Gateway Church legal battles

Developing StoryLast updated MAR 16
SUMMARY

Gateway Church is facing both a $1 million defamation lawsuit and a financial fraud lawsuit, with a Dallas County judge on February 7, 2026, denying dismissal requests from the church and former pastor Robert Morris, allowing both cases to proceed to discovery. As of February 7, 2026: The defamation lawsuit, filed by Cindy Clemishire, and the financial fraud lawsuit, alleging mishandling of donations, are moving forward against the church and its former leaders. This follows Robert Morris's October 1, 2024, guilty plea to five counts of lewd or indecent acts, resulting in a 10-year sentence (six months served) and a $270,000 payment to Clemishire.

Timeline

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2026

3 updates

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.

via cbsnews.com

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.

via cbsnews.com·keranews.org·reddit.com·wfaa.com·dallasnews.com

2025

5 updates

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.

via cbsnews.com·keranews.org·reddit.com·wfaa.com·dallasnews.com

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.

via cbsnews.com·keranews.org·reddit.com·wfaa.com·dallasnews.com

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.

via cbsnews.com·keranews.org·reddit.com·wfaa.com·dallasnews.com

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.

via KERA News

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.

via cbsnews.com·keranews.org·reddit.com·wfaa.com·dallasnews.com

2024

2 updates

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.

via cbsnews.com·keranews.org·reddit.com·wfaa.com·dallasnews.com

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.

via cbsnews.com·keranews.org·reddit.com·wfaa.com·dallasnews.com

Story began · 1 year, 10 mo ago