Concerns about Gateway Church founding pastor Robert Morris's behavior were raised nearly forty years ago, prior to the allegations of him sexually abusing a pre-teen girl in the 1980s. "What happened to Cindy Clemishire was heartbreaking and vile,

Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks took to the pulpit to share a summary of the findings from law firm Haynes and Boone LLP. The firm was hired by the church in June, following the resignation of Gateway’s founder and then-senior pastor Robert Morris.

According to the Dallas Morning News, elder Tra Willbanks announced that all but three elders either knew that pastor Robert Morris allegedly abused a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s or "failed to inquire further" upon receiving information about it.

Gateway Church says it has removed multiple elders who knew about abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris and is cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation.