Gateway Church Houston is rebranding as Newlands Church in the wake of the sex scandal involving Robert Morris, founder of the main Gateway Church in north Texas. The change was announced last Sunday by Morris’ son-in-law and Gateway Houston’s Senior Pastor Ethan Fisher, who described the name-change as a call from God.
“I believe that during this season, as a church, that God is once again calling us into something new, and I simply want to follow,” said Fisher, the husband of Morris’ daughter, Elaine.
The move comes after shocking allegations in June that Morris had sexually molested a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s, when he was a young pastor. This quickly led to Morris’ resignation as lead pastor.
Morris’s son, James Morris, became lead pastor of Gateway after the confession. However, Gateway elders announced in July that James Morris and his wife Brigette would be stepping down from the pulpit. It was simultaneously announced that well-known Christian author and speaker Max Lucado would be the interim pastor as the church tried to gain its bearings.
According to Fisher, Gateway Houston is an autonomous church, though it had previously operated as campuses of Gateway Church in Dallas-Fort Worth. Prior to June, Robert Morris had served as the apostolic and overseeing elder of Gateway Houston. But Fisher said in June that after Morris resigned, Gateway Houston removed Morris from leadership at the Houston church.
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At that time, Fisher said, “Elaine and I, we’re processing it, obviously, as family. Elaine is a daughter, and I’ve done my best to be there for her. Me, as a son-in-law, we’re processing the pain in real-time in the same way I know many of you are.”
On Sunday, Fisher struck an optimistic tone as he described the church’s next steps.
“We believe the Lord has given us a new name,” Fisher said. “This next chapter is about obedience and stepping out in faith to be who God has called us to be. In Scripture, when God changed a name He was speaking prophetically to who that person was to become. I believe today God is speaking to us to look forward to who we are to become. I am excited to announce that Gateway Houston is becoming Newlands Church. I am full of hope and expectation that God has amazing things in store for you, your family, and our church, and I believe the best is yet to come.”
As the signage starts to change over the coming months, Fisher said he is looking forward to a bright future at their location.
“As God’s people, He is calling us to be not mere spectators but participators in this journey of faith. Every path we have walked has been following the voice of God as He builds His Church. I’m excited for the future and all that God is going to be doing.”
Julie Roys contributed to this article, which was originally published at CHVN Radio.
Sylvia St. Cyr is an on-air radio host at CHVN, a Christian outlet in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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12 Responses
God’s call must have been buffering.
Why not a “call” to be new well before this scandal?
It’s actually more important than just chuckling at such transparent re-branding and disembling, because it’s insidiously deceptive. In hiding their origins, they hide the systemic polity and theological problems inherent in their midst and prevent well-meaning newcomers from easily identifying who they really are.
Nathan, you hit it on the head regarding avoiding their origins. I live in the city where this gateway church is, and people I have encountered that have gone there says there simply is no doctrine whatsoever. Which yes, I know, that’s bad doctrine. And that it’s extremely cliquey. Its theme park Christianity with zero depth, and what depth there is, is false. the Bible is about the last thing they honor. So, none of this surprises me. They are trying to survive.
And if there are lawsuits that might affect the Houston Campus Staff, it could appear as if they are cutting & running. I believe in the IHOP situation, one attorney suggested it would be considered fraud to shut down a church in order to limit legal liability and then open under another, different name. May God Have Mercy on The Churcj And Especially the victims associated with these lawsuits. 🙏🏼
“I believe that during this season, as a church, that God is once again calling us into something new …”
How convenient that God happened to come up with this idea just now. He’s amazing, huh?
I live near where this “church” is located. If you’re looking for a concert, they are the place to be. If you’re looking for the gospel, it’s void of it. There is no doctrine whatsoever, and quite immature on many levels. I know people who went there (visited) and I asked “how was it?” They just laughed. There was nothing to say. One person said “it’s a joke.” And the nepotism, wow, that this is Robert Morris’s daughters husband. He’s immediately qualified to be handed 15 million dollars from the main campus of Gateway and “start a church.” The entire thing is a joke. I could go on and on, but honestly, God is exposing these entities. For some it takes years, but ultimately they are purged.
It seems that this church is still in the clutches of the Morris clan (via the son in law) despite resignations and whitewashing the name of the entity.
Part of me wonders when they’ll put out a big sign saying “Under New Management!”
The superficiality of this is wild. Do they really believe that changing the name will fix the issue? The answer to that? Yes they do. Do they really believe that having Morris children lead this church is the only path forward? Yes they do. How sad. You cannot convince me that Robert Morris doesn’t still have his thumb on this church through his kids.
How trite and worn out the statement, “I believe that during this season, as a church, that God is once again calling us into something new, and I simply want to follow,”. The ‘best is yet to come’? Seriously?
Rebrand the church, call it good and move on, never dealing with the heart of the problem; hearts that are not truly seeking the Lord, a large business that generates a lot of cash-flow and a leadership that clearly lacks both integrity and accountability.
From a PR standpoint you can tell that they are still being lead from within the same circle. Anyone who advised them to move forward NOW with the changing of the name lacks all ability to “read the room”. It’s not the name change that’s the issue it’s the timing of the name change. The fact that there has been a team of people focused con this subject and then moves forward with the promotion of it while still do fresh. One would hope for ALL resources be used to help
Heal the abused and hold true accountability to ALL levels of leadership. MAKE the drastic changes and THEN work on the rebrand. So incredibly superficial. So superficial. So Robert Morris.
Roys Report, has Robert Morris surfaced yet? When the story broke it was reported he and his wife were in Greece. He resigned from Gateway during that time..
He’s worth multi millions of dollars and knows he won’t face legal charges due to the statute of limitations. Is he still laying low outside of the country?
So much for a repented heart he stated for years to have had over his past “sexual indiscretions with a young lady”.
As for his family remaining in the ministry. Time will tell if they’re in it for the money and running the church as a business like R.M.
My husband And I recorded Gateway Church with Pastor Robert Morris and watched two episodes each morning of his Bible teaching. He admitted to being immoral in his earlier days and asked for forgiveness. I believe Jesus forgave him. where does this leave me as a sinner? I have asked for forgiveness and am forgiven. do I need to give every detail of my sin before my church? Robert was an awesome teacher and I miss him!