Gateway Church legal battles
Gateway Church and its founding pastor, Robert Morris, agreed on May 13, 2026, to dismiss their legal dispute over Morris' multi-million dollar retirement package, moving the matter to arbitration after Morris completed a six-month jail sentence for child sexual abuse. As of May 13, 2026: Morris is suing the church for alleged retirement benefits, which the church contests due to his criminal charges. The church also faces a federal class-action lawsuit alleging it misled congregants about at least $15 million annually in global missions donations, with an accountant stating only $3 million was given, and a negligence lawsuit in Tarrant County for failing to protect a minor from sexual assault. Additionally, Gateway Church is appealing a ruling allowing Cindy Clemishire's defamation lawsuit to proceed, with a trial scheduled for June 2026, and an insurance company has requested removal from covering the lawsuit.
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May 2026 — 1 developments
Gateway Church and its founding pastor, Robert Morris, have agreed to dismiss their legal fight over…
Gateway Church and its founding pastor, Robert Morris, have agreed to dismiss their legal fight over Morris' multi-million dollar retirement package, moving the dispute to arbitration. Both parties will bear their own legal costs. This settlement comes after Morris completed a six-month jail sentence for child sexual abuse charges.
April 2026 — 7 developments
Robert Morris is suing Gateway Church for millions in alleged retirement benefits, which the church is contesting due to his criminal charges and abuse allegations.
Robert Morris is suing Gateway Church for millions in alleged retirement benefits, which the church is contesting due to his criminal charges and abuse allegations. Morris has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
A federal class-action lawsuit against Gateway Church and Robert Morris has been allowed to continue after a judge denied a motion to dismiss.
A federal class-action lawsuit against Gateway Church and Robert Morris has been allowed to continue after a judge denied a motion to dismiss. The lawsuit alleges the church misled congregants about donation promises for global missions, claiming this amounts to at least $15 million annually. An accountant for Gateway stated only $3 million was given to global missions.
Gateway Church is appealing a ruling that allowed Cindy Clemishire's defamation lawsuit to proceed, …
Gateway Church is appealing a ruling that allowed Cindy Clemishire's defamation lawsuit to proceed, arguing the dispute is a religious matter and should not be handled in secular court. An insurance company for the church has also asked to be removed from covering the lawsuit, stating its policies were not in effect when the alleged abuse occurred. The appeals court has paused discovery in the case.
Gateway Church founder Robert Morris was released from jail on March 31, 2026, after serving a six-month sentence for five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
Gateway Church founder Robert Morris was released from jail on March 31, 2026, after serving a six-month sentence for five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. He was convicted in October 2025 and received a sentence of jail time, probation, and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Gateway Church is now facing a negligence lawsuit in Tarrant County, which accuses the church of failing to protect a minor from sexual assault on its property.
Gateway Church is now facing a negligence lawsuit in Tarrant County, which accuses the church of failing to protect a minor from sexual assault on its property. This new claim is in addition to existing defamation and fraud lawsuits against the church.
Two former Gateway Church elders, Steve Dulin and Kevin Grove, have been denied their request to be dismissed from a defamation lawsuit filed by Cindy Clemishire.
Two former Gateway Church elders, Steve Dulin and Kevin Grove, have been denied their request to be dismissed from a defamation lawsuit filed by Cindy Clemishire. A trial is scheduled for June 2026.
Gateway Church and its former pastor Robert Morris are involved in new legal battles, including a lawsuit filed by Morris against the church over retirement funds.
Gateway Church and its former pastor Robert Morris are involved in new legal battles, including a lawsuit filed by Morris against the church over retirement funds. This adds to the existing defamation lawsuit by Cindy Clemishire and a class-action suit alleging financial fraud.
February 2026 — 3 developments
Gateway Church is now facing a financial fraud lawsuit in addition to the defamation case.
Gateway Church is now facing a financial fraud lawsuit in addition to the defamation case. A judge has allowed the financial fraud lawsuit, which alleges mishandling of donations and unfulfilled promises to missions, to proceed to discovery, denying dismissal requests from the church and former pastor Robert Morris.
The Dallas County judge's ruling to deny the elders' motion to dismiss was reported, allowing the $1 million defamation lawsuit filed by Cindy Clemishire to continue.
The Dallas County judge's ruling to deny the elders' motion to dismiss was reported, allowing the $1 million defamation lawsuit filed by Cindy Clemishire to continue.
During a court hearing, Dallas County Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied motions filed by two former Gate…
During a court hearing, Dallas County Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied motions filed by two former Gateway Church elders, Steve Dulin and Kevin Grove, seeking to be dismissed from the defamation lawsuit. The judge ruled that the case could proceed against them.
November 2025 — 4 developments
The Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas officially stayed all trial court proceedings in the defamation…
The Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas officially stayed all trial court proceedings in the defamation lawsuit pending the resolution of Gateway Church's petition for a writ of mandamus. The court's decision did not rule on the merits of the church's arguments but acknowledged the significance of the issues raised regarding church autonomy.
A Dallas-based appeals court granted Gateway Church's request to temporarily halt all proceedings in the defamation case, including discovery.
A Dallas-based appeals court granted Gateway Church's request to temporarily halt all proceedings in the defamation case, including discovery. The court agreed to consider the church's arguments regarding ecclesiastical abstention and church autonomy.
Gateway Church and its elders appealed a Dallas County judge's decision to deny their motions to dismiss the defamation suit.
Gateway Church and its elders appealed a Dallas County judge's decision to deny their motions to dismiss the defamation suit. They argued that the case improperly involved secular courts in church governance and doctrine. Clemishire's attorneys countered that her claims were about factual, defamatory statements, not church matters.
A Dallas County judge ruled on November 12, 2025, that a defamation lawsuit filed by Cindy Clemishir…
A Dallas County judge ruled on November 12, 2025, that a defamation lawsuit filed by Cindy Clemishire against Gateway Church, former pastor Robert Morris, and several elders can proceed. Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied motions by the church and elders to dismiss the lawsuit, which they argued was a religious matter outside secular court jurisdiction. Clemishire alleges Morris sexually abused her in the 1980s.
August 2025 — 1 developments
Three former Gateway Church elders—Thomas H.
Three former Gateway Church elders—Thomas H. Miller Jr., Gayland Lawshe, and Jeremy Carrasco—formally denied defaming Cindy Clemishire in court filings. They asserted that any statements made were without malice and intended to inform the congregation during an internal investigation.
October 2024 — 1 developments
Robert Morris pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child in Oklahoma, where the abuse took place.
Robert Morris pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child in Oklahoma, where the abuse took place. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail, with six months to be served, and ordered to pay $270,000 to Clemishire and register as a lifetime sex offender.
June 2024 — 1 developments
Cindy Clemishire and her father filed a defamation lawsuit against Gateway Church, its founder Robert Morris, his wife, Debbie, and several current and former elders.
Cindy Clemishire and her father filed a defamation lawsuit against Gateway Church, its founder Robert Morris, his wife, Debbie, and several current and former elders. The suit alleged that statements made by the elders about Clemishire's accusations of childhood sexual abuse by Morris defamed her and contributed to a cover-up.