Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, has announced a round of staff cuts amid waning financial contributions following a series of scandals involving its founder.

According to the Christian Post, the layoffs come as the church faces a steep drop in donations linked to fallout from child sex abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris and a financial lawsuit brought by former members.

According to an email sent by Gateway’s elders to members on Wednesday, financial giving has decreased significantly over the past year, despite church attendance remaining relatively consistent since last fall.

Ongoing Fallout From Abuse Allegations

The church’s leadership pointed to “ongoing issues” related to its former lead pastor as the key driver behind the financial strain. Morris, who founded Gateway Church, is currently facing multiple legal challenges tied to alleged child sexual abuse and financial misconduct.

In March 2025, a multi-county Oklahoma grand jury indicted Morris on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. The charges stem from incidents that reportedly occurred over four and a half years beginning in December 1982, when Morris was an itinerant preacher.

One of the lawsuits filed against Morris and Gateway includes a defamation claim brought by Cindy Clemishire and her father, Jerry Lee Clemishire. The suit alleges Morris and church leaders mischaracterized the abuse of Cindy, which she claims began when she was 12, as a “relationship.”

Financial Struggles Begin to Surface

In addition to the criminal indictment, Gateway Church is also the target of a class-action suit alleging the misuse of millions of dollars in tithes that were purportedly intended for global missions efforts. Plaintiffs named in the suit include both founding and executive-level church leaders.

The church, once reported to have brought in over $100 million annually, has responded to the lawsuit by pledging to join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and conduct a forensic audit of its finances.

Despite a decline in weekly attendance between June and October 2024—from 22% to 24%—the church currently sees about 19,000 attendees each weekend. Officials stated that tithing has not rebounded in proportion to this stabilized attendance.

Staffing Cuts Designed to Stabilize Ministry

Elders explained that staffing levels must be adjusted due to the persistent gap between attendance and financial contributions. In their message to the congregation, they called the move “a difficult but practical” step required for the health of the church.

Chair of the elder board, Tra Willbanks, emphasized that the decision was painful and made only after extensive deliberation. “This affects real people who are part of our church community,” he said, adding, “We’ve served together for years, and that’s what makes it so hard.”

To ease the transition, affected staff members are being allowed to resign voluntarily over the next two weeks. Those who choose to do so will receive one month’s severance and benefits for every year of service, capped at a total of four months.

Leadership Transition and Next Steps

The staff reductions are expected to be finalized by mid-July, coinciding with the arrival of new senior pastor Daniel Floyd and his wife, Tammie. Their leadership marks a new chapter in the church's efforts to move past a tumultuous period.

Floyd’s transition comes at a critical time as the church attempts to rebuild both trust and financial stability. Church officials have not announced any plans for additional layoffs or changes in programming as of now.

In their communication to members, elders wrote that they remain committed to walking through this “with humility, prayer, and a focus on healing.” They reiterated the importance of stewarding resources responsibly while maintaining ministry effectiveness.