Disgraced Pastor Robert Morris Surrenders To Police, Released on $50,000 Bond
Disgraced former Gateway Church Pastor Robert Morris, who once led the largest church in America, surrendered to police yesterday, where he spent an hour in custody being processed before being released on a $50,000 bond.
Morris was indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child and is facing a maximum of 100 years in prison, with each count carrying up to 20 years. He also surrendered his passport.
In 1982, pastor Robert Morris began molesting 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire, initiating sexual contact with her that would continue for the next four and a half years. In 2005, she contacted him about the abuse, which his wife, Debbie, was fully aware of. He instead sought to buy her silence, according to the phone call transcripts.
Nic Lesmeister, the Executive Pastor of Central and Outreach Ministries briefly addressed the indictment during Sunday’s service at Gateway Church.
I wanted to just briefly update you related to the news that many of you seen by now, the media coverage of Robert Morris, and just let you know that we know that stirred up a lot of emotion for all of us. It stirred up a lot of emotion for us and we want to be available to pray with you, to pray for you, to support you, to counsel you in any way that we can.
And so as we continue to move forward and heal and step into the great things that God’s doing in our church, just know that our team is available to you to pray with you.
Last November our elders made it clear that we had drawn a bright line as a church and we were moving forward. And because we’re moving forward and Gateway is no longer involved in this legal matter, we won’t be continuing to update you on the proceedings of the case, but we’re continuing to pray for everybody that’s involved and affected in this matter.
Morris’ next court date is May 9, when he is expected to plead not guilty.
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