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Robert Morris started the Southlake-based Gateway Church at 700 Blessed Way in 2000. The church expanded to several Tarrant County locations in Fort Worth, Southlake, Grand Prairie and North Richland Hills. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
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Nearly two months after Gateway Church’s founder and executive pastor Robert Morris resigned amid public child sex abuse allegations, church leaders say Gateway will not host its annual conference in September. 

Gateway Church leadership wrote in an Aug. 14 statement that they decided to cancel the three-day event because staff and the church congregation are in “the midst of navigating Robert Morris’ resignation and the emotions surrounding it.” 

“We are deeply sorry for the pain this situation caused the survivor, other survivors of abuse, and the church at large. As we seek to navigate this season in a healthy way and in a manner that promotes healing for everyone affected, we believe it best to not hold Gateway Conference this year,” leadership wrote. 

Full refunds will be issued to those who already registered for the event, church leadership said. 

Gateway Conference typically draws in thousands of pastors and leaders to the main Southlake church campus to “bless, empower and equip the local church,” according to its Facebook page. The now-canceled conference, originally scheduled Sept. 25-27, would have included a mix of workshops, tours and worship. 

Guest speakers for the 2024 conference included Robert Morris’ son, James Morris, who resigned from his church leadership role in July. The speaker list also included other Christian megachurch pastors across the country like Free Chapel and Dream City Church, which draw in roughly 25,000 to 40,000 members across multiple campuses. 

Dallas megachurch pastor Tony Evans, who spoke at last year’s conference, stepped down from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in June to enter a “healing and restoration process established by the elders” for an unnamed sin from a “number of years ago.” 

Morris started the Southlake-based Gateway Church in 2000. Since then, the network has become one of the largest megachurches in the nation, with 100,000 active attendees. The church has several Tarrant County campus locations in Fort Worth, Southlake, Grand Prairie and North Richland Hills.

The canceled conference follows a summer of church leadership departures and an ongoing internal investigation by law firm Haynes and Boone regarding accusations against Robert Morris. 

Robert Morris resigned from the church in June, days after he was accused of sexually abusing a then-12-year-old girl in the 1980s. 

His son, James Morris, was once tapped to take his father’s place as executive pastor. In the wake of the scandal, James Morris and his wife, Bridgette Morris, resigned from their positions in late July. 

Founding elder Steve Dulin also parted ways with the church in late July. Gateway Church’s statement did not specify reasons for the decision, but spokesperson Lawrence Swicegood told the Fort Worth Report that Dulin’s departure was not connected to the ongoing legal review regarding accusations against Morris, Gateway’s former executive pastor.

In another statement posted to the church’s website, the board of elders said they are searching for Morris’ replacement.

Church officials have not said whether other planned conferences at the Southlake campus will go on. Registration for the church’s “Gateway Marriage Conference: Love Always” event in October remains open. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone. Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE or visit the Online Hotline, y en español en rainn.org/es.

Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org or @marissaygreene. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.