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Posted on 05/19/2025 9:23:27 AM PDT by Morgana
Robert Morris, the disgraced former pastor of Gateway Church, once America’s largest megachurch, has filed a lawsuit against his former congregation, demanding millions in retirement payments. The church, however, is fiercely contesting his claims.
Morris, 63, faces allegations that in 1982 he began sexually abusing 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire, who claims the abuse continued for over four years. Now indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, Morris faces up to 100 years in prison, with each count carrying a maximum of 20 years.
Despite these charges, Morris is suing Gateway Church, claiming its elders verbally promised him a lucrative retirement package: $1M upfront, $800,000 annually until he turns 70, and then $600,000 per year thereafter until both he and his wife pass, with payments continuing to the surviving spouse. If either lives into their early 80s, the total could approach $16 million.
According to the Austin American Statesman:
Morris’s arbitration also seeks to obtain the intellectual property rights to books he authored, recorded sermons, social media accounts tied to the pastor, the domain addresses pastorrobert.com and PSRobert.com.
Commenting on the manner, Gateway Church said in a statement:
“Shortly after the troubling revelations about his past conduct came to light last year, Robert Morris reached out to Gateway Church with a series of substantial financial demands.
Gateway Church has chosen not to meet those demands. In response, Robert Morris has filed a lawsuit in arbitration seeking financial compensation. His claims are false and do not reflect accountability for the impact of his actions on the community. We are filing our own response to this lawsuit, affirming our commitment to addressing these issues thoughtfully and thoroughly. We recognize the pain that has been felt by so many, and we are dedicated to maintaining the trust of our church family as we navigate this situation.”
Notably, Morris is also facing a lawsuit over his “money back guarantee” on his congregation’s tithes
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II Peter warned about these types of folks. Just in it to win it for the business...
Stealers gotta steal.
Just ask the Clintons.
He’s obviously a con artist.
My grandfather once said don’t trust a pastor who owns more than one suit.
(That was an exaggeration for effect, of course.)
Side comment: I mentioned my grandfather’s statement before here on FR, and got quite a bit of disagreement: Why shouldn’t a successful pastor have a huge mansion and a private plane?
I suppose that’s where good people can disagree. As for me, I think being a pastor is much like being a career soldier. It’s a special calling, one beyond amassing wealth.
So in my humble opinion, grandfather was more right than wrong.
I agree with your grandad.
Modern church attendance seems to lean against well paid pastors too.
A moneychanger in desperate need of a table flipping by a scruffy desert preacher who has some interesting things to say.
Notably, Morris is also facing a lawsuit over his “money back guarantee” on his congregation’s tithes
Here's my math. He's 63, thus was 20 in 1982 (give or take a few months) when he allegedly abused a 12-year-old. If he truly did it, then he ought to go to prison (I'll reserve judgement on that when I see the evidence, much like I changed my mind on Derek Chauvin after I saw all the videos).
Even after I see all the evidence and if I decide he should go to prison, I won't spiritually judge him or his teachings today over something he did over 40 years ago at the age of 20, assuming of course that he repented. It's similar for how I think about Bill Cosby: drug raping young women is punishable and he should be in prison. But that was years ago and doesn't take away from the good moral messages Cosby pushed for decades after that.
So if this pastor had a contract that he'd get paid X and have a pension of Y, the church should honor it as long as during the years he was pastor he taught and lived right (as probably agreed in the contract).
Gateway Church doesn’t honor a money-back guarantee on tithes to unsatisfied congregants despite claims to the contrary made by disgraced founder Robert Morris and other leaders of the Southlake, Texas, megachurch, a new class action lawsuit filed by four church members Friday alleges.
Notably, Morris is also facing a lawsuit over his “money back guarantee” on his congregation’s tithes
I would join the lawsuit. lots of potential for misdeeds in church accounting.
In regard to this lawsuit, would it not be proper to countersue the pastor for damages?
Spot on... you have hit the nail on the head. This proves that all along it was all about the money. It is rooted in his heart. Wow... I really feel sad for his offspring, to have such a jerk as a dad or grandfather.
Even Judas Iscariot returned the thirty pieces of silver when convicted of sin. Not this guy, he wants more. Sad.
When I lived in Fort Worth many friends and coworkers went there. I never trusted that guy, something seemed off about him. It finally all came to light.
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