Texas megachurch faces exodus of worshippers after a sex abuse scandal set off a summer of turmoil
Texas megachurch faces exodus of worshippers after a sex abuse scandal set off a summer of turmoil
Summer was off to a tumultuous start when allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced on a blog dedicated to Christian survivor stories. This time, the man involved had gone on to lead one of America’s largest megachurches.
Robert Morris, who founded and led Gateway Church for nearly 25 years in the affluent Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Southlake, Texas, resigned after the scandal came to light in June. His exit sent thousands of evangelicals into a season of struggle that has lasted months.
Last week, a pastor who oversaw all of Gateway’s campuses departed amid an undisclosed “moral issue,” becoming the latest in a series of changes for the church: The cancellation of its annual conference. The departure of Morris’ successor. The renaming of its Houston campus and an exodus of worshippers.
At each weekend service, worshippers continue to face reminders of the scandal, with interim or guest pastors kicking off their sermons saying “I’m sorry,” talking about grief or finding hope in difficult times. They’ve noticed people who have sat and prayed around them for years are once again not showing up for service.
The church has seen a decrease of 17% to 19% in weekend services attendance, a church spokesperson told CNN.
Not a trans person always a priest
Not a drag queen, either :(
Not covered in this story: The church leadership says hey he told us about it but we thought it was with a “young lady” and whatevs it was all cool, we’re as shocked as you are it is horrible
The victim says what the fuck I have been telling them about it FOR YEARS NOW
Weird how many christian pastors see their church as their personal dating service.
It's a power thing. Many people choose jobs that give them power over unfortunate people for the express purpose of abusing those people's vulnerability, not because they like to help people.
Gateway Church draws an estimated 100,000 people to its weekend services and has more than 560 employees at nine locations in Texas, and two others in Missouri and Wyoming, according to the church.
Imagine how much money they’re raking in.
Religion should be private. Better yet, wake up from that long-con and give it up altogether.
With numbers like that it sounds more like a cult with tax exemptions. And why do they have so employees, shouldn't people be happy to do "the work of God" for free as volunteers?
They bring new people in and show them a really fun time and then pressure them to sign a payroll deduction form so that their tithe can come directly out of their paychecks.
The case that came to light started in 1982. I feel like there’s approximately 0% chance she’s his only victim.
Jesus Christ— did someone drop water on Trump and feed him after midnight? He’s multiplying
The less potential victims they have, the better.
This is just the WOKE MIND VIRUS Waging a WAR on RELIGION! WHO CARES if a Priest touches a couple hundred kids in their penises and vaginas when DRAG QUEENS EXIST!
I used to work at a place where several partners were members of this church. The open disdain directed toward me for not being a churchgoer and the ostracization the occurred were a significant factor of my decision to leave.
After I left, one of the partners harassed me for several years via phone calls, text messages, and hand written letters mailed to my home trying to get me to turn my heathen ways around.
One of those letters said something asking the lines that while I had chosen eternal damnation for myself, I owed an opportunity of salvation to my daughter, so I needed to bring her to this church.
I don't remember how many years this continued, but it finally stopped.
The hell is the matter with these people?
Ah, the thing they're famous for. Come to my church, I'll "handle your family right". Classic shitstains on humanity.
All part of god’s plan
to continue extracting wealth from suckers.