Robert Morris walked out of an Oklahoma jail early Tuesday morning, a free man again, but forever marked by the conviction that stripped him of his pulpit and his reputation. The founder of Gateway Church, once one of the nation’s most influential evangelical leaders, was released just after midnight after serving six months for sexually abusing a child in the 1980s.
The 64-year-old’s release closes a chapter of legal proceedings that began decades after the abuse occurred, but it opens a new period of supervision and public scrutiny. Morris pleaded guilty last year to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he received a 10-year suspended sentence, with the first six months served in the Osage County Jail.
For Cindy Clemishire, the woman who brought the allegations forward, the jail time was a tangible acknowledgment of harm suffered. Now in her 50s, Clemishire was 12 years old when Morris, then a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma, began abusing her in 1982. She did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday, but following Morris’s sentencing, she said justice had finally been served.
“The man who manipulated, groomed and abused me as a 12-year-old innocent girl is finally going to be behind bars,” Clemishire said in a statement last year. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Clemishire did.
The Weight of an Apology
In a statement released through his attorney, Bill Mateja, Morris offered an apology that acknowledged the severity of his actions without qualifying them. “What I did to Cindy decades ago was wrong. There is no other word for it and there is no excuse for it. I am deeply sorry,” Morris said. He added that he had carried the weight of that wrong for a long time and expressed gratitude that the Clemishire family had the courage to bring it into the light.
Morris noted that he had sought forgiveness privately years ago, and that Cindy’s father had extended grace to him—a grace he said he did not deserve. The statement comes as Morris transitions from incarceration to supervised release, a shift that will require strict adherence to legal boundaries.
Upon release, Morris must register as a sex offender. He was likewise ordered to pay the costs of his incarceration, including any medical expenses, along with restitution to the victim. The financial and legal obligations will follow him as he returns to Texas, where he will remain under the watch of authorities despite residing in a different state than where he was convicted.
A Leader’s Fall From Influence
The conviction marks a stark finish to Morris’s tenure at Gateway Church, which he founded in 2000 in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Southlake. Under his leadership, the church grew into one of the largest megachurches in the United States. Morris resigned in June 2024 when faced with the victim’s allegations, shortly before being indicted by an Oklahoma grand jury.
Beyond the pulpit, Morris held significant political sway. He formerly served on President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisory board, and the church hosted Trump on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy. His legal troubles emerged amidst broader scrutiny of religious institutions and how they handle allegations of misconduct within their leadership.
What Happens Next?
Why was the case prosecuted in Oklahoma?
The abuse occurred in Hominy, Oklahoma, in 1982. Although Morris is based in Texas, jurisdiction typically lies where the crime was committed. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office prosecuted the case based on the location of the alleged acts.
What are the restrictions on Morris’s freedom?
In addition to sex offender registration, Morris is serving a 10-year suspended sentence. Violating the terms of his supervision could result in the activation of the suspended prison time. He will be monitored via interstate compact between Oklahoma and Texas authorities.
How has Gateway Church responded?
Morris resigned in June 2024 following the allegations. The church continues to operate in Southlake, but the scandal has impacted its leadership structure and public standing within the evangelical community.
As Morris steps back into society, the community he once led is left to reconcile the disparity between his public ministry and the private harms confirmed in a court of law.
