Gateway Welcomes Daniel Floyd as Pastor One Year after Robert Morris Scandal
Texas-based megachurch Gateway Church formally installed Daniel Floyd as its next lead pastor, which comes a year after former pastor Robert Morris resigned amid a child abuse scandal. "It's a significant day. It's a day where we turn the page and we begin to write a new story. But it's also not the day that we erase previous chapters," Floyd told about 4,000 people gathered for the event at the megachurch's main campus on Saturday, according to the Fort Worth Report.
"I just want you to know that your prayers aren't wasted."
In a social media post, Gateway Church celebrated the installation of Floyd as a "historic moment."
This weekend was a historic moment at Gateway. We commissioned our new Lead Pastor, @psdanielfloyd, @tammiemfloyd, and their family! God's kindness to our church is on full display! He has led us to this moment, and we are so expectant for what is ahead!
"And above all, we give glory to Jesus for His faithfulness through every season," the church added before citing Psalm 100:5, "For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations."
According to the church website, Floyd served as a pastor for more than 20 years and founded Lifepoint Church and Lifepoint College. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern University and two master's degrees from Liberty Theological Seminary. He is married to his wife Tammie and they have four children together.
Morris, who founded Gateway Church in 2000, resigned last year after child sex abuse allegations emerged. Cindy Clemishire, 55, alleged last June that Morris sexually abused her for several years in the 1980s when he was a traveling evangelist, and starting when she was 12 years old.
According to The Christian Post, he is currently facing multiple counts of child sex abuse in Osage County, Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, Gateway church faces several lawsuits, including a class-action lawsuit from church members alleging misappropriation of funds and a defamation lawsuit filed by Clemishire against both the church and Morris, seeking more than $1 million. Clemishire and her father, Jerry Lee Clemishire, allege that Morris and Gateway Church leaders misrepresented the abuse she faced as a consensual "relationship" with a "young lady" rather than the sexual assault of a child.
The church announced in June staff cuts due to "a significant drop" in tithes and general giving.
"Over the last year, tithing has not mirrored attendance, given the ongoing issues related to the church's former pastor, and that has led to a significant drop in giving levels," Gateway Church elders said in an email to members shared on social media. "These are the difficult but practical realities of the season we've been in, and we will continue to walk through it with humility, prayer, and our commitment to intentionally healing as a church family."
Gateway Church email announcing layoffs: “Over the last year, tithing has not mirrored attendance, given the ongoing issues related to the Church's former pastor, and that has led to a significant drop in giving levels.” @GatewayPeople #shewas12 pic.twitter.com/0LTDRk1US8
— Amy Smith (@watchkeep) June 18, 2025
In March, Nic Lesmeister, Gateway Church's executive pastor of global outreach, stressed that Morris no longer has any formal ties to the church.
"Last November, our elders made it clear that we had drawn a bright line as a church, and we were moving forward," he said in an address to the congregation.
"And because we're moving forward, and Gateway is no longer involved in this legal matter, we won't be continuing to update you on the proceedings of the case, but we're continuing to pray for everybody that's involved and affected in this matter."
Related Article:Gateway Church Welcomes Daniel Floyd as New Senior Pastor
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Daniel Floyd
Originally published August 19, 2025.
