Robert Morris (born July 29, 1961) is a former American televangelist pastor who founded Gateway Church, a megachurch based in Southlake, Texas, in 2000.

[7] In addition to his pastorship, Morris has published several books, including The Blessed Life, Dream to Destiny, The God I Never Knew, and Grace, Period.

He runs a radio show named Worship & the Word with Pastor Robert, which reaches over 6,800 cities, and a television program aired in 190 countries.

[8] Prior to the allegations against him, Morris had announced he intended to step down as senior pastor of Gateway Church and transition his son into the leadership role by Spring 2025.

[17] On June 14, 2024,[9] it became public on The Wartburg Watch, a religious watchdog focused on reporting abuse in churches, that Cindy Clemishire, a 54 year old woman, had claimed that on Christmas night in 1982, Morris, whom she’d been staying in the same household with, invited her to his room, instructed her to lay on his bed then proceeded to touch her breasts and feel under her panties.

"[22] Clemishire further says she filed a civil lawsuit against Morris in 2005 but his attorneys claimed she was responsible for being "flirtatious" and offered her $25,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which she refused.

[9] In 2007, Clemishire's attorney sent a letter to Morris requesting reimbursement for therapy she had undergone because of the abuse and attempted to settle the civil claim.

[21] In 2014, Morris gave a sermon saying he struggled with sexual immorality as a teenager and that he "learned to lie and manipulate" and "looked for the girls who would be the most susceptible.

"[16] The sexual abuse allegedly lasted between 1982 and March 1987,[18] when the "situation was brought to light" as he was serving as pastor of Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie, Texas.

[18] At least one former church elder was aware of the 2005 emails between Clemishire and Morris but he stated he "did not fully understand the severity and specifics of the sexual abuse" nor did he know it began when she was 12 years old.

[22] Clemishire has disputed this by saying the elder "received and responded to my email, acknowledging that the sexual abuse began on December 25, 1982 when I was 12 years old" and that church leadership chose to believe "the false narrative" Morris gave them.

[21] Though initially receiving support from Gateway Church, Morris resigned from his role as senior pastor following significant criticism over the sexual misconduct revelations.

[20] State Representative Jeff Leach, chairman of the judiciary committee of the Texas House, has called to improve "laws protecting and ensuring justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse" and holding the perpetrators responsible in wake of the allegations.