Texas Supreme Court Stays Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Gateway Church

Attorneys for Cindy Clemishire have petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to overturn a decision by the Fifth Court of Appeals that dismissed her defamation lawsuit against Gateway Church and its founder, Robert Morris. The appellate court had ruled that the case should be dismissed under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which prevents civil courts from intervening in matters of church governance and doctrine.

Clemishire’s legal team, which includes state representative Jeff Leach, argues that the doctrine should not provide religious institutions with blanket immunity for actions involving the alleged protection of a sexual predator or the defamation of a non-member. They contend that such conduct does not constitute protected religious activity.

In response to the petition, the Texas Supreme Court issued an emergency stay on September 18, temporarily halting the appellate court's dismissal order. This stay does not resolve the underlying legal claims but preserves the status of the case while the court reviews the petition. The court has requested responses from the involved parties by October 19. The lawsuit stems from allegations that Morris sexually abused Clemishire during the 1980s, leading to his resignation from the church in 2024.