Robert Morris, Gateway Church Founder, Admits to Decades-Old Child Sexual Abuse
In a stunning and long-awaited legal reckoning, Robert Morris—the charismatic founder of Gateway Church, one of America’s largest megachurches—has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in the 1980s, according to federal court documents unsealed Thursday .
A Confession Decades in the Making
Morris, 64, admitted in a Dallas federal courtroom to engaging in repeated sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl between 1982 and 1984. The abuse began when the victim was just 12 and continued for over a year. Morris acknowledged that he used his position as a youth pastor to manipulate and groom the child—a fact that has sent shockwaves through the evangelical community.
Gateway Church: From Growth to Scandal
Founded in 2000 in Southlake, Texas, Gateway Church grew under Morris’s leadership into a global ministry with a weekly attendance exceeding 100,000 and campuses across the U.S. and abroad. But the church’s rapid expansion has now been overshadowed by this historic admission of guilt.
Timeline of the Abuse and Aftermath
- 1982–1984: Morris sexually abuses a 12-year-old girl while serving as a youth pastor in Oklahoma.
- 2000: Morris founds Gateway Church in Texas; it becomes one of the nation’s largest congregations.
- June 2024: Allegations resurface publicly; Morris steps down “temporarily” from ministry.
- October 2, 2025: Morris pleads guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor in federal court.
Legal and Institutional Fallout
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Charge | Federal count of sexual abuse of a minor (18 U.S.C. § 2243) |
| Potential Sentence | Up to 15 years in federal prison; sentencing scheduled for January 2026 |
| Church Response | Gateway Church leadership issued a statement expressing “grief and betrayal” but offered no apology to the survivor |
| Survivor’s Identity | Remains sealed; victim has not spoken publicly |
Broader Implications for Megachurch Culture
This case is the latest in a string of high-profile abuse scandals involving prominent evangelical leaders, including Jerry Falwell Jr., Carl Lentz, and Mike Bickle. Critics argue that the unchecked authority granted to megachurch pastors creates environments where abuse can be concealed for decades.
Note: Federal jurisdiction applies because the abuse occurred on Native American tribal land in Oklahoma—a rare legal pathway that enabled prosecution decades later.
What’s Next?
With Morris’s guilty plea, attention now turns to Gateway Church’s future leadership, potential civil lawsuits, and whether other victims may come forward. Advocates for abuse survivors are calling for full transparency and independent oversight of the church’s internal policies.
