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Gateway Church Southlake campus as seen from the west entrance on July 11, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Gateway-_CamiloDiaz-2-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Gateway-_CamiloDiaz-2-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>Two months after Gateway Church’s founder and executive pastor Robert Morris resigned amid public child sex abuse allegations, another lead pastor has departed following what the church characterized as a “moral issue.” Now, that pastor’s replacement is drawing attention from former Gateway congregants concerned about how sexual abuse concerns were handled at the church’s Frisco campus. Executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow was removed Aug. 19, church elder Tra Willbanks announced in a YouTube video posted two days later. Willbanks said he and other elders were informed of Glasgow’s alleged “moral issue” and believed it “disqualifies him from serving in the role that he had at Gateway.” He did not provide specific details. “We love his family, we love his wife and his kids, and we want to come alongside them during this difficult time and help them find restoration and healing that they need as a family, and we would ask that you as a church, would pray for them as well,” Willbanks said. Gateway spokesperson Lawrence Swicegood told the Fort Worth Report that Glasgow’s departure was not related to the departure of Robert Morris “nor related to those circumstances.” Glasgow was responsible for providing leadership and oversight to all Gateway campuses and gathering locations, according to a bio that is no longer on the website. Frisco campus pastor Adana Wilson was appointed Aug. 20 to replace Glasgow in the role, but former congregants voiced concerns over her appointment. Former congregants voice concernsAnita Ishee said she is worried about Wilson’s new role as executive pastor because of how a sexual abuse concern was handled at the Frisco campus under Wilson’s leadership. Anita and her daughter Nicole Ishee started attending Gateway Church services in Frisco in 2018. Nicole said she found support through the different families and ministries within the congregation while grieving the loss of her brother, Taylor Ishee, who died of leukemia. “We had such a heart to give back to the church, because they did so much for us,” Nicole Ishee said. The two would lead small group Bible studies and student ministry at the church. The Ishees were also a part of a ministry outside of Gateway called Shared Hope, which offers training and resources about internet safety and human trafficking prevention to schools and churches. However, the mother-daughter duo are no longer members of the church. In June, they joined protesters outside of the church’s Southlake campus in support of Cindy Clemishire, who accused Robert Morris of sexually abusing her when she was 12 years old. That wasn’t the only reason the Ishees were there. During the protest, the two told the Fort Worth Report about concerns they had regarding a member of the church, Scott Gerber, who was charged in April last year for molesting a minor in Indiana. A group of people gathered with signs outside of Gateway Church’s Southlake campus on June 22, 2024, during the church’s June 22 service. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)
Nicole and Anita Ishee said they faced backlash from other congregants after making a report and telling families who were close to Gerber about his charge. The Ishees voiced their concerns to church leadership in February 2024, according to emails obtained by the Report. “We had to report him,” Nicole Ishee said. “It does not matter whether I think or you think he’s guilty or not.” A spokesperson for Gateway did not immediately respond to questions about whether church leadership informed church members of Gerber’s charge. Wilson did not respond to an email requesting comment on the matter. The Ishees have not returned to Gateway since the Morris allegations became public in June. “I just want justice. I want the truth to be exposed, and the truth may hurt, but no matter how difficult it is, I always want to know the truth,” Anita Ishee said. Glasgow and Wilson named in civil lawsuit Glasgow and Wilson also faced criticism for how he handled sexual harassment claims when Glasgow was a campus pastor in Frisco and an associate pastor in North Richland Hills. They were both named in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and hostility between another pastor and a staff member at Gateway.Rachel Childress filed a lawsuit against the church in January 2023 alleging she experienced “disparaging comments about her appearance” and “unwanted romantic advances” while working as a temporary administrative assistant to Pastor Al Pearson in May 2018. Pearson is no longer employed at Gateway. Childress said she reported Pearson’s behavior to Glasgow in August 2018 and alleges Glasgow telling her that “she was not to be alone with Pastor Pearson.”In June 2019, Glasgow allegedly invited Childress to interview for an associate pastor position at the Frisco campus. Childress was interviewed by Wilson, who informed Childress that while she was “well qualified for the position,” the campus “wanted to hire a male for the position.” The lawsuit was settled in June, according to court records. Several departures since Robert Morris’ resignation Glasgow’s departure is the latest in a string of exits among Gateway leaders since Robert Morris resigned 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 Swicegood said that Dulin’s departure was not connected to the ongoing legal review regarding accusations against Robert Morris. Gateway Church has over 560 employees, Willbanks said in his video addressing congregants of Glasgow’s departure. “We won’t make it a practice to update you on all of our staff changes, but we did feel like it was important to update you on this staff change,” he said. In another statement posted to the church’s website, the board of elders said they are searching for Morris’ replacement.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.