Megachurch pastor sought to silence abuse accuser with money

In a recent development, Pastor Robert Morris, the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, has been accused of sexually abusing Cindy Clemishire, a former family friend, when she was just 12 years old in the 1980s. A transcript of a phone call from September 2005, obtained by NBC News, reveals Morris asking Clemishire to 'put a price on it' after she threatened to expose the abuse. Morris admitted to seeking counseling in 1987 after being confronted by Clemishire's father and church leaders but maintained he did what was asked of him. Clemishire expressed her desire for Morris to face consequences for the pain she endured, stating that she wanted to see him pay something for his actions. Despite Clemishire initially resisting naming a price, she eventually told Morris it would take $2 million to keep her silent about the alleged abuse. Morris, however, refused to pay her in exchange for her silence, emphasizing that it would be wrong to do so. Following public accusations from Clemishire, Morris resigned from Gateway Church's board of elders, admitting to engaging in "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" in the 1980s. The church elders acknowledged being aware of Morris' relationship with a 'young lady' in his 20s but claimed they were unaware of the abuse of a 12-year-old child. The phone conversation between Morris and Clemishire aligns with emails where Clemishire demanded restitution for the pain and damage caused by Morris. The transcript of the 2005 phone call, provided to NBC News by an unidentified former Gateway IT department member, sheds light on the interactions between Morris and Clemishire regarding the alleged abuse. Clemishire's insistence on holding Morris accountable for his actions and seeking compensation for the harm she endured underscores the gravity of the situation. As the controversy unfolds, the community awaits further developments in this troubling case.