FORT WORTH, Texas — Gateway Church has canceled its annual conference in the aftermath of its founder and head pastor resigning after admitting he sexually abused a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s.

The church announced the cancellation of the conference on the event website.

“We’re continuing to pursue truth, and we’re filled with hope for all God wants to do in Gateway Church in the future,” the announcement read. “We want to let you know that after much prayer and consideration, we have decided not to hold Gateway Conference in 2024.”

Refunds will be issued for anybody who paid to attend the conference which, according to its Facebook page, draws thousands of pastors, leaders and staff from across the country each year.

Robert Morris resigned after admitting in a statement he sexually abused Cindy Clemishire from the ages of 12 to 16. The abuse stopped because he was caught by Clemishire’s father, and he went into what he described as “freedom ministry.”

Gateway’s website describes freedom ministry as spiritual counseling, accountability and in some cases exorcism.

Morris said in the statement that he spent two years away from ministry before returning to the church he was at when the abuse happened. He said he had the permission of church elders and the “young lady’s” father. The characterization of Clemishire, a minor the entire time the abuse was happening, as a young lady sparked further outrage.

Morris resigned shortly after Clemishire shared her story with a religious watchdog blog, the Wartburg Watch.

The cancellation of the conference comes as Gateway works to navigate “Robert Morris’ resignation and the emotions surrounding it,” the anouncement read. “We are deeply sorry for the pain this situation caused the survivor, other survivors of abuse, and the church at large.”

The church in the announcement described the time since Morris’ abuse became public as a “season” and said it is trying to get through it “in a healthy way and in a manner that promotes healing for everyone affected” and that is why the conference will not be held.

“We are sincerely sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment this causes,” the announcement read.

The statement said Gateway has received “love and support” from its congregants, volunteers and staff.

“Thank you for your partnership and support through this season, and thank you for your love and prayers,” the church leadership said in the statement.

Subsequent resignations

Following Robert Morris’ admission to sexually abusing a child, Gateway Church hired the law firm Haynes & Boone LLP to conduct an independent investigation.

The firm recommended anyone who served on the board of elders between 2005 and 2007 — the time period in which Clemishire said she reached out to Gateway about Morris’ abuse — temporarily step down during the investigation.

Clemishire said during that time period she was also blamed for her own abuse by Morris’ lawyer.

“It was your client who initiated inappropriate behavior by coming into my client’s bedroom and getting in bed with him, which my client should not have allowed to happen,” the February 2007 letter from Morris’ lawyer read.

Earlier this month, one elder from that period announced he would be resigning. Steve Dulin decided he would “go in a different direction,” he said in a statement through the church.

At a Sunday service July 28, Morris’ son also stepped down to go and “plant” another church. In a clearly scripted but nonetheless emotional statement given at the morning service, James Morris and wife Bridgette Morris said they loved the church and its members and would keep them in their prayers, but that they felt it was time to move on.

That same Sunday, the church introduced its interim pastors: Max Lucado, a charismatic evangelical author and San Antonio pastor, and Joakim Lundqvist, a leader of an megachurch in Sweden.

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