SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Gateway Church says it has alienated many elders who knew about the situation Harassment allegations against founder Robert Morris. The Southlake-based church is also cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation.

Morris resigned from church This June, a woman named Cindy Cleminshire came forward alleging that Morris sexually abused her between 1982 and 1987, starting when she was 12 years old.

Cleminshire, now 54, said he made his allegations to Gateway Church leaders on more than one occasion.

When the allegations were made public south lake The church board of elders said they were unaware that the “young lady” in question could be 12 years old.

The church hired the law firm Haynes and Boone to investigate what church elders knew about the allegations before this June.

The church says six people, including Morris, refused to talk to investigators.

The law firm said they found there was a group of employees and elders who knew Cleminshire was 12 at the time the abuse was reported, and another group who knew about the allegations against Morris but did not ask further questions.

The church said the elders in both groups were released and other staff members who knew this would not be allowed to become elders.

Gateway leaders say the investigation revealed a “culture failure” at the church.

“We have to be honest with ourselves and admit that our culture has allowed this truth to be hidden for too long,” said Gateway Church Elder Tra Willbanks. “At some point in the past, the Gate culture became one in which power was centralized and the leader at the top was surrounded by people who wanted to protect him. Some at any cost.”

The church says it has rewritten its bylaws and changed its governance structure to prevent similar problems in the future.

Gateway said it had not found any other allegations of sexual assault against Morris.

Morris is not currently facing any charges related to the sexual abuse allegations, but the church said a criminal investigation is ongoing.

“You should also be aware that Gateway Church is currently and fully cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation, the details of which we cannot share with you at this time,” Willbanks said.

Gateway says neither the church nor its current leadership is subject to criminal investigation.

The church said it had received financial requests from Morris, but these requests were rejected.