Gateway Church canceled its annual conference Wednesday following the resignation of its founding pastor amid child sexual assault allegations.
Robert Morris stepped down in mid-June after admitting to 鈥渟exual inappropriate behavior鈥� with a child. His accuser, Cindy Clemshire, said Morris sexually abused her in 1982 when she was 12 years old.
In the wake of those allegations, church officials this week canceling the two-day event.
鈥淲e are deeply sorry for the pain this situation caused the survivor, other survivors of abuse, and the Church at large,鈥� the statement reads. 鈥淎s we seek to navigate this season in a healthy way and in a manner that promotes healing for everyone affected, we believe it best to not hold Gateway Conference this year.鈥�
Church elders launched an investigation into Morris after the abuse claims came to light. Morris鈥檚 wife and son resigned from their church positions and two church elders are on leave of absence. Founding elder Steve Dulin also parted ways with the church in late July.
Morris has not been arrested or charged with a crime.
At least three local pastors have been charged with sex offenses since May, as leaders from seven churches in the area 鈥� including five megachurches like Gateway 鈥� have stepped down amid unrelated accusations of 鈥渋mmoral鈥� behavior or sexual abuse allegations.
Among those is former lead pastor Josiah Anthony at Cross Timbers Church, who was asked to step down after church elders learned of, 鈥渉urtful and inappropriate actions,鈥� elder John Chalk told congregants in late July.
Church elders later revealed in an email to congregants three women came forward about 鈥渋nappropriate communication鈥� with Anthony that was 鈥渋nappropriate for a pastor.鈥�
In light of the allegations, Executive Pastor Byron Copeland was originally tapped to replace Anthony. But the church later reversed course without explanation, and on Monday, Copeland announced his own resignation in a statement to church members.
Copeland did not explain why he was stepping down but told congregants it鈥檚 been an 鈥渆xceptionally challenging鈥� time.
鈥淚 have felt the heavy weight of our recent hurt at Cross Timbers Church,鈥� Copeland said, adding: 鈥淏ut, I sense that God is calling me to a fresh season of life. So, it is with a thankful heart that I have decided to resign from my position.鈥�
Copeland served at the Argyle church since November 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Copeland previously worked for Gateway Church in Southlake for 20 years, where he was named for civil rights violations after 鈥渁ggressively confronting鈥� a female employee.
It鈥檚 unclear if the lawsuit is related to Copeland stepping back as interim pastor or his resignation from the church.
