosure agreements in sexual abuse cases is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Senate Bill 835, nicknamed "Trey's Law," bans NDAs in civil cases that prevent a person who was sexually abused from speaking out about the abuse. The law applies to cases also involving a child or trafficking. The bill would take effect on Sept. 1 if signed into law. AUSTIN, Texas - A bill banning the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual abuse cases is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Senate Bill 835, nicknamed "Trey's Law," bans NDAs in civil cases that prevent a person who was sexually abused from speaking out about the abuse. The law applies to cases also involving a child or trafficking. "This is a critical step forward for justice, transparency, and the protection of future victims," Sen. Angela Paxton, the bill's author, said. "For too long, powerful institutions and individuals have used NDAs as a tool to cover up abuse and silence the voices of those they've harmed." Paxton said the bill allows abuse survivors to "speak the truth." The backstory The bill was named after Trey Carlock, a Dallas man who killed himself after he was groomed and sexually abused as a kid at a summer camp. Carlock had pursued a civil lawsuit to seek damages for his abuse but was forced to sign an NDA for the settlement. What they're saying "Trey's Law honors the life of Trey Carlock by empowering others to break their silence, seek justice, and protect future victims," Paxton said. "Texas is sending a powerful message: the truth should never be hidden - and survivors will no longer be silenced by legal documents designed to protect predators." Plano Republican Jeff Leach, who authored the House version of the bill, took to social media after the bill passed. "Trey's Law is a truly historic victory for survivors and victims and a death blow for their perpetrators hiding in the shadows," Leach said. The woman who accused Gateway Church founder Robert Morris of sexually abusing her as a child testified during a committee meeting in March that she was offered a settlement and asked to sign a NDA. Cindy Clemishire said she was offered a $25,000 settlement but refused to sign the NDA. She said the decision ultimately allowed her to get justice 40 years later. "Because I refused to sign the NDA at age 37, I can sit here now at age 55 and share my story and be the voice for so many people," Clemishire said. What's next The bill now heads to Abbott's desk and if it's signed, the law will take effect on Sept. 1. The Source Information on SB 835 comes from the Texas Legislature. Comments from Sen. Paxton and Rep. Leach come from statements made on X. Comments made in committee come from previous FOX 4 coverage.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Southlake's embattled Gateway Church appoints new senior pastor
Southlake's Gateway Church has named a new senior pastor 11 months after its founder resigned amid sexual abuse allegations, a scandal that led other church leaders to step down. The megachurch announced that Pastor Daniel Floyd and his wife Tammy Floyd have accepted the position of senior pastor during Sunday morning's service. 'We are so honored and humbled to be stepping into this new role that's right for us. This isn't just a new assignment, it's a sacred calling,' Daniel Floyd said through a video during the May 25 service. Daniel and Tammy Floyd have been the founding and senior pastors of Life Point Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, since 2005. The megachurch has five other locations in Virginia. 'We love family. We believe it is our greatest ministry,' Daniel and Tammy Floyd said. 'We believe the local church, when it's mobilized, really is the hope of the world, and we are so expectant to join you in continuing to advance the Kingdom of God.' Daniel Floyd has a doctorate in ministry from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida and two master's degrees from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Tammy Floyd graduated from Liberty with a bachelor's in education. The search for new leader started after Robert Morris, the founder and pastor of Gateway Church, one of the largest churches in the United States, resigned in June 2024 after admitting he sexually had abused a child in the 1980s, starting when the girl was 12. After his resignation, Morris asked Gateway for $1 million and an annual retirement package of $600,000 to $800,000, along with other benefits, according to the documents filed by the church in May. 🚨 More top stories from our newsroom: → Fort Worth ISD board approves plan to close 18 schools → TCU student murder case moves toward trial → Mansfield ISD board approves superintendent's contract [Get our breaking news alerts.] According to court documents, Gateway refused, referencing contract terms and what it described as Morris' 'defiantly unapologetic posture.' Morris has since been indicted in Oklahoma on related child sexual abuse charges and faces an upcoming preliminary hearing at which prosecutors will present evidence to show probable cause for the criminal case to go to trial.
