Prominent Pastor Admits to Sexually Abusing 12-Year-Old Girl in the 1980s

On October 2, 2025, Robert Morris, the founder of the Gateway megachurch, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. The shocking revelation comes after years of allegations and investigations into Morris' past misconduct.

The abuse began on Christmas night in 1982, when the victim, Clemishire, was just 12 years old. At the time, Morris, who was in his early 20s, was a traveling evangelist who sometimes stayed with Clemishire's family in Oklahoma. He invited the young girl to his room, where he touched her breasts and felt under her panties, the first of several similar encounters over the next few years.

Clemishire kept the abuse a secret until 1987, when she finally told her parents and church leaders. However, no one called the police, and Morris went through what he later described as a "restoration process" before returning to ministry. Years later, in the mid-2000s, Clemishire approached Morris and the leaders of Gateway Church, seeking $50,000 in restitution to cover the cost of her therapy. The talks ultimately fell apart when she refused to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

After decades of silence, Clemishire's story finally came to light in 2024 when she shared it with a blog focused on exposing abuse in churches. This led to Morris' resignation from Gateway and an investigation by the Oklahoma attorney general's office. In March 2025, a grand jury indicted Morris on five felony counts, and he has now pleaded guilty to the charges.

During the court proceedings, Clemishire addressed Morris directly, stating that there was "no such thing as consent from a 12-year-old child" and that she was not a "young lady" but a child he had committed a crime against. The guilty plea marks a significant step in Clemishire's long journey to seek justice and accountability for the trauma she endured.