A transcript reveals a disturbing phone conversation between Robert Morris and his accuser in a 2005 case of alleged child sexual abuse.
Pastor Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church, is facing serious accusations of sexual abuse, with new revelations coming to light about a phone conversation he had in 2005 with his accuser, Cindy Clemishire. According to a transcript obtained by NBC News from a former Gateway staff member, Morris asked Clemishire how much it would take to prevent her from publicly accusing him of sexually abusing her as a child.
During the phone call on September 22, 2005, Morris is reported to have pressed Clemishire to “put a price on it” when she alluded to making the abuse public. When she responded that money wasn’t the issue, Morris continued to push for a figure, eventually suggesting “Two Million Dollars.” Clemishire, in response, emphasized that money wouldn’t erase the emotional pain she had endured. After her answer, Morris ended the conversation.
Clemishire had accused Morris of sexually abusing her starting at the age of 12 in the 1980s. It would take nearly two decades before she went public with her claims. On June 14, 2024, she shared her story with the church watchdog site The Wartburg Watch, detailing years of abuse. In his response, Morris admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior” but did not address the specific abuse allegations in full detail.
The 2005 phone call is one of several communications between Clemishire and Morris, including a series of emails in which she sought compensation for the trauma she said he caused. Clemishire was 35 years old at the time of the emails, and she described how the abuse had deeply impacted her life.
Morris, who also served on former President Donald Trump’s spiritual advisory board, resigned from his role at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, on June 22, 2024, after the allegations became public. The church, one of the largest megachurches in the country, has yet to comment on the latest developments.
