Former Church Leader Faces New Lawsuit Over Alleged Abuse and Concealment Efforts

A troubling new chapter has unfolded in the ongoing legal battle surrounding former Gateway Church leader Robert Morris. This week, a woman—in conjunction with her father—filed a detailed civil lawsuit in Dallas County, accusing Morris and the church of conspiring to hide decades-old sexual abuse and profiting from their silence. The suit seeks more than $1 million in damages for its allegations.

The Accuser Breaks Silence Once More

The lawsuit names Cindy Clemishire, the same woman who previously came forward last summer regarding Morris’s abuse when she was 12 years old in her Oklahoma home. Her stepfather, Jerry Lee Clemishire, joins her in this new legal action. The suit claims that both Morris and Gateway Church reaped financial benefits by suppressing the abuse allegations for years.

Cindy's allegations led to Morris’s resignation from Gateway Church and a series of legal consequences: in March, he was indicted in Oklahoma on five felony counts of “lewd or indecent acts to a child” in connection to the alleged abuse.

Alleged Cover‑Up and False Narratives

According to the lawsuit, the church and Morris minimized the abuse, portraying it as merely an “inappropriate relationship” and obscuring the fact that the alleged victim was a minor.

“Morris and his co‑conspirators dismissed the sexual assault of Clemishire… deceiving thousands of church parishioners and the public with a false narrative that the sexual acts performed on the plaintiff as a minor child were consensual,” the suit states.

It further accuses church elders of issuing false and defamatory statements when Cindy first spoke out in June 2024. Those elders claimed ignorance of her age and details—a stance undermined by an independent investigation. That investigation found these elders had been informed of Morris’s conduct well before it became public, leading to their removal from leadership last fall.

Claims of Civil Conspiracy

The court filing paints a picture of coordinated concealment:

Morris, church leaders, and family members allegedly worked together to hide the abuse.

This conspiracy, the lawsuit says, was intentionally designed to protect the church’s financial interests by avoiding scandal.

“The accusations make clear the defendants acted in concert, cooperated with each other and conspired to maximize their profits through their unlawful and unjust course of action to fraudulently conceal and cover up the rape of [Clemishire],” the complaint maintains.

Counteraction from Morris

In a separate, concurrent lawsuit filed in Tarrant County, Morris is demanding that Gateway Church send his retirement pay dispute to arbitration. He claims the church is using Cindy’s allegations as a strategy to avoid paying him a multi‑million dollar pension he believes he is owed.

Church Response and Ongoing Legal Drama

Gateway Church, which is based in Southlake, issued only a brief statement noting that its former spokesperson—Lawrence Swicegood, named in the lawsuit—is no longer employed. They declined further comment on the matter. Morris’s legal team also did not offer a statement when asked.

What Lies Ahead

This latest lawsuit deepens an already complex and emotional case involving allegations of child sexual abuse, institutional concealment, and financial entanglement. As both legal actions proceed, affected communities and observers will be closely watching for how Texas courts respond.

Key upcoming elements include:

Civil trial proceedings in Dallas County over the new lawsuit.

Arbitration hearings in Tarrant County regarding Morris’s retirement claims.

This case sits at the crossroads of faith, justice, and accountability in high-profile religious institutions. Moving forward, both legal and public scrutiny will determine how deeply these issues are addressed and what reforms, if any, might follow.

Location
Dallas County Civil Court, Texas

Date Filed
This week (June 2025)

Litigants

Plaintiffs: Cindy and Jerry Lee Clemishire

Defendants: Robert Morris, Gateway Church, church elders, former spokesperson