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Evangelical pastor from Texas and former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump has admitted to sexually abusing a young girl in his past.
Robert Morris, founding pastor of the Dallas-based Gateway megachurch, was accused by an Oklahoma woman of sexually assaulting her in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12 and continuing until she was 16.
Morris confirmed the allegations to the Christian Post.
IN statement told the Christian Post, Morris said, “When I was in my early 20s, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady at the home I was staying at.”
In her own statement to the Christian Post, the assault victim said she was “horrified” by the description of her as a “young lady” and said the repeated abuse took her decades to process. She said her family threatened Morris with the police and later considered filing a lawsuit.
Other churches where Morris served, such as Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie, allegedly knew about his abuse, but Morris told the Christian Post that he received counseling and has since “walked in purity and responsibility in that area “.
Shady Grove Church became Gateway Church The Grand Prairie Campus in 2013.
Morris told the Christian Post: “In March 1987 this situation was brought to light and it was acknowledged and repented of. I surrendered to the elders of Shady Grove Church and the young lady’s father. I was asked to step down from the ministry and get counseling and freedom ministry, which I did.”
Despite his admission, Morris will continue to be a keynote speaker at the church on weekends, and his son James Morris will take over his father’s duties as senior pastor next year.
Morris was never criminally charged, and by the time his accuser decided to file a lawsuit, she was advised that the statute of limitations for criminal or civil claims had likely expired.
In a statement to local news outlet WFAA in Dallas, Gateway Church said the “35-year-old matter” had been resolved: “Pastor Robert has been open and honest about a moral failure he had more than 35 years ago when he was in his 20s years before he started Gateway Church. He shared publicly from the pulpit the correct biblical steps he had taken in his long recovery process.
“The two-year recovery process was carefully administered by the elders at Shady Grove Church and involved him leaving the ministry during that period while he received professional counseling and freedom ministry counseling. There have been no further moral failures since the resolution of the 35-year-old question.’
Morris’ accuser said that although she forgave him for the sexual abuse, she did not believe he should have returned to ministry.
Morris was a Trump appointee evangelical advisory board for his 2016 presidential campaign.
And in a 2020 Round Table Discussion with religious leaders in Texas, then-President Trump thanked two pastors, one of whom was Morris, for attending the event.
“They are great people. Great people with a great reputation. I have to say this,” Trump said. “Great reputation. And the Gateway Church – the team was amazing in hosting us.”
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