A Texas megachurch has been rocked by another high-profile resignation, as a fourth pastor steps down over a mysterious “moral issue.”
Gateway Church in North Texas announced Wednesday that executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow is “no longer employed” for unexplained reasons deemed incompatible with his role.
Church elder Tra Willbanks said in a YouTube video: ‘As of Monday of this week, Kemtal Glasgow will no longer be employed at Gateway.’
“Last week we were made aware of a moral issue that we, as elders, believe disqualifies him from serving in the role he held at Gateway,” Willbanks continued.
The announcement comes amid a series of scandals that culminated in an exodus of church leaders. The first was sparked by founder Robert Morris, who in June confessed to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s.
Gateway Church in North Texas announced Wednesday that executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow (pictured) is “no longer employed” due to a mysterious “moral issue” deemed incompatible with his role.
The announcement comes amid ongoing scandals that led to an exodus of leaders sparked by the shocking resignation of church founder Robert Morris in June when it was revealed he was involved in years of sexual abuse against a 12-year-old girl.
Morris’s son James and his wife Bridgette resigned shortly after in July.
Despite the timing, the church insists the Glasgow departure is not related to the Morris scandal, according to New York City Fire Department (NBCDFW).
The church expressed its sympathy for the Glasgow family, with Willbanks saying: “We love his family, we love his wife and his children and we want to stand with them during this difficult time and help them find the restoration and healing they need as a family.”
He also urged the congregation to pray for the Glasgow family during this difficult time.
“And we would like to ask you as a church to pray for them as well.”
From Glasgow The profile has since been removed from the church website.
Following his departure, the church has announced plans to restructure its leadership.
Adena Wilson has been promoted to oversee campus pastors and will assume her new role effective immediately.
“What this does is open a path for us to promote Adena Wilson to oversee the campus pastors, and Adena as of yesterday assumed that role,” he said.
Willbanks expressed enthusiasm for Wilson’s promotion.
Morris had previously admitted to “inappropriate sexual behaviour with a young girl” without specifying the age of Clemishire, who says the abuse occurred between 1982 and 1987, when he was married to his wife Debbie (right).
Cindy Clemishire (pictured) claimed Morris abused her in the 1980s when she was just 12.
“We are excited that Dana Adena will be the perfect person to take on this responsibility and she will do it brilliantly.”
The megachurch had been in crisis since Morris admitted to historic “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a minor.
The victim, now 54, Cindy Clemishire, alleged that Morris initiated sexual contact with her on Christmas Eve 1982, when she was just 12 years old.
Morris, a former spiritual adviser to Donald Trump, was reportedly 21 and married at the time.
The abuse reportedly continued until 1987.
Clemishire described a scene where Morris asked her to come to his room and talk to him, asking her to lie down on his bed.
Morris began touching her inappropriately; Clemishire alleged he touched her stomach, then her breast, and then under her pants.
She added that after the alleged abuse occurred, Morris “told me I could never tell anyone, because it would ruin everything,” and that he would continue to isolate and abuse her for the next four and a half years before she finally spoke out.
At first, church elders vaguely cited an “inappropriate relationship” before later apologizing for not having “all the facts.”
Following the scandal, three church elders took voluntary leave and an independent investigation was launched.
Morris’ son James and his wife Bridgette also resigned from their church positions.
The law firm Haynes and Boone then launched a “thorough and independent investigation” into allegations of abuse by Clemishire.
Despite the timing, the church insists the Glasgow departure is not related to the Morris scandal. Gateway Church (pictured) in Southlake, one of the country’s largest megachurches
“Although this occurred many years before Gateway was established, as church leaders we regret not having had the information we have now,” they said in a statement. “We know that many have been affected by this, we understand that they are suffering and we are very sorry.”
Clemishire made her allegations public in a blog post in June on The Wartburg Watch, a website dedicated to exposing church abuse.
Emails shared with NBC News purportedly reveal shocking interactions between the disgraced pastor and Clemishire in 2005.
“Twenty-three years after you began destroying my life, I am still dealing with the pain and damage you caused,” Clemishire, then 35, wrote to Morris. “I want some form of restitution. Pray for it and call me.”
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