The Gateway Church has announced the appointment of four new elders. After a survey of the founder Robert Morris for a child’s sexual abuse, he replaces the people who were taken away in November.
Elder TRA WILLBANKS announced on Monday with a non -listed video posted on the church YouTube page. In an interview with the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday, WILLBANKS states that new elders will be selected after a four -month search, and men will decide whether they are “suitable for both parties” with a 6 -month provisional ability. I did it. After the provision, Wilbanks said that the man would continue to serve the church.
“It’s not the normal practice of gateway, but considering the short time to know everyone, I thought it was a wise approach,” said Wilbanks.
Related: When the attendees slide, the remaining gateway attendees were religious in the church instead of Robert Morris.
The four men attend the South Lake Campus in Oscar Morales and work for the worship team. Brad Moore, who participates in the Frisco Campus and serves as a lead butler. Randy Makfar Land, who attends the South Lake Campus and supports the marriage group. Mark Müller, who attends Justin Campus, leads a small group and works for children’s ministry.
Wilbanks intentionally searches for a man who participated in a campus other than the South Lake Site, and brought the elders who were in the “bubble” about how things were previously operated in the church. He said he was intentionally looking to avoid it.
“It’s important for us, and what we definitely wanted to prioritize was another campus with a voice in the room,” said Wilbanks.
Wilbanks said that all four men were respected LY, many years of gateway attendees and family leaders. The addition of the elder will come because Gateway continues to search for a new advanced pastor. After a woman in Oklahoma was accused of sexual abuse of her for about four years in the 1980s, she was not in the church in June when Morris resigned. Since she was 12 years old.
Related: Women who accused the founder of sexual abuse as the founder of the Gateway Church say that recovery was a “life”.
Wilbanks told the news that led by churches to find a new senior pastor and executives is the current priority.
Four new elders will be replaced by four people deleted in November after the investigation of children’s sexual abuse by law firms. According to the survey, the elder and other staff were said to have said that Morris had sexually abused a 12 -year -old girl in the 1980s, or had enough information to investigate. I found out what I mentioned in church worship. 。
Related: Gateway deletes four elders and says that there was information about Morris’s abuse.
Before the elders remove in November, during the Morris Fallout, including Morris’s son, James, the other elders will be the next advanced pastor of Gateway, where his father will resign in 2025. did. In the church Morris, there were 10 elders before the claim in June.
Willbanks said that more elders could be added in the future.
In addition to losing elders and staff, the church has reported to decrease by about 24 % of the attendance rates since June and the overall tinging. A sufficient loss or donation given to the church from the participants led to the church reduced the staff.
The church is also subject to several lawsuits, including those that claim that the church is misused for donations for missionary activities. WILLBANKS stated that the church would join the financial explanation group of the Gospel organization.
Staff writer AD Rian Ashford contributed to this report
