Breaking News: Gateway Church's Investigation Concludes With Removal Of Four Elders In Morris Scandal
Investigation Uncovers Elders' Knowledge of Accusations
The investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior by pastor Ed Morris at Gateway Church has concluded, resulting in the removal of four elders from the church's leadership team. The church announced the decision in a statement released on their website, citing the elders' failure to report the accusations when they first became aware of them.
The investigation, conducted by an independent law firm, found that the elders had knowledge of the allegations for several months before they were reported to church leaders. The statement released by Gateway Church states that the elders "failed to act in accordance with their responsibilities as elders, which included responding appropriately to allegations of misconduct."
Elders Removed from Leadership
As a result of their failure to report the allegations, the four elders have been removed from their leadership roles. The statement from Gateway Church does not specify the names of the elders who were removed, but it does state that they "no longer have any authority or responsibility within the church."
Church Leaders Apologize for Elders' Actions
In the statement released on their website, Gateway Church leaders apologized for the elders' actions and expressed their commitment to "ensuring that all allegations of misconduct are handled with the utmost seriousness and care." The church also announced that they will be implementing new policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Reaction from Church Members
The news of the investigation's conclusion and the removal of the elders has been met with mixed reactions from church members. Some members have expressed support for the church's decision, while others have questioned the timing of the announcement and the adequacy of the investigation.
Gateway Church is one of the largest evangelical churches in the United States, with campuses in Texas, California, and Colorado. The church has been under fire in recent months due to allegations of sexual misconduct against Morris, who resigned from his position as senior pastor in February.