Full Breakdown
Defamation Lawsuit Against Former Gateway Church Elders Advances
2/7/2026, 11:23:39 PM
Court Ruling on Defamation Case
A Dallas County judge has ruled that a defamation lawsuit filed by Cindy Clemishire, a survivor of sexual abuse, against two former elders of Gateway Church will proceed. Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied motions from former elders Kevin Grove and Steve Dulin to be dismissed from the case, which seeks $1 million in damages. The lawsuit alleges that the church and its leaders downplayed and mischaracterized the abuse Clemishire suffered at the hands of founding pastor Robert Morris, who has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of lewd conduct involving her when she was a minor.
Background of the Case
Clemishire accused Robert Morris of sexually abusing her starting at the age of 12 during the 1980s, a period during which Morris was 22 years old. In October 2024, Morris was sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. As part of his sentence, he is required to pay Clemishire $270,000 and register as a lifetime sex offender. Following the allegations, Gateway Church removed Dulin and Grove from their positions as elders, with Grove being one of four elders dismissed after an internal investigation revealed they were aware of the abuse.
Allegations of Defamation
Clemishire's lawsuit claims that statements made by the church's elders, which referred to the abuse as "inappropriate sexual behavior," were misleading and minimized the severity of the acts. During a recent court hearing, Drew York, one of Clemishire's attorneys, argued that referring to a 12-year-old as a "young lady" was "patently false" and that it misrepresented the nature of the abuse. In contrast, Charles Kibler, representing the former elders, contended that the term used was not untruthful and suggested that the emotional weight of Clemishire's claims lacked supporting evidence.
Official Statements & Responses
Following the initial allegations, Gateway Church acknowledged Morris's sexual abuse in a statement but later issued an apology, admitting they "did not have all the facts" regarding the extent of the abuse. This acknowledgment has been cited by Clemishire's legal team as evidence of the elders' awareness of the defamation involved in their statements. Kibler maintained that the elders' knowledge of Morris's history was irrelevant to the case.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics of the church's handling of the situation, including Clemishire's legal team, argue that the church's statements were designed to downplay the abuse and protect its reputation. They assert that the language used in the elders' statements could lead the public to misunderstand the nature of the crimes committed against Clemishire.
What's Next
The case is set to go to trial in June 2026, as the court continues to address various motions related to the lawsuit. Additionally, Morris and his wife have faced other legal challenges, including a federal class-action lawsuit from former church members regarding financial mismanagement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “No reasonable person would have viewed the statement as anything more than an extramarital affair, not that it was actual rape,” — Drew York, Attorney for Cindy Clemishire
- “I know I was called ‘young man’ when I was in my early days.” — Charles Kibler, Attorney for the Elders
