Pastor Demanded Millions From Megachurch For Retirement
Former Gateway Church founder Robert Morris is entangled in a legal dispute with the Southlake, Texas megachurch after reportedly demanding over $1 million in retirement benefits, including annual payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The church rejected these demands and has filed court documents in Tarrant County seeking to enforce a dispute-resolution agreement Morris previously signed. This comes in the wake of Morris’s resignation in 2023, which followed public allegations of child sexual abuse.
According to the church, Morris initiated arbitration proceedings after being denied the compensation he claimed he was owed. His attorneys argue that Gateway Church had promised him an annual retirement income of $800,000 until age 70, followed by $600,000 annually for life, with the same amount going to his wife if she outlives him. He is also seeking a lump sum of $1 million in benefits that he claims should have been paid within 60 days of his resignation, assuming his departure was not due to misconduct.
Morris has stated that he was forced to step down after church elders allegedly threatened termination in response to the sexual abuse allegations. He is currently facing five felony charges in Oklahoma related to claims that he abused a girl starting in 1982 when she was 12 years old. The charges emerged following an investigation by a multi-county grand jury.
Separately, Morris and other church leaders are involved in a federal lawsuit filed by four Gateway members who accuse the church of financial mismanagement and failing to honor a tithe refund guarantee. The plaintiffs also allege that church officials were not transparent about how the ministry’s substantial funds—reportedly over $100 million annually—were used. Gateway has moved to dismiss the case, citing constitutional protections for religious organizations and arguing the plaintiffs have no legal standing. A federal judge has paused the discovery process and issued a protective order to keep sensitive financial information confidential.