Amid various scandals rocking the church this year, Pastor Robert Morris’s case is quite intriguing.
The pastor of Dallas Area Mega-church has been recently accused of indulging in an inappropriate relationship with a 12 year old.
After the accusation against him became public, Pastor Morris announced his resignation on June 18.
Morris, who served as Donald Trump’s faith advisor, is now facing the consequences with his family.
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, who is now 54 years old, revealed that the abuse started when she was just 12 years old while Morris was a minister.
Surprisingly, he did not refute the serious allegations, levelled against him.
The Board of Elders of Gateway Church claimed that they didn’t have all the facts of the abuse.
According to them, it was known that Morris had an affair when he was in his early 20s but the extent to which it became abuse and non-consensual was unknown.
The questions in people’s minds are who are Morris’s wife and kids, and did they know about his crimes?
Who is Pastor Robert Morris’s wife, Debbie Morris?
Morris and Debbie met each other when they were just kids.
Debbie’s statement in a Gateway Church blog reads, “I have always said I met Robert in the fifth grade, but Robert is sure we met in sixt-grade.
“We attended the same church and youth group, but we really didn’t know each other … I was quiet and a rule keeper, and he was never far from trouble.”
She added, “On our youth group trips, the leadership always threatened to send Robert home on a Greyhound bus! And I will say his shenanigans were epic! (I won’t elaborate … I wouldn’t want to give any ideas to impressionable minds.) Amazingly though, he never got kicked off a trip.”
Debbie was enchanted by Morris. “Despite our differences, when I was 17 and Robert was 16, he asked me out. At the end of our date, we were standing on the back porch, and I was fidgeting with a hanging plant. My dad opened the back door and said, ‘Deb, it’s time to come in.’ I said that I would be right there! I was truly embarrassed. But then Robert kissed me goodnight, and I fell in love.”
Over the years, Debbie expressed that she “re-fall[s] in love with him every day.”
It’s a question whether she still feels that way amidst all these scandals.
As for the extent of his abuse, did she know about it?
Debbie and Robert tied the knot in May 1980 at the young ages of 18 and 19. The abuse towards Clemishire started on Christmas in 1982.
Morris shared in a statement: “When I was in my early twenties, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying. It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong. This behavior happened on several occasions over the next few years.”
He went on to say: “In March of 1987, this situation was brought to light, and it was confessed and repented of. I submitted myself to the Elders of Shady Grove Church and the young lady’s father. They asked me to step out of ministry and receive counseling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area.”
“Two years later, in March of 1989, I stepped back into ministry with the full blessing of the elders and her father. In October of 1989, Debbie and I met with her and her family, and I asked their forgiveness, and they graciously forgave me,” he concluded with: “This sin was dealt with correctly by confession and repentance, which I did in 1987 and 1989.”
After Morris’s statement, the church’s board of elders issued their own statement accepting his resignation and mentioning that they would be hiring a law firm to conduct further investigations.
Debbie and Robert Morris had three kids while creating their own megachurch.
In 2000, Morris and his wife started Gateway Church, where Morris has served as the senior pastor ever since.
Alongside establishing the church, they were also nurturing their family.
They have three children: James, Josh, and Elaine. All three children, along with their spouses, are actively involved in Gateway Church.
James tied the knot with Bridgette in January 2009.
He serves as an associate senior pastor, while Bridgette leads Gateway Women as the executive pastor of ministry experience and communication.
Josh took on a pastoral role in 2017 after being married to his wife, Hannah, for 13 years. Hannah founded BibL, a brand that offers engaging products and games for kids to explore religion in a fun manner.
Elaine wed Ethan Fisher in 2010. Ethan is a pastor at Gateway Church’s Houston branch, where he co-leads with Elaine, who is also a pastor.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.