2024
June 14 — Cindy Clemishire’s allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of Robert Morris are publicly reported in The Wartburg Watch, a blog.
June 18 — The Board of Elders of Gateway Church accepts the resignation of Morris and hires Haynes Boone to conduct an independent investigation “of the report of past abuse to ensure we have a complete understanding of the events from 1982-1987,” according to a statement issued by the church.
July — Gateway and founding elder and executive pastor Steve Dulin part ways.
Aug. 14 — A former member of the church’s youth group files suit in Tarrant County district court against the church, alleging its leaders failed to protect her from repeated sexual assault at the hands of another teen on church grounds.
Oct. 4 — A group of congregants sue the church in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas alleging the church was dishonest about the way it was using certain tithe funds.
Nov. 2 — Gateway announces it has removed four elders. Based on information provided in the Haynes Boone report the church determined all but three of its elders either knew about the allegations involving Morris and a 12-year-old Clemishire or had received some information and “failed to inquire further.”
2025
March 12 — Morris is indicted by a grand jury in Oklahoma on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
May 13 — Gateway Church files suit against Morris in Tarrant County district court in a dispute over whether Morris is entitled to retirement payments from the church.
June 11 — Clemishire files suit in Dallas County district court against Gateway, its elders and Morris alleging libel, slander, defamation, civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and unjust enrichment.
Oct. 2 — Morris pleads guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child and begins serving a six-month jail sentence.
Nov. 6 — Gateway’s insurer, Church Mutual Insurance, files a lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas asking the court to declare it does not have to cover defense costs in Clemishire’s defamation suit.
2026
Jan. 16 — The former youth group member nonsuits her assault lawsuit against the church.
March 31 — Robert Morris is released from the Osage County jail.