Gateway Church

The hearing included emotional testimony from Cindy Clemishire, who accused Southlake megachurch pastor Robert Morris of sexually abusing her as a child in the 1980s — allegations Morris has since been indicted on.

Robert Preston Morris' attorney says the former pastor is expected to appear Monday in Osage County, where he was charged last week with five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.

Founding pastor Robert Morris stepped down from his position last June after child sexual abuse allegations resurfaced against him. He was indicted on five charges related to child sexual abuse Tuesday.

The North Texas megachurch is on the hunt for more elders as it faces financial troubles, dwindling attendance and a shortage of high-ranking staff.

Gateway has seen a 35% to 40% decrease in church donations, according to church elder Kenneth Fambro.

Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks took to the pulpit to share a summary of the findings from law firm Haynes and Boone LLP. The firm was hired by the church in June, following the resignation of Gateway’s founder and then-senior pastor Robert Morris. Morris founded the Southlake-based megachurch in 2000.

A proposed class action lawsuit filed by congregants at Gateway Church alleges the nondenominational megachurch engaged in financial fraud when church leaders falsely promised members that a portion of their tithes would go toward foreign missionary work.

Clemishire told Texas lawmakers she turned down the nondisclosure agreement because it would have kept the alleged abuse of Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris a secret.

The lawsuit accused a teenager of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old youth member in 2016.

James and Bridgette Morris announced last week they plan to start a new church about two months after they stepped away from the Southlake megachurch.

Executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow was removed from his position on Monday, church elder Tra Willbanks said.

The lawsuit, filed by a former youth group member and her family, said pastors and counselors at the Southlake church failed to prevent sexual abuse. It also lists her alleged abuser as a defendant.