Oklahoma woman shares story of alleged sexual abuse by Texas megachurch pastor

EDMOND, Okla. — A Texas pastor at a popular megachurch has resigned following sexual abuse allegations. Pastor Robert Morris served on former President Donald Trump's evangelical advisory board. The woman who made the allegations is from the Edmond area.

On Tuesday, Morris, who founded Gateway Church near Dallas, resigned after Cindy Clemishire shared allegations of sexual abuse by Morris. It's too late for Morris to be prosecuted. However, Clemishire agreed to share her story to inspire other potential survivors to share their stories.

“It’s too much for a child,” Clemishire said. “There’s a lot of guilt and a lot of shame.”

Clemishire has memories that took him a while to understand.

“Eighteen years to really discover and accept what he did to me,” she said.

Clemishire's family was close to Morris in the 1980s.

“Robert and Debbie were part of our family,” Clemishire said.

Clemishire said Morris traveled as a pastor to different communities. He visited her at Hominy's home in Osage County on Christmas night in 1982. Clemishire was 12 years old at the time.

“That’s when he started sexually abusing me,” Clemishire said. “He told me that night that I could never tell anyone because it would ruin everything.”

Clemishire sought relief in 2005. In an email to Clemishire, Morris said, “My attorney advises me that if I pay you money under threat of reporting, you could be criminally prosecuted.” »

“A lot of anger at that point,” she said.

A 2014 sermon reveals that Morris shares a personal story of sexual misconduct.

“I learned to lie and manipulate,” Morris told his congregation in 2014. “I didn’t want to be rejected. “I was looking for girls who didn't have a good relationship with their father. »

Clemishire shared in detail the four and a half years she said Morris abused her with religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch. Four days later, Morris resigned.

“I haven’t been deprived of a father’s love,” Clemishire said. “I was an innocent child. For me, it's about finding out who knew it all.

According to CBS News and the Associated Press, Gateway Elders said in a statement that they would launch an investigation to “get a complete understanding of the events” from 1982 to 1987.

“It’s very difficult,” Clemishire said. “It’s still difficult.”

Clemishire moves forward as best she can. She didn't do it alone.

“Luckily, my faith remained strong,” Clemishire said. “I’ve had a big family my whole life.”

Stories can heal and remember. Clemishire said she was proud to come forward.

“I hope and pray that any victim who hears this can realize that it was not their fault,” Clemishire said.

Clemishire believes there are other testimonies and she will be there to listen to them.

“Move forward,” she said. “I believe you. You won’t be alone.

In a statement to The Christian Post, Morris admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young woman.” News 9 has contacted Robert Morris for comment on this story. Morris did not respond before news deadline Friday evening.

Morris was never charged or investigated by police in this case. The limitation period has expired. Clemishire said she is working with lawmakers in Oklahoma and Texas to change the statute of limitations and help survivors get justice.