James Morris, who was slated to take over leadership of Dallas-area Gateway Church, has resigned in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving his father, Robert Morris.
In a statement released to media, Gateway said its elders met earlier this week with Associate Senior Pastor James Morris and his wife, Gateway Executive Pastor Bridgette Morris. At that meeting, “they collectively made the decision” that the couple would step down.
“We as Elders affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in both Pastors James and Bridgette’s hearts to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future,” the statement said. “. . . They have faithfully and honorably served our congregation and this community through all the years that they have been part of Gateway Church.”
Gateway said pastor and best-selling author Max Lucado has agreed to serve as an interim teacher at the church. It added that Swedish pastor Joakim Lundqvist has been added to Gateway’s staff.
The news comes in the wake of allegations that Gateway founder Robert Morris sexually abused a woman in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12 years old. Days after the allegations first surfaced on June 14, the elder Morris resigned from Gateway, one of the largest megachurches in the country.
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On June 28, Gateway announced that James Morris and three other elders would take a leave of absence from the church while a law firm, Haynes & Boone, investigated the allegations. In its June 28 statement, Gateway said James Morris “had no knowledge of the true facts” of his father’s alleged abuse but had volunteered to take a leave to ensure “a truly independent and unbiased inquiry.”
Prior to the scandal involving Robert Morris, Gateway had announced that James Morris would become lead pastor of the church in 2025.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Gateway stated that its elders would have “a few important updates” this weekend and encouraged people to attend one of the church’s services.
“We love you, we’re praying for you, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of our church family,” the post said.
Julie Roys is a veteran investigative reporter and founder of The Roys Report. She also previously hosted a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, called Up for Debate, and has worked as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals.
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27 Responses
I have no doubt that young James Morris is as nice a guy as there is. I am sure he is a good husband and father, and very likely a good son, too. None of the sins of his father should be imputed to James. Perhaps James will plant his own church outside the shadow of his father.
Excellent…kind…and thoughtful letter. Romans 8:38 and 39…🎶
Or this is Kabuki and James will be welcomed back shortly. His position made all the stronger by his giving up his position.
As for James paying a price for Robert’s crime, sure unfair. Yet is nearly inconceivable that James would have been anointed as the future leader had his last name not been Morris.
Greetings Tim
Is it God’s church or a part of Morris Inc?
Why should a 25 year old be in charge of a multi million operation?
What about all the pastors out there who have put in their time and have hands on experience.
Shouldn’t God’s people get the proven best?
Best regards
Con
And preferably outside the DFW area. If he starts one in the area, he will be accused – rightly or not – of “sheep stealing” from Gateway.
Likely the elders told him, “We don’t blame you for what your dad did, but if you stay as pastor, there won’t be much of a church left for you to lead.” They got the hint and left.
Daughter and son-in-law are pastors of Gateway Houston.
It will be interesting to see what they do.
Gateway Houston is not one of the branch campuses, but it is an affiliate of them (as is Gateway Phoenix, headed by Preston Morrison who was on staff at the main Southlake campus).
I think the Houston campus will “officially” cut ties and change its name.
It amazes me that mega churches such as this don’t have trained pastors to lead and have to have another celebrity Christian (Max Lucado) take over. These are not churches, they are corporations. Sad!
This is a mega church that had a celebrity pastor. To keep people coming, they brought in another celebrity, well known pastoral voice to lead. These huge churches need tons of donation’s and cash flow to operate. Having an unknown associate pastor won’t cut the bill.
Correct Tyrone, they are a cash machine, with big buildings and staff to pay. A godly, unknown pastor won’t keep the crowds coming. How sad!
I attend a “smaller megachurch” (large church for our city, but not metroplex large). Four weekend services at the main campus, and several campuses in other parts of the state which we helped plant. One thing I really appreciate about our pastoral leadership is they don’t rely on bringing in other well-known pastors/speakers (as some other churches tend to do in the summer while the lead pastor takes vacation). Our lead pastor preached 35-40 weekends of the year. Of the remaining weekends, most are handled by other pastors on staff (all of whom are qualified and experienced), and maybe 3-4 per year are guest speakers (usually missionaries, sometimes a friend of our pastor who has a personal insight/experience to speak on a particular topic). A couple of years ago, they even did a 3-week series where different staff and non-staff leaders within the church spoke on the Scripture passages that most shaped their lives. That was 4 different speakers each weekend, from Bible college students to a 70-year-old retired minister who now attends our church.
I agree with that comment Brent. I was very disappointed to hear James would not become senior pastor at Gateway. However, it may be best for him to pastor in a new place not associated with his father.
James is a gifted and qualified pastor and wasn’t even born yet for most of Robert’s abuse, he should not be punished for his fathers sins, and maybe this is the best way for him to move forward. I sincerely hope he was able to make this decision of his own accord and not bullied into it.
“James is a gifted and qualified pastor …”
What does that mean, in detail? Can you give any examples of Mr. Morris’s demonstrating his qualities as a pastor that you have personally experienced?
As long as that place isn’t in the DFW area. If he starts one there, he will be accused of “sheep stealing” Gateway members.
100% in agreement with you on the fact that he should never pastor or start a church in the DFW area. In fact I personally feel it would be better if they should leave Texas altogether and go to a state far away from Texas! Maybe like that of Minneasota, Michigan, Vermont, Maine, etc. Stay as far away Texas.
Good evening Jordan
If James is as qualified as you say, it won’t matter where he is a pastor. He is still doing God’s work.
It when a church becomes the property of a pastor to be passed along it stops being a church.
Don’t call “celebrity pastors “ Christians – the get paid very well for what the do. What happens in the quiet off hours? Do the help out with a prison ministry to show that God forgives or do they write their next best seller?
Best regards
Con
“had no knowledge of the true facts”
What’s the difference between a fact and a “true fact”?
Is he trying to say that his father lied to him without saying that his father lied to him?
As with what the elders knew, the fact that was known was that of his father having had an affair, but without the “true fact” of it being a 12-year-old child.
It is not only the horrible abuse, lying and cover-up that was brought to light, but the amount of greed from the Morris family is also despicable. Robert and the rest of the family should have immediately given the victim 4.5 million dollars, one million for every year of abuse to help her and her family. Robert and the rest of the family are worth millions but there has been no mention of donating money to any organization for victims of abuse or starting a foundation to help victims of abuse by the Morris family or Gateway Church. The younger Morris has had plenty of time to do the right thing and start an organization for abuse victims, but instead, the entire Morris family is more concerned about themselves, their reputation, and what they are going to do next rather than putting their mission statement “We are all about people” into action.
Why Isn’t law enforcement involved.When talking about this on
tv the former pastor always has a smirk on his face. Why does he get away with no prison time while people with lesser crimes not against children get prison time. HE SHOULD BE PAYING THE YOUNG SOME OF HIS I GOT AWAY WITH NO PRISON TIME MONEY.ANT THE CHURCH PAID HIM…WOW
Because the statute of limitations on Robert’s crimes has long passed. Any changes to them can only be prospective, as the Constitution (Federal and state) prohibits “ex post facto” laws.
There was a Texas case where the perp molested his own children (around the same time as Robert’s actions). The prosecution tried to convict using a change in the limitation statute, but the court threw it out.
Every person in a leadership position both when they first learned of this, and when it became public, should resign their position because of how poorly they handled it. They put protecting the man in front of protecting the flock. It is right that James Morris resigned- the elders should next. The only healthy way forward for this (or any) church is to remove anyone who stood by and accepted a coverup of child sexual abuse that went on for years- they do not have the judgement needed to lead a church. They are welcome to attend and participate, but should be no where near power, authority or decisions.
If Robert Morris had dropped dead of a quick kill heart attack I would be okay with his son taking the pastorate. But because of a horrible scandal the best thing to do is for the whole family leave and disassociate with church completely with them. Too close to the scandal.
It will be interesting to see what Max Lucado does. Or how he does.
“We as Elders affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in both Pastors James and Bridgette’s hearts to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future,” the statement said.
If it were me, I would be hesitant to ascribe any particular action or intention to God. Why not say something to the effect that, “Mr. and Mrs. Morris hope to do more ‘pastoring’ in the future, and we wish them the best,” instead of claiming to speak for God?
These elders’ errors regarding the senior Mr. Morris demonstrated that their judgment is suspect, anyway.
People tend to just accept that when somebody sticks the word “Church” up on a building that that automatically makes it a part of Jesus’ Church. I do not assume such a foolish thing. All the signs point that this “Church” founded by a child molester has never known Jesus and will not know Him when He falls on them and crushes them. This is what the Word says…
I think one of two things happened to cause this:
1. The elders learned that James knew the real story and covered it up.
2. The elders are hearing from congregants (that is: major donors) that either the entire Morris clan goes (regardless of what they did or did not know about Robert’s actions), or they leave (and take their tithes with them).
Likely several of their branch campuses will either close or be spun-off as independent congregations.
Replacing a celebrity pastor with another “christian celebrity” says a lot to the priorities of the elders. Gotta keep selling them books at the bookstore!