SOUTH LAKE – A private investigation into allegations that Gateway Church founder Robert Morris had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s has revealed a massive failure involving former church leadership.

The investigation, which the church said now involves law enforcement, also revealed that others knew about Morris’ relationship with the minor and did not ask further questions.

“We have to be honest with ourselves and admit that our culture has allowed this truth to be buried for too long,” said Tra Willbanks, an elder at Gateway Church.

Willbanks called it a “massive failure of governance and accountability”.

“When a church becomes centered around one pastor, it loses its way,” Willbanks said. “And unfortunately, we’ve realized over the last few months that at some point in the past, the culture at Gateway became one where power was centralized and the leader at the top was surrounded by people who wanted to protect him, some. of them at any cost”.

Morris allegedly had a sexual relationship with a minor between 1982 and 1987, when he was an itinerant evangelist in his 20s. On June 14, Cindy Clemishire, whose parents had befriended Morris, publicly accused the pastor of repeatedly molesting her during that time.

Willbanks said he could not disclose additional details because of an ongoing criminal investigation and ongoing litigation against Gateway Church, including what he said are financial demands from Robert Morris.

“But I can share with you that neither the church nor its current leadership is the subject of this criminal investigation,” Willbanks said.

The Haynes Boone investigation involved 680 gigabytes of data, reviewed thousands of pages of documents and emails and interviewed more than two dozen people, Willbanks said.

Six people, including Robert Morris, refused to meet with Haynes Boone, Willbanks said.

Willbanks said the law firm’s findings were presented to a three-member subcommittee.

“What happened to Cindy (Clemishire) was heartbreaking and vile and we condemn sexual abuse in all its forms,” ​​Willbanks said. “We feel deep pain for those who have been victimized by such despicable actions.”

Willbanks praised Clemishire for stepping forward, resulting in others who had not come forward before sharing their stories.

The investigation came after the elders initially claimed they did not have all the facts surrounding the alleged sexual assault, including Clemishire’s age at the time and the length of the abuse.

Willbanks said Robert Morris shared a version of his story that he was unfaithful in his marriage in his early 20s and that others who were aware covered it up.

Willbanks said the inquest concluded there were no other victims of Robert Morris besides Clemishire.

According to Willbanks, no one involved in the failure is part of the church anymore.

Meanwhile, Willbanks urged anyone with further information to come forward, assuring them that their allegations would be held in the “strictest confidence”.